Does WHMIS Training Expire?

One of the most common questions asked regarding WHMIS relates to how long WHMIS training lasts. If you’ve done a web search and asked, “Does WHMIS training expire?”, you’ve probably realized that it’s more difficult than you thought to find a clear answer.

Let’s start by stating the facts.

There is currently nothing in the legislation that specifies how often a worker must receive WHMIS training, and once they do receive training, how long before it expires.

So does that mean that WHMIS training doesn’t expire? Not necessarily.  It’s especially important that workers receive WHMIS training following the GHS integration that occurred in February 2015/

Just because a clearly defined expiration date for WHMIS training can’t be found in the legislation, it doesn’t mean that workers only need to take WHMIS training once.

 How Often Do Workers Need WHMIS Training?

The frequency in which a worker needs to receive WHMIS training will vary depending on a lot of factors. These factors include what industry the employee works in, the types of chemicals that they’re exposed to and the extent of risk when exposed to those chemicals, just to name a few.

Employers are required to assess their workplaces and develop a WHMIS program that mitigates chemical hazards. The WHMIS program should clearly outline the frequency in which WHMIS training should be provided to workers.

Any employee who may be exposed to a hazardous chemical must be able to answer the following questions easily:

1. Where can I find hazard information about chemicals I might be exposed to?
2. What exactly are the hazards that I may be exposed to?
3. How do I protect myself from those hazards?
4. What do I do in case of an emergency?

If a worker cannot answer the above questions, they must immediately receive adequate WHMIS education and training.

WHMIS Training Best Practices and Recommendations

Even though specific WHMIS training frequency is not currently outlined in the legislation, there are WHMIS training best practices and recommendations that can be adhered to.

It’s recommended that workers receive WHMIS Training at least annually. Following this recommendation is ideal since it can help to ensure that workers are regularly and more easily able to answer the critical questions that we reviewed above.

Many employers choose to “extend” their WHMIS Training by providing “refresher” WHMIS training one year after their initial training and “full” WHMIS training every other year. This WHMIS training schedule may work well depending on the specific workplace conditions as well as other factors.

How Long is Too Long?

Many would agree that exceeding two to three years without WHMIS training is too long and could result in significant consequences that include workers become ill or getting injured. It’s also very likely that most legislative authorities would find that workers not having completed WHMIS training for three years or more at a very high risk of getting injured or becoming ill.

It’s important to note that anytime new chemicals are introduced into the workplace, employees who may be exposed to those chemicals must receive additional training. Training for new chemicals must include, but should not be limited to, information on the hazards that they present, how the worker can protect themselves from those hazards and what to do in the case of an emergency.

Remember, working around chemicals can be very risky, and without adequate WHMIS training, can lead to life-changing illnesses, injuries and even death. Always make sure that you and your workers clearly understand the hazards associated with working with chemicals and the steps that need to be taken to mitigate those hazards.