Brock University’s Health, Safety and Wellness office within Human Resources has added a training section to the existing workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS) training module. This additional training is prompted by legislative changes to educate and train Employees with regard to both the existing WHMIS and the new elements found in the globally harmonized system (GHS) of classification and labelling of chemicals.

FAQS

Who needs to be informed and instructed in WHMIS?

Every employee who works with or in proximity to hazardous materials.

What does “works in proximity” to hazardous materials mean?

“Working in proximity to hazardous materials,” means the area in which the employee’s health and safety could be at risk during the storage, handling, use, or disposal of the material, or in emergencies such as accidental release or spill.

What is a hazardous material?

A hazardous material is any item or agent (biological, chemical, radiological, and/or physical), which has the potential to cause harm to humans, animals, or the environment, either by itself or through interaction with other factors.

Where is this training offered?

E-learning is available at all times for employees via the Sakai learning management system. Click here for the login page for the online learning management system.

Supervisors’ who wish to arrange classroom type training for groups of employees, should contact the Health, Safety and Wellness department at besafe@brocku.ca

How often should training take place?

Employees who are exposed or likely to be exposed to hazardous materials in their work shall be adequately knowledgeable with the concepts of WHMIS. An Employee’s Supervisor determines how often training is required for their Employees. The determining factors for a Supervisor to consider are:

With regards to hazardous materials, do affected Employees know:

• where they can get hazard information on materials they work with?

• what the hazards are of the materials they work with?

• how to protect themselves from the hazards of the materials they work with?

• what do I do in case of an emergency involving the materials they work with?

If Supervisors find that their Employees are not sufficiently knowledgeable on the concepts above, they should be retrained.

Typically, best practice demonstrates that training shall be done at least annually.

How much time does it take to complete the training?

Typically, the training takes 40-60 minutes to complete (that includes taking the quiz).

Should I get my approval from my Supervisor before taking this training?

Yes. Please consult your Supervisor before taking this training.