How effective is your workplace-specific WHMIS training? New DIY workshop helps you prepare for inspections

August 27, 2025

Jessica Bowes

With the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development’s (MLITSD) occupational hygiene campaigns underway, there’s a strong focus on how effectively Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training is being delivered. To help employers get inspection-ready and meet the requirements of Ontario Regulation 860 - Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, WSPS is offering a new half-day workshop at no cost to Ontario employers for the duration of the campaign.

“This workshop will provide employers with step-by-step guidance on how to develop workplace-specific WHMIS training, including a chemical management program template to customize for your business,” says Toni Volpato, an Occupational Hygienist and Specialized Consultant with WSPS. “Participants will leave the session with the tools, resources, and templates they need to get their workplace ready for an MLITSD inspection.”

During the extended MLITSD occupational hygiene campaigns, inspectors will look for evidence of worker training on WHMIS that covers the new hazardous chemical classifications that are part of the amended Hazardous Products Regulations. “WHMIS legislation clearly states that employers are required to develop procedures specific to their workplace on how to use, store, handle, and dispose of chemicals and what to do in an emergency, such as a spill,” explains Toni. “This means employers must go beyond generic WHMIS training.”

The Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) were amended on December 15, 2022. Suppliers have until December 15, 2025, to update their safety data sheets (SDS) to comply with the updated requirements. Employers must train their workers on this updated information to ensure workers know the hazards and how to work safely with hazardous materials.

What is a workplace-specific chemical management program?

Toni describes these workshops as an amazing opportunity for employers to learn how to deliver site-specific WHMIS training properly. “Many employers think they are compliant by simply ensuring their workers complete a brief online WHMIS course,” says Toni. “With a generic WHMIS course, you will learn what the symbols mean, how to read a SDS, and how to properly label a container. These are all important things to know, but they are not enough to protect workers from chemical exposure.” But Toni cautions that MLITSD inspectors will be looking for much more than just generic WHMIS training.

Inspectors will expect to see procedures on the safe use, handling, and storage of the hazardous chemicals found in the workplace. They may also ask for documentation showing that workers were trained on the procedures related to each chemical. “Inspectors will want to confirm that workers know what chemicals they are exposed to, how these chemicals can harm them, and what they must do to protect themselves from exposure,” notes Toni.

For example, hydrochloric acid can be found in many workplaces, such as laboratories and manufacturing facilities, and in products such as cleaners and sanitizers. It is not sufficient for an employer to provide generic WHMIS training and then tell workers to go and read SDS for information on how to safely use the acid.

The employer is expected to take the information on the SDS and use it to develop site-specific safe work procedures. “Our workshops are designed to show employers exactly how to do that,” says Toni, explaining that a workplace-specific chemical management program involves everything from how a workplace chooses a chemical for use in their workplace, assessing the hazards associated with using it, developing safe work procedures, and delivering training to workers. “It’s much more than just a generic one-hour WHMIS training,” she explains. “These workshops will provide employers with the tools they need to go back to their workplaces and establish their program.”

How the workshops will help your business

“Good training is more than telling workers how to do something. Follow the teach me – show me -watch me principle,” explains Toni, especially for highly hazardous chemicals. “Explain how to safely perform a task, then show workers how to perform the task. Finally, have the workers demonstrate the task for you so that you can verify they understand the procedure. These workshops prepare employers to follow this principle in their training.”

The sessions will emphasize practical application, customization, and integration of WHMIS into a workplace’s broader chemical safety program.

Participants will receive: