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Worker Education

The final element in the WHMIS information system is worker training (or education). Education
provides the knowledge needed by workers to apply the information provided in the labels and Material
Safety Data Sheets. The section gives trainers an understanding of the worker training requirements
regarding controlled products.

Having a binder of Material Safety Data Sheets and nicely labeled containers means nothing without
the education component. Worker education is intended to train workers in specific work procedures,
the requirements for labels, MSDS, and information significant to worker health and safety. It is the
employer’s responsibility to educate any employee who works with or near a controlled product.
WHMIS doesn’t specify how frequently worker education must be provided.

The education requirements are addressed in the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Code – Part
29 Section 397-1 (Training). These requirements are performance-based - it is up to you to determine
the best training strategy for your worksite – it is the end result that counts. The performance measure
is that workers are able to use the information to protect their health and safety, and that of their co-
workers. The measure of successful training is in the worker’s ability to:

 Demonstrate safe work procedures
 Understand the hazards of the controlled product
 Know how to protect themselves and other workers from the hazards
 Know what to do in an emergency situation
 Know where to get more information

A worker education program contains 2 types of information: generic and site-specific education.
Generic education concerns the purpose of WHMIS and how to understand and use supplier and
workplace labels, identifiers and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) - the topics covered in this
manual. Site-specific education is concerned with the actual controlled products present in the
workplace: proper handling, emergency procedures, etc.

GENERIC EDUCATION

Generic education covers:

 information provided on supplier and workplace labels and the purpose and significance of
this information

 information contained in MSDS and the purpose and significance of this information

It is imperative that workers know how to use and interpret the information on labels and Material
Safety Data Sheets because this is their primary source of information about the chemicals handled.
Workers must recognize the hazard symbols, and know what they mean.

Other topics relating to chemicals in general, which would help workers use this information include:

 how chemicals enter the body
 ways chemicals affect the body
 proper use of PPE (e.g. respirators, gloves, eye protection)

AMHSA 37