Surviving an OHS Inspection: The 4 Things OHS Inspectors Ask Workers to Test Their WHMIS Training

Perennially a favorite for OHS inspectors, the question of whether workers have received proper WHMIS training is bound to attract even more attention once the new WHMIS 2015 rules for employers take effect on Dec. 1, 2018.

The 4 Questions to Be Ready For

Having thorough training records will be crucial to demonstrating that your own WHMIS training program measures up. But most OHS inspectors won’t be satisfied with that. They’ll want to go right to the source, i.e., the workers who are actually exposed to a hazardous product, and ask them 4 questions:

  1. What are the hazards of the hazardous product’
  2. How are you protected from these hazards’
  3. What do you do in case of an emergency’
  4. Where can you go for more information’

If the worker can answer all 4 questions correctly, the inspector will conclude that WHMIS training is adequate and complies with OHS requirements.

Inside Sources

How do we know all this’ Answer: It comes directly from Alberta WHMIS guidance. And while Alberta may be the only province to spell this out, it’s a pretty good bet that OHS inspectors in other jurisdictions use the same tactics to evaluate the adequacy of WHMIS training.

So, prepare accordingly.