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Health Canada (supplier rules) and federal, provincial and territorial OHS regulators (employer rules)

WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) Training Test

WHMIS is Canada's hazard communication system for hazardous products used at work. There is no single national WHMIS exam or government-issued WHMIS certificate: your employer must give you WHMIS education plus training specific to your workplace, and many employers check your knowledge with a quiz. This guide covers the core knowledge areas from official sources, reflecting the Hazardous Products Regulations as amended in December 2022.

Last checked against Health Canada (supplier rules) and federal, provincial and territorial OHS regulators (employer rules) on .

WHMIS at a glance

What WHMIS is
Canada's national hazard communication standard for hazardous products in the workplace, aligned with the UN Globally Harmonized System (GHS); key elements are labels, safety data sheets and worker education and training. source ↗
Who sets the rules
Suppliers are regulated federally under the Hazardous Products Act and Hazardous Products Regulations (Health Canada); employer and worker duties are set by federal, provincial and territorial occupational health and safety laws. source ↗
Latest amendments
Amendments to the Hazardous Products Regulations aligning WHMIS with the GHS 7th revised edition (and parts of the 8th) came into force on December 15, 2022. source ↗
Transition period
The 3-year transition for the 2022 amendments ended on December 14, 2025; suppliers' classifications, labels and SDSs must now meet the amended regulations. source ↗
Safety data sheet format
An SDS must use 16 standard headings in a set order, from Section 1 (Identification) to Section 16 (Other Information, which includes the date of the latest revision). source ↗
Supplier labels
Must show the product identifier, initial supplier identifier, pictogram(s), signal word, hazard statement(s), precautionary statement(s) and any required supplemental information, in English and French. source ↗
Biohazard pictogram
Biohazardous Infectious Materials use a biohazard symbol in a round border because this class is unique to Canada; other WHMIS pictograms use a red square-on-point border. source ↗
Training review (Ontario)
Ontario employers must review WHMIS training and instruction at least annually, in consultation with the joint health and safety committee or health and safety representative, and more often if circumstances change. source ↗
Training review (British Columbia)
B.C.'s OHS Regulation requires the WHMIS program to be reviewed at least annually and to include periodic evaluation of worker knowledge, such as written tests or practical demonstrations. source ↗
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What the WHMIS covers

AreaWhat to know
Legislation and rolesFederal supplier law (Hazardous Products Act and Regulations) versus employer/worker duties under OHS law; responsibilities of suppliers, employers and workers; confidential business information claims.
Hazard classesPhysical and health hazard groups, classes and categories, including Biohazardous Infectious Materials and the 2022 changes (Chemicals Under Pressure, Aerosols, Flammable Gases 1A/1B).
PictogramsRecognising each WHMIS pictogram, the hazards it represents, the optional environment pictogram, and classes or categories that carry no pictogram.
Supplier labelsRequired supplier label elements, signal words, bilingual requirement and what to do if a supplier label is missing or illegible.
Workplace labelsWhen a workplace label is needed (decanted, workplace-produced or replaced labels), its minimum content, and the immediate-use exemption.
Safety data sheetsThe 16 SDS sections in order, where to find first aid, PPE, spill, storage and property information, SDS access and updates.
Safe handling, storage and emergenciesUsing label and SDS information to choose controls and PPE, store products safely, and respond to spills, exposures and fires.
Training and worker rightsGeneral WHMIS education versus workplace-specific training, review frequency set by each jurisdiction, and the worker's right to know.

How to get certified

  1. 1

    Find out which rules apply to your workplace

    Your employer's WHMIS duties come from your province or territory's OHS law, or the Canada Labour Code if the workplace is federally regulated. Ask your supervisor or health and safety representative how the WHMIS program is run.

  2. 2

    Complete general WHMIS education

    Learn the system itself: hazard classes, pictograms, supplier and workplace labels, and how to read an SDS. Employers may deliver this in-house or through an outside provider; regulators such as WorkSafeBC do not issue WHMIS certificates.

  3. 3

    Receive workplace-specific training

    Your employer must train you on the hazardous products you actually use or may be exposed to, including safe use, storage, handling, disposal and emergency procedures at your site.

  4. 4

    Show what you know

    Many employers use a written quiz or a practical demonstration (for example, finding the PPE section on an SDS) to confirm you can apply the information. The format is set by your employer's program.

  5. 5

    Keep records and know where the SDSs are

    Keep a copy of any completion record your employer gives you, and confirm where SDSs are kept or how to access them electronically during your shift.

  6. 6

    Take part in reviews and refresher training

    Training is reviewed on the schedule your jurisdiction sets (at least annually in Ontario and B.C., for example) and whenever new products, processes or hazard information arrive.

How to study

  • Learn pictograms by hazard: flame for flammables, flame over circle for oxidizers, gas cylinder for gases under pressure, skull and crossbones for severe acute toxicity, exclamation mark for less severe effects.
  • Memorise the SDS sections in order with a few anchors: 2 hazards, 4 first aid, 6 spills, 7 handling and storage, 8 PPE, 9 physical properties, 16 revision date.
  • Practise with real labels and SDSs from your own workplace; the workplace-specific part of your training is about those products.
  • Contrast supplier labels (full GHS elements, bilingual) with workplace labels (product identifier, safe handling, SDS reference) until you can list both from memory.
  • Use material reflecting the December 2022 amendments; older WHMIS 1988 resources (hatched borders, MSDS, letter classes) are out of date.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official government WHMIS certificate?

No. WHMIS training is provided by or for your employer as part of its WHMIS program under OHS law. WorkSafeBC, for example, states that it does not provide WHMIS training or certification. A course completion record shows you took general education, but your employer must still give you workplace-specific training.

Can I reuse a WHMIS course from a previous job?

General WHMIS knowledge carries over, but workplace-specific training does not. Each employer must train you on the hazardous products, procedures and emergency plans at its own workplace before you work with those products.

How often does WHMIS training need to be refreshed?

It depends on the jurisdiction. Ontario requires employers to review training at least annually with the joint committee or health and safety representative, and B.C. requires the WHMIS program to be reviewed at least annually. A review does not automatically mean full retraining; it determines whether updates or retraining are needed.

What changed in WHMIS recently?

Amendments to the Hazardous Products Regulations came into force on December 15, 2022, aligning WHMIS with the GHS 7th revised edition. They added a Chemicals Under Pressure class, renamed Flammable Aerosols to Aerosols with a non-flammable category, and split Flammable Gases Category 1 into 1A and 1B. The transition period ended on December 14, 2025.

What is the difference between a supplier label and a workplace label?

A supplier label comes from the supplier and must include the product identifier, supplier identifier, pictograms, signal word, hazard and precautionary statements, in English and French. A workplace label is used for decanted or workplace-produced products and must give at least the product identifier, safe handling information and a reference to the SDS where one is available.

Why is an ingredient listed as confidential on my SDS?

Suppliers may file a confidential business information claim with Health Canada under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act to protect details such as an ingredient's chemical identity or concentration. The SDS must then show a registry number for the claim in place of the protected information. The hazard information itself must still be disclosed.

Who pays for or provides WHMIS training?

WHMIS education and training are employer obligations under OHS law. Employers can deliver the training in-house or use an outside provider, as long as it meets the jurisdiction's requirements.

Official sources

Sources checked October 31, 2026. VoltExam is independent and not affiliated with Health Canada (supplier rules) and federal, provincial and territorial OHS regulators (employer rules). Rules change: confirm details with the official source before your exam.