WHMIS is intended to provide workers with hazard information about the chemicals they work with. The supplier of the chemical is required to provide specific information about chemical hazards related to the products they supply to employers. Employers must provide that information to workers and in turn the workers must use that information to protect themselves from the hazards and work safely with the chemicals.

WHMIS has three major elements:

1. Labels
2. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
3. Worker Education

The three elements form the basis of a WHMIS Program. Every work site must have a work site specific WHMIS Program in place and working, and every worker on that work site should be familiar with and follow that program.

WORKER EDUCATION includes four areas of instruction:
1. WHMIS labels and MSDS’s,
2. Hazard Information,
3. Identification Codes, and
4. Procedures for safe use, storage and handling of controlled products, and procedures for dealing with fugitive emissions and emergencies.

Instruction in Hazard information, identification codes and safe work procedures are known as “worksite specific WHMIS worker education.”

Upon successful completion of this course the participant will receive a WHMIS Certificate.