Saskatchewan WHMIS Certificate

Saskatchewan WHMIS Training & Certification

In Canada, we adhere to a set of agreed-upon standards set by the United Nations in their Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). From this system, the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) was created, a system now in place across Canada. Health Canada helped to formalize legislation to protect employees and the general public regarding hazardous materials. Health Canada hands down the implementation of these regulations to provincial bodies to handle enforcement.

Legally, WHMIS was created to uphold the federal Hazardous Products Act and the Controlled Products Regulations. These laws indicate that employers bear the responsibility and have a legal requirement to provide education on WHMIS to their employees when hazardous materials or chemicals are present in the workplace.

WHMIS is made up of a set of standardized words, symbols, hazard classifications, and labels to help communicate about hazardous products. A national compliance with using this system, combined with the enforcement of educating employees, creates an increased environment of safety and wellbeing for workers and the general public. When communication about dangerous materials is uniform across an entire people group, everybody benefits.

The governing body in Saskatchewan that oversees WHMIS is covered by Occupational Health and Safety. In Saskatchewan, there is local legislation and regulations for the specifics on enforcing WHMIS. This is covered in the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) Regulations, 1996, Part 22 (XXII).

As an employer in Saskatchewan, do I need to educate and train my employees on WHMIS?

Yes, Saskatchewan requires demonstration of proof that a WHMIS program is in place at each workplace. Employers are the ones responsible for the overall health and safety of their workers when they are working with or being exposed to WHMIS-controlled products. This means employers must make sure their employees are knowledgeable and up to date with the most current WHMIS training available.

Generic WHMIS training for each employee is usually sufficient, along with access to visible Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). General training will cover the information about types of products and the risks they carry, along with their labeling system, warning symbols, emergency procedures in the case of exposure, and more. In the case of manufacturing or working regularly with specific high-risk materials, more focused information should to be provided.

Additionally, the employer must resolve to be vigilant that all products are labeled in accordance with the most up to date system. If products are important with missing or damaged (illegible) labels, the employer must provide labels.

The most current version of WHMIS was updated in accordance with the GHS in 2015 and full compliance was expected as of Dec. 1, 2018. The update included new rules for the classifications for workplace chemicals, along with new and improved pictograms (instead of symbols).

Current course materials from any qualified WHMIS education provider will include these updates and can help you ensure you are up to date. Course materials for WHMIS or the method of delivery can vary between WHMIS educators, but the information contained in the courses is all exactly the same to ensure consistency and 100% compliance with WHMIS.

How frequently do I need to train my workers on WHMIS in Saskatchewan?

While the answer to this question can vary from province to province, it is the responsibility of employers to adhere to what is legislated in their part of Canada. In Saskatchewan, employers must review their WHMIS annually and show that their employees have received any necessary review or updated information.

It is a good idea to appoint a WHMIS officer at your workplace or add this responsibility to Human Resources staff already in place. With a firm delegate in place who understands the WHMIS program and when it needs to be reviewed for updates, you can be more assured of your company being in compliance with WHMIS.

Do I need to have a WHMIS Certificate for my employees?

Currently, Saskatchewan legislation does not extend to requiring a standard certificate among employees. However, it is becoming more and more commonplace to provide training that grants a general certificate showing what WHMIS training was completed and on what date. The benefit to issuing WHMIS certificates is that your ability to provide proof upon request is augmented significantly.

And a request to show WHMIS training can come from a variety of sources. OHS can carry out a routine inspection according to any health and safety committees or initiatives in your area. OHS can also send an inspector in the case of a complaint or following up on a workplace accident. Any officer or concerned persons or employee can request to be shown that your workplace provides WHMIS training and, in addition to highly visible SDSs, labels and other warnings, if your employees can readily produce a WHMIS certificate, it goes a long way toward proving your WHMIS compliance.

Workers who are in the transportation industry or who are often in transit with materials, or between job sites, can also provide benefit to your company when they carry a WHMIS certificate. If they are ever asked to produce proof of their WHMIS training while outside of their regular workplace, a wallet-size certificate ensures they can do just that.

For their safety and for that of the general public, more and more organizations are feeling it is within their purview to ask contract workers or other companies’ employees entering their worksite for a WHMIS certificate. Making sure your own employees have one helps to ensure they won’t be barred from a worksite.

Contract workers and the self-employed can also benefit in this way. Having a WHMIS certificate ensures there will be less potential hiccups when entering job sites and being able to get the job done.

There is no one standardized certificate amongst WHMIS education providers, nor one set certificate that is required by the government. Any WHMIS education provider can provide one and they usually include the date, company name, employee name, the type of training they received, and a test score if applicable. The most important part of the certification is to make sure your WHMIS training was completed by a credible WHMIS education organization.

When you have questions about local WHMIS requirements you can contact the jurisdiction that regulates WHMIS for Saskatchewan. More information is available at this link on the Saskatchewan Labour Relations and Workplace Safety site.