What Is a WHMIS Certificate?

WHMIS is Canada's national hazard communication system for workplace chemicals. It has three main parts:

1. Labels on hazardous products and their containers
2. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) with detailed hazard and safety information
3. Worker education and training

The current version is often called WHMIS 2015 because it was updated that year to align with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). The transition from the old WHMIS 1988 system ended for most workplaces on December 1, 2018.

A good WHMIS course teaches you to:

• Recognize the hazard classes: physical hazards (for example flammable, oxidizing, gases under pressure) and health hazards (for example acute toxicity, skin corrosion, carcinogenicity)
• Read the GHS pictograms, the symbols inside red-bordered diamonds, and know what each one means
• Understand labels: supplier labels vs workplace labels, and the signal words "Danger" (more severe) and "Warning" (less severe)
• Find information on a Safety Data Sheet, which has 16 standard sections, including first aid, spill response and personal protective equipment
• Know your rights and responsibilities and what to do in an emergency

Anyone who works with, or may be exposed to, hazardous products at work. That includes many jobs in construction, warehousing, manufacturing, healthcare, cleaning and janitorial work, auto repair, food service, retail, salons, labs and landscaping.

New workers, students and newcomers to Canada are often asked for WHMIS before their first shift. Staffing agencies commonly ask for it too.

There are two layers, and you need both:

• General WHMIS education, which is what your certificate covers. It teaches the system: labels, pictograms, SDSs and your rights. This is portable, so you bring it to each new job.
• Workplace-specific training, which your employer must give you. It covers the actual products at your site, where the SDSs are kept, and your site's procedures for handling, storage, spills and emergencies.

A certificate from any provider can't replace the second layer. Workplace safety laws across Canada put that duty on the employer, so it isn't just a Gama policy.

There's no single legal expiry date. Employers must review WHMIS training regularly (at least annually in BC and Ontario) and retrain when things change. Many employers set their own refresher cycle, often every 1 to 3 years. Read more in How long is WHMIS good for?

When you hand over your certificate at a new job or a staffing agency, the person checking it usually looks for four things:

• The right system. It should say WHMIS 2015 or GHS. Training under the old WHMIS 1988 system is out of date.
• A recent date. Many employers want training completed within the last 1 to 3 years, depending on their policy.
• Your name, spelled correctly, matching your ID.
• The training provider, so they can verify it if needed.

Keep a digital copy on your phone and the wallet card in your wallet. If you lose it, you can download your certificate again from your Gama Safety account.

1. Enrol in the Online WHMIS 2015 (GHS) course: $29.95.
2. Study at your own pace on a phone, tablet or computer. Most people finish in about 90 minutes.
3. Pass the final exam with 80% or better. Retakes are unlimited.
4. Download your digital certificate right away. A physical wallet card is mailed to you free.

The course is available in English and French, plus Spanish, Punjabi, Hindi, Mandarin and more.

Prefer a classroom? On-campus WHMIS in Burnaby is $84.95 (3 hours) at 122-2544 Douglas Road. Questions? Call +1 (866) 661-9803.