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WHMIS 2015 study materials
WHMIS 2015 study resources

WHMIS 2015 practice questions

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Question 1WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Under WHMIS 2015, which set of criteria is used to classify a hazardous product as a health hazard?

  1. The criteria in the Hazardous Products Regulations, which incorporate the GHS health hazard classes Correct answer.
  2. The criteria in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations, which govern all workplace labelling
  3. The criteria in each province's occupational health and safety Act, which vary by jurisdiction
  4. The criteria in the Canada Labour Code, which lists every controlled product by name

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 is implemented federally through the Hazardous Products Act and the Hazardous Products Regulations, which adopt GHS-aligned hazard classes including health hazards. Provincial and territorial WHMIS legislation applies those federal rules in workplaces rather than creating its own classification criteria. Transport rules address conveyance, not workplace classification.

Question 2WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which federal statute provides the authority for the Hazardous Products Regulations that underpin WHMIS 2015?

  1. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act
  2. The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Review Act
  3. The Food and Drugs Act
  4. The Hazardous Products Act Correct answer.

Explanation

The Hazardous Products Act authorizes the Hazardous Products Regulations, which set out the GHS-aligned hazard classes, pictograms, labels and safety data sheet requirements. The other statutes address environmental protection, trade-secret review procedures and food and drug products respectively.

Question 3WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A supplier ships a hazardous product into Canada for workplace use. Which obligation does WHMIS 2015 place on that supplier?

  1. Register the product with each province before shipping
  2. Post the safety data sheet in the purchaser's workplace
  3. Train the purchaser's workers on safe handling procedures
  4. Provide a compliant label and safety data sheet with the sale or import Correct answer.

Explanation

Suppliers must classify the product, attach a compliant label and provide a current safety data sheet when selling or importing a hazardous product for workplace use. Training workers and posting SDSs in the workplace are employer duties, not supplier duties, and there is no provincial product registration step.

Question 4WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

What is the main structural change WHMIS 2015 introduced compared with the original WHMIS?

  1. It eliminated supplier labelling in favour of employer-generated labels only
  2. It replaced six hazard classes and symbols with GHS-aligned hazard classes and pictograms Correct answer.
  3. It made worker education optional where labels are present
  4. It removed the requirement for safety data sheets in workplaces

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 aligned Canada's system with the Globally Harmonized System, replacing the older hazard classes and symbols with GHS hazard classes and standardized pictograms. It retained the three core elements of labels, safety data sheets and worker education, so the other options misstate the change.

Question 5WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which pictogram is required for a product classified as a health hazard causing serious health effects such as carcinogenicity or respiratory sensitization?

  1. The flame symbol
  2. The health hazard symbol showing a human torso with a starburst on the chest Correct answer.
  3. The skull and crossbones symbol
  4. The corrosion symbol

Explanation

The health hazard pictogram, a silhouette of a person's chest with a starburst, identifies serious health hazards including carcinogenicity, respiratory sensitization, germ cell mutagenicity and reproductive toxicity. The skull and crossbones signals acute toxicity, the flame signals flammability, and corrosion signals corrosive damage.

Question 6WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

On a WHMIS 2015 supplier label, what does a signal word indicate?

  1. The physical state of the product at room temperature
  2. The expiry date of the safety data sheet
  3. The name of the importer responsible for the product
  4. The relative severity of the hazard, using either Danger or Warning Correct answer.

Explanation

Signal words convey relative hazard severity: Danger indicates the more severe level and Warning the less severe level within a hazard class. They do not describe physical state, identify the importer, or give SDS expiry dates.

Question 7WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which document replaced the material safety data sheet under WHMIS 2015?

  1. The workplace chemical inventory, posted at the entrance
  2. The controlled product data sheet, organized into 9 sections
  3. The hazardous materials register, updated annually
  4. The safety data sheet, organized into 16 standard sections Correct answer.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 replaced the material safety data sheet with the safety data sheet, which follows a standardized 16-section GHS format. The other documents do not exist as WHMIS replacements; inventories and registers serve different workplace purposes.

Question 8WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Under WHMIS 2015, who is responsible for ensuring workers receive education and training on hazardous products used in their workplace?

  1. The employer Correct answer.
  2. The supplier of the product
  3. The worker's union representative
  4. The joint health and safety committee chair

Explanation

Employers must ensure workers are educated and trained on the hazardous products present and on the information in labels and safety data sheets. Suppliers provide labels and SDSs, while committees and representatives participate in the program but do not carry the legal training duty.

Question 9WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A product is classified as a flammable liquid under WHMIS 2015. Which combination of label elements must a supplier provide?

  1. The flame pictogram, a signal word, and a hazard statement describing the flammability hazard Correct answer.
  2. The health hazard pictogram, the product's CAS number, and a first aid statement only
  3. The corrosion pictogram, a precautionary statement, and the supplier's phone number only
  4. The gas cylinder pictogram, the boiling point, and a signal word

Explanation

A WHMIS 2015 supplier label must include the pictogram applicable to the hazard class, a signal word, hazard statements and precautionary statements. For a flammable liquid, the flame pictogram and a flammability hazard statement are required, while the other options pair the wrong pictogram or omit required elements.

Question 10WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A worker decants a hazardous solvent from a labelled supplier container into a smaller spray bottle for immediate use during the shift. What label requirement applies?

  1. Only the product's trade name must appear, with no hazard information
  2. No label is ever required once the product leaves the supplier container
  3. The full supplier label must be reproduced exactly on the smaller container
  4. The workplace container must carry a label with the product identifier and hazard information, unless it is under the worker's control and used immediately Correct answer.

Explanation

Employers must label portable containers of hazardous products, but a workplace label may be simplified and, in some jurisdictions, a label is not required if the product is under the control of and used immediately by the worker who decanted it. A full supplier label is not required on the workplace container.

Question 11WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A safety data sheet provided to a Canadian workplace is organized into the standard GHS sections. Which section contains information on first-aid measures?

  1. Section 2
  2. Section 7
  3. Section 4 Correct answer.
  4. Section 9

Explanation

The 16-section safety data sheet places first-aid measures in Section 4. Section 2 covers hazard identification, Section 7 covers handling and storage, and Section 9 covers physical and chemical properties.

Question 12WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

How does WHMIS 2015 address hazardous products that are present in a workplace but not covered by the federal supplier rules, such as those produced in-house?

  1. The employer must classify them and provide workplace labels and safety data sheets Correct answer.
  2. They are exempt from all WHMIS requirements because no supplier was involved
  3. They require only a supplier label obtained from the manufacturer after the fact
  4. They must be reported to Health Canada before use in the workplace

Explanation

Where hazardous products are manufactured, produced or otherwise not received from a supplier, the employer takes on the supplier obligations, including classification and provision of workplace labels and safety data sheets. The absence of a supplier does not exempt the product from WHMIS.

Question 13WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

An employer wants to withhold a specific chemical identity from a safety data sheet on trade-secret grounds. Which process applies under WHMIS 2015?

  1. The employer applies to Health Canada for a permanent confidentiality order
  2. The employer simply omits the identity and notes trade secret on the SDS
  3. The employer asks the supplier to remove the identity from all SDSs
  4. The employer files a claim for exemption with the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission and uses a masked identifier pending the outcome Correct answer.

Explanation

Trade-secret claims are filed with the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission, which reviews the claim and can allow a masked chemical name and identifier while the hazard information remains disclosed. Simply omitting the identity or asking the supplier to alter the SDS does not follow the regulated process.

Question 14WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A supplier label on a hazardous product is damaged and no longer legible in the workplace. What must the employer do?

  1. Leave it in place because supplier labels cannot be altered
  2. Remove the product from service permanently
  3. Rely on the safety data sheet alone and leave the container unlabelled
  4. Replace it with a workplace label containing the required information Correct answer.

Explanation

Employers must ensure hazardous product containers remain labelled; if a supplier label is illegible or lost, the employer must affix a workplace label with the product identifier and hazard information. Relying solely on the SDS or leaving the container unlabelled does not meet the requirement.

Question 15WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which statement correctly describes the relationship between WHMIS 2015 and the Globally Harmonized System?

  1. WHMIS 2015 rejects GHS and retains only the original WHMIS symbols
  2. WHMIS 2015 is identical to GHS in every respect with no national variations
  3. WHMIS 2015 applies GHS only to physical hazards and not to health hazards
  4. WHMIS 2015 adopts GHS hazard classes and communication elements but allows Canadian-specific adjustments Correct answer.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 is based on GHS but is not a verbatim copy; Canada has made adjustments such as retaining certain hazard classes and regulatory details suited to the Canadian context. It applies GHS to both physical and health hazards and does not retain the original WHMIS symbols.

Question 16WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A workplace stores a product classified as an oxidizing liquid. Which pictogram should appear on its label?

  1. The gas cylinder
  2. The flame over a circle Correct answer.
  3. The exploding bomb
  4. The flame

Explanation

Oxidizing liquids and solids use the pictogram of a flame over a circle, indicating the product can cause or intensify fire by yielding oxygen. The plain flame pictogram indicates flammability, the exploding bomb indicates explosives, and the gas cylinder indicates gases under pressure.

Question 17WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which hazard class is a WHMIS 2015 physical hazard that the original WHMIS did not communicate with a dedicated symbol?

  1. Gases under pressure Correct answer.
  2. Oxidizing materials
  3. Flammable liquids
  4. Corrosive materials

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 added hazard classes such as gases under pressure, which use the gas cylinder pictogram and had no dedicated equivalent in the original WHMIS. Flammable liquids, oxidizing materials and corrosives were already communicated under the older system.

Question 18WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A safety data sheet in a workplace is three years old and the supplier has issued a revised version. What does WHMIS 2015 require?

  1. The employer must obtain and make available the most recent SDS provided by the supplier Correct answer.
  2. The employer may keep the older SDS indefinitely because SDSs do not expire
  3. The employer must rewrite the SDS in workplace-specific language
  4. The employer must destroy all older SDSs and keep no record

Explanation

Employers must ensure the safety data sheet available in the workplace is current; when a supplier provides a revised SDS, the employer must replace the outdated one. SDSs are not rewritten by employers, and older versions are not kept as the active document.

Question 19WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which statement best explains why WHMIS 2015 uses standardized hazard statements rather than free-form warning text?

  1. Standardized statements reduce the amount of hazard information a supplier must disclose
  2. Standardized statements eliminate the need for worker training in the workplace
  3. Standardized statements allow employers to choose which hazards to communicate
  4. Standardized statements let workers and emergency responders recognize the same hazard wording across products and jurisdictions Correct answer.

Explanation

GHS-aligned hazard statements use consistent wording so the same hazard is described identically on labels and SDSs regardless of product or country of origin. This supports recognition and comprehension but does not reduce disclosure, replace training, or let employers pick which hazards to communicate.

Question 20WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A worker asks whether an employer can substitute a workplace-generated label for the supplier label on the original container received from the supplier. Which answer is correct?

  1. Either label type is acceptable on the original container at the employer's discretion
  2. The supplier label must remain on the container as received; a workplace label is used for containers the employer fills Correct answer.
  3. A workplace label may replace the supplier label once the product is placed in storage
  4. No label is needed on the original container if the SDS is posted nearby

Explanation

The supplier label must stay on the container as received from the supplier; workplace labels are required when the employer transfers product into another container or when the supplier label is lost or illegible. Employer discretion does not allow replacing a valid supplier label, and SDS posting does not substitute for labeling.

Question 21WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

How do WHMIS 2015 requirements interact with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations when a hazardous product is shipped?

  1. TDG governs the transport documentation and means of containment, while WHMIS governs workplace labels and SDSs Correct answer.
  2. The two regimes are mutually exclusive and never apply to the same product
  3. TDG requirements override WHMIS in the workplace once the product is delivered
  4. WHMIS labels always replace TDG transport labels during shipment

Explanation

TDG regulates the transport of dangerous goods, including classification for transport, documentation and means of containment, while WHMIS governs workplace communication through labels and SDSs. Both regimes can apply to the same product at different stages, and neither simply displaces the other.

Question 22WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

An employer introduces a new hazardous product and must decide what information workers need before first use. Which combination reflects WHMIS 2015 obligations?

  1. Education on the hazards, plus training on the specific safe use, storage and emergency procedures for that product Correct answer.
  2. Only the supplier label, which is self-explanatory to trained workers
  3. Only the safety data sheet, provided on request after first use
  4. Only a general WHMIS overview given at initial hire

Explanation

WHMIS requires both general education about the system and product-specific training covering hazards, safe handling, storage and emergency procedures before workers use a product. Providing only an SDS, only a label, or only generic orientation does not satisfy the training obligation.

Question 23WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A supplier label for a product classified for both skin corrosion and acute toxicity must include which elements?

  1. No pictograms, because multiple hazards cancel the pictogram requirement
  2. A single pictogram chosen by the supplier and a general warning statement
  3. Both applicable pictograms, a signal word reflecting the most severe hazard, and hazard statements for each hazard Correct answer.
  4. Only the pictogram for the more severe hazard, with no hazard statements

Explanation

When a product has multiple hazards, the label shows each applicable pictogram and hazard statement, with the signal word reflecting the most severe hazard category. Pictograms are not dropped because more than one hazard exists, and suppliers do not choose which hazards to display.

Question 24WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which situation most clearly requires the employer to treat an in-house mixture as a hazardous product under WHMIS 2015?

  1. Workers dilute a purchased product with water exactly as the supplier's directions specify
  2. Workers store a purchased product in a different cabinet than the supplier recommends
  3. Workers repackage a purchased product into smaller containers for their own shift
  4. Workers blend two purchased chemicals and the resulting mixture meets a hazard class criterion in the Hazardous Products Regulations Correct answer.

Explanation

When an employer creates a mixture that meets a hazard class criterion, the employer assumes the supplier's classification and communication duties for that product. Diluting as directed, repackaging, or relocating a purchased product does not create a new hazardous product requiring employer classification.

Question 25WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A product's safety data sheet lists a hazard statement that is inconsistent with the hazard statements on its supplier label. What is the most defensible employer action?

  1. Seek clarification or a corrected SDS and label from the supplier and document the discrepancy while ensuring workers are informed of the hazard Correct answer.
  2. Continue use without action because WHMIS does not address inconsistencies
  3. Ignore the SDS because labels take legal precedence over SDS content
  4. Remove the hazard statement from the workplace label to match the SDS

Explanation

Labels and SDSs must present consistent hazard information; a discrepancy signals a possible supplier error that the employer should resolve by contacting the supplier and obtaining corrected documents. Meanwhile, workers should be informed of the hazard, and the employer should not alter hazard statements to force consistency.

Question 26WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Under WHMIS 2015, which federal legislation establishes the requirements for classifying hazardous products and for the content of supplier labels and safety data sheets?

  1. The Canada Labour Code, Part II
  2. The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act
  3. The Hazardous Products Act Correct answer.
  4. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act

Explanation

The federal Hazardous Products Act, supported by the Hazardous Products Regulations, sets out the classification criteria and the required supplier label and safety data sheet content for hazardous products sold or imported into Canada. The Canada Labour Code addresses workplace health and safety in federally regulated workplaces, not supplier classification. The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act governs transport, and the Canadian Environmental Protection Act addresses environmental protection.

Question 27WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which document must a Canadian supplier provide to a purchaser for a hazardous product classified under WHMIS 2015?

  1. A workplace label
  2. A transportation emergency response plan
  3. A hazardous waste manifest
  4. A safety data sheet Correct answer.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 requires suppliers to provide a safety data sheet, in the standard 16-section format, along with the supplier label when selling or importing a hazardous product for use in a workplace. A workplace label is created by the employer, not the supplier. Emergency response plans and waste manifests relate to transport and disposal, not supplier hazard communication.

Question 28WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which of the following is a hazard class under the WHMIS 2015 physical hazards group?

  1. Serious eye damage
  2. Carcinogenicity
  3. Flammable liquids Correct answer.
  4. Respiratory sensitization

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 organizes hazards into physical hazards and health hazards. Flammable liquids belong to the physical hazards group, while carcinogenicity, respiratory sensitization, and serious eye damage are health hazard classes. This grouping determines which pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements apply.

Question 29WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

On a WHMIS 2015 supplier label, which element is mandatory for a product classified as a flammable liquid?

  1. The corrosion pictogram
  2. The skull and crossbones pictogram
  3. The biohazardous infectious materials pictogram
  4. The flame pictogram Correct answer.

Explanation

Flammable liquids are assigned the flame pictogram under WHMIS 2015. The skull and crossbones indicates acute toxicity, the biohazardous infectious materials pictogram indicates a biohazard, and the corrosion pictogram indicates corrosive effects. The pictogram must appear on the supplier label along with the signal word and hazard statements.

Question 30WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which statement accurately describes the alignment between WHMIS 2015 and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)?

  1. WHMIS 2015 replaced GHS with a separate Canadian classification system that is not based on GHS.
  2. WHMIS 2015 is an international treaty that directly applies GHS without any national modifications.
  3. WHMIS 2015 incorporates GHS criteria for classification and communication, with Canadian-specific requirements such as the 16-section SDS format and bilingual labels. Correct answer.
  4. WHMIS 2015 adopts GHS pictograms but not GHS hazard statements or precautionary statements.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 is Canada's implementation of the GHS, so it uses GHS hazard classes, pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements. However, Canada has adopted specific requirements, including a standardized 16-section safety data sheet and bilingual labelling. WHMIS 2015 is not an international treaty and does not replace GHS with an unrelated system.

Question 31WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A supplier label for a hazardous product must include which of the following elements under WHMIS 2015?

  1. The product identifier, the workplace address, and the date of purchase
  2. The chemical name, the CAS registry number, and the manufacturer's address
  3. The product identifier, the expiry date, and the net quantity
  4. The product identifier, the supplier identifier, and a statement that a safety data sheet is available Correct answer.

Explanation

A WHMIS 2015 supplier label must include the product identifier, the supplier identifier, a statement that a safety data sheet is available, and the required hazard pictograms, signal word, hazard statements, and precautionary statements. Expiry dates, CAS numbers, and workplace addresses are not mandatory label elements. The label communicates hazard information, not purchasing or inventory details.

Question 32WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

What is the required order of the 16 sections in a WHMIS 2015 safety data sheet?

  1. They must follow the order used by the supplier's country of origin, which may differ from the GHS order.
  2. They must follow the standard GHS order, beginning with identification and ending with other information. Correct answer.
  3. They may place the hazardous ingredients section first if that is most useful to workers.
  4. They may be arranged alphabetically by section title.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 requires safety data sheets to use the standard 16-section GHS format in a fixed order, starting with Section 1 Identification and ending with Section 16 Other information. This consistency helps workers and emergency responders locate information quickly. Suppliers cannot rearrange sections alphabetically or by country preference.

Question 33WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which section of a WHMIS 2015 safety data sheet contains information on first-aid measures?

  1. Section 4 Correct answer.
  2. Section 8
  3. Section 6
  4. Section 2

Explanation

In the standard 16-section SDS format, Section 4 is First-aid measures. Section 2 covers hazard identification, Section 6 covers accidental release measures, and Section 8 covers exposure controls and personal protection. Knowing the section numbers helps workers retrieve critical information quickly.

Question 34WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

An employer in a workplace where WHMIS 2015 applies must ensure that workers are educated and trained on hazardous products. Which statement best describes the employer's duty?

  1. The employer may rely on the supplier to train workers on the safe use of the product.
  2. The employer is required to train workers only when a new product is introduced, not when processes change.
  3. The employer must provide training only to workers who handle hazardous products directly.
  4. The employer must ensure workers understand the hazards, the label information, and the safety data sheet information relevant to their work. Correct answer.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 places the duty on the employer to ensure that workers who work with or may be exposed to hazardous products receive education and training, including how to read labels and safety data sheets and how to use the information safely. Training is required for all potentially exposed workers, not only those who directly handle the product, and it must be updated when conditions change. Suppliers do not train workers in the workplace.

Question 35WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A worker transfers a hazardous cleaning product from its original supplier container into an unlabelled spray bottle for use during the same shift. What labelling requirement applies under WHMIS 2015?

  1. The worker must obtain a new safety data sheet for the spray bottle before use.
  2. The supplier label must be removed and replaced with a transportation label.
  3. No label is ever required for portable containers used in the same shift.
  4. The employer must ensure the portable container is labelled with a workplace label or the product identifier and hazard information, unless the product is used immediately by the worker who transferred it. Correct answer.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 requires hazardous products in portable containers to be labelled, but there is a limited exception when the product is transferred and used immediately by the worker who transferred it. Otherwise, a workplace label or a label containing the product identifier and hazard information is required. A new SDS is not issued for a portable container.

Question 36WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

When may an employer use a workplace label instead of a supplier label on a hazardous product?

  1. When the product is being prepared for shipment to another province.
  2. When the employer wants to add the company logo to the product container.
  3. When the product has been transferred from a supplier container into a container that will be used in the workplace. Correct answer.
  4. When the supplier label is damaged and the employer wants to avoid requesting a replacement.

Explanation

A workplace label is used when a hazardous product is transferred from its original supplier container into another container in the workplace. If a supplier label is damaged, the employer must replace it with a supplier label or a workplace label that meets the requirements, not simply avoid the issue. Workplace labels are not for adding logos or for products being shipped, which require transportation labels.

Question 37WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which pictogram is used under WHMIS 2015 for a product that is an oxidizing liquid?

  1. The flame over a circle Correct answer.
  2. The flame
  3. The exploding bomb
  4. The gas cylinder

Explanation

The oxidizing liquid hazard class uses the flame-over-circle pictogram. The flame pictogram is used for flammable products, the exploding bomb for self-reactive substances and organic peroxides, and the gas cylinder for gases under pressure. Using the correct pictogram is essential for rapid hazard recognition.

Question 38WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

What is the purpose of a signal word on a WHMIS 2015 supplier label?

  1. To provide the manufacturer's emergency telephone number
  2. To state the physical state of the product at room temperature
  3. To indicate the relative severity of the hazard, using either Danger or Warning Correct answer.
  4. To identify the chemical family of the product

Explanation

A signal word communicates the relative level of hazard severity. WHMIS 2015 uses Danger for more severe hazards and Warning for less severe hazards. It does not identify chemical family, provide contact information, or describe physical state.

Question 39WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which hazard class under WHMIS 2015 uses the health hazard pictogram showing a stylized human torso with a starburst?

  1. Flammable solids
  2. Skin corrosion
  3. Acute toxicity
  4. Carcinogenicity Correct answer.

Explanation

The health hazard pictogram, a human torso with a starburst over the chest, is used for hazards such as carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory sensitization, and specific target organ toxicity. Acute toxicity uses the skull and crossbones, skin corrosion uses the corrosion pictogram, and flammable solids use the flame.

Question 40WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Under WHMIS 2015, which statement correctly describes the employer's obligation when a hazardous product is received without a supplier label?

  1. The employer may use the product if the SDS is available, even without a label.
  2. The employer may use the product if workers have been trained on its hazards.
  3. The employer must return the product to the supplier and cannot use it under any circumstances.
  4. The employer must obtain a supplier label or apply a workplace label before the product is used or stored. Correct answer.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 requires hazardous products in the workplace to be labelled. If a supplier label is missing, the employer must obtain a supplier label or apply a workplace label that meets the requirements before the product is used or stored. An SDS alone or worker training does not replace the labelling requirement.

Question 41WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A safety data sheet in a workplace is older than three years and the supplier has issued a revised version. What does WHMIS 2015 require the employer to do?

  1. Update the safety data sheet with the most recent version available from the supplier. Correct answer.
  2. Keep the old safety data sheet until the product is used up, regardless of the revision.
  3. Ask workers to sign a form acknowledging the old safety data sheet.
  4. Discard the safety data sheet and rely on the supplier label only.

Explanation

Employers must ensure that safety data sheets are current and reflect the most recent information from the supplier. When a supplier issues a revised SDS, the employer should replace the old one. Keeping an outdated SDS or relying only on the label does not meet the requirement.

Question 42WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

An employer introduces a new hazardous product into the workplace. Which combination of actions best meets WHMIS 2015 requirements before first use?

  1. Rely on the supplier's website for hazard information and skip workplace training.
  2. Post the supplier label in a common area and allow workers to read it when needed.
  3. Provide the SDS only to supervisors and rely on them to inform workers orally.
  4. Obtain and make available the current SDS, ensure the product is properly labelled, and train workers on the hazards and safe handling. Correct answer.

Explanation

Before a new hazardous product is used, the employer must have a current SDS available, ensure the container is labelled, and provide education and training to workers who may be exposed. Simply posting a label, restricting the SDS to supervisors, or relying on a website does not satisfy these duties.

Question 43WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which situation most clearly requires an employer to treat an in-house mixture as a hazardous product under WHMIS 2015?

  1. The mixture is a sample sent to a laboratory for analysis only.
  2. The mixture is a non-hazardous cleaning solution made from water and vinegar.
  3. The mixture is prepared for immediate use by the person who mixed it and is not hazardous.
  4. The mixture is prepared by combining hazardous products and meets the criteria for a hazard class. Correct answer.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 applies to hazardous products, including mixtures produced in the workplace that meet hazard classification criteria. If the mixture is hazardous, the employer must ensure labelling and SDS or equivalent information as required. Non-hazardous mixtures and immediate-use exceptions do not trigger the same requirements.

Question 44WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A product's safety data sheet lists a hazard statement that is inconsistent with the hazard statements on its supplier label. What should the employer do?

  1. Ignore the SDS because the label is always the authoritative source.
  2. Remove the label and rely on the SDS alone.
  3. Seek clarification or a corrected SDS and label from the supplier, and ensure workers are informed of the correct hazard information. Correct answer.
  4. Continue using the product without action because inconsistencies are permitted.

Explanation

Labels and SDSs should communicate consistent hazard information. If there is an inconsistency, the employer should contact the supplier for clarification or corrected documents and ensure workers have accurate information. Ignoring either document or continuing without action could compromise worker safety.

Question 45WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which of the following is a health hazard class under WHMIS 2015?

  1. Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure Correct answer.
  2. Gases under pressure
  3. Self-reactive substances
  4. Flammable gases

Explanation

Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure is a health hazard class under WHMIS 2015. Flammable gases, self-reactive substances, and gases under pressure are physical hazard classes. Health hazard classes address effects on the body, while physical hazard classes address hazards such as fire, explosion, and pressure.

Question 46WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

What information must a workplace label include under WHMIS 2015?

  1. The product identifier and the supplier's telephone number only
  2. The expiry date and the storage temperature
  3. The product identifier, information for the safe handling of the product, and a statement that a safety data sheet is available Correct answer.
  4. The chemical formula and the molecular weight

Explanation

A workplace label must contain the product identifier, safe handling information, and a statement that a safety data sheet is available. It does not need to duplicate all supplier label elements such as pictograms, but it must convey the key information workers need. Chemical formula, expiry date, and storage temperature are not required workplace label elements.

Question 47WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Which statement about the role of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is correct?

  1. WHMIS is a voluntary industry program that employers may choose to follow.
  2. WHMIS is an international agency that issues global chemical classifications.
  3. WHMIS is a system of laws and regulations that requires hazard communication for hazardous products in Canadian workplaces. Correct answer.
  4. WHMIS is a federal program that applies only to government laboratories.

Explanation

WHMIS is a legally mandated system, supported by federal, provincial, and territorial legislation, that requires suppliers and employers to communicate hazard information through labels, SDSs, and training. It is not voluntary, not an international agency, and not limited to government laboratories.

Question 48WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

Under WHMIS 2015, hazardous products are organized into which two hazard groups?

  1. Corrosive hazards and toxic hazards
  2. Physical hazards and environmental hazards
  3. Health hazards and transport hazards
  4. Physical hazards and health hazards Correct answer.

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 adopts the GHS structure in which every hazard class falls within one of two groups: physical hazards (such as flammability or reactivity) and health hazards (such as acute toxicity or carcinogenicity). Environmental hazards exist in GHS but are not adopted as a WHMIS hazard group, and transport classification belongs to a separate regulatory system.

Question 49WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A worker decants a solvent into a smaller container that will be used only during the current shift by that same worker. Which statement best reflects WHMIS 2015 requirements for this container?

  1. The container needs only the product identifier and the supplier's emergency telephone number
  2. The container must be labelled with a workplace label listing every hazard statement from the SDS
  3. The container must always carry a full supplier label including all six required elements
  4. The container may be left unlabelled if the product is used immediately and only by the worker who transferred it Correct answer.

Explanation

WHMIS permits hazardous products transferred into a container used by the same worker who transferred it, and used immediately, to remain unlabelled; once the material is not under that worker's immediate control or is stored, a workplace label is required. Supplier labels travel with supplier containers, and a workplace label does not need to reproduce all hazard statements.

Question 50WHMIS legislation and GHS alignment

A supplier ships a hazardous product whose classification changed after new toxicological data became available, but the SDS on hand in the workplace still reflects the old classification. What is the most accurate analysis of the employer's WHMIS 2015 obligation?

  1. The employer must obtain the supplier's current SDS and update the workplace copy, since the employer must ensure a current SDS is readily available to workers Correct answer.
  2. The employer may keep the older SDS provided the supplier label still matches the container as received
  3. The employer may keep the older SDS if workers are verbally advised of the changed classification
  4. The employer may keep the older SDS because a supplier is only required to update an SDS every five years

Explanation

WHMIS 2015 requires employers to make sure a current SDS, matching the hazardous product in the workplace, is readily accessible to workers. When a supplier revises an SDS to reflect new hazard data, the workplace copy must be replaced so that controls and training reflect the current classification rather than outdated information.