WHMIS 2015 study plan

Map the federal Hazardous Products Act and Hazardous Products Regulations onto provincial/territorial OHS enforcement, listing which level of government does what.

Distinguish supplier duties from employer duties under WHMIS 2015 and state who is responsible for classification, labels, and SDS at each step.

Explain how WHMIS 2015 aligns with GHS (which GHS revision Canada adopted, what was customized, and the transition from WHMIS 1988).

Define the three worker rights embedded in WHMIS (right to know, right to participate, right to refuse) and where each appears in legislation.

List all hazard classes and their associated categories/types under WHMIS 2015, grouping them into physical, health, and environmental (note that environmental is not covered by WHMIS).

Apply the classification decision logic for at least three physical hazard classes (e.g., flammable liquids, oxidizing liquids, gases under pressure) using criteria thresholds.

Differentiate hazard class, hazard category, and hazard statement, and predict which pictograms follow from a given classification.

Identify common misclassifications (e.g., confusing acute toxicity with STOT, or corrosive to metals with skin corrosion) and explain the correct assignment.

Identify all nine WHMIS 2015 pictograms by symbol, border colour, and meaning, and state which hazard classes each represents.

Match each pictogram to its signal word (Danger or Warning) and typical hazard statements without looking at references.

Explain why the skull-and-crossbones is used for acute toxicity but the exclamation mark covers lower-severity health hazards, and list the classes under the exclamation mark.

Recognize pictograms that are easily confused (flame vs. flame over circle; corrosion vs. exclamation mark) and articulate the distinguishing rule.

Describe the biohazardous infectious materials pictogram and why it is a WHMIS-specific addition rather than a GHS pictogram.

List every element a supplier label must contain under WHMIS 2015 and explain the tolerances for bilingual and format requirements.

Explain the conditions under which an employer may use a workplace label and what a workplace label must contain.

Describe the rules for labels on containers that are not the original supplier container, including portable and secondary containers.

State the exemptions and special cases (e.g., bulk shipments, laboratory samples, transferred containers) and what documentation replaces a full label.

Explain the requirement to update labels when new hazard information becomes available and who bears that duty.

Identify the 16 required SDS sections in order and state the purpose of each.

Explain which SDS sections contain the label-critical information (hazards, first aid, handling, exposure controls) and how to cross-check a label against its SDS.

Describe the employer obligation to obtain, maintain, and make SDS available, including accessibility and language requirements.

Explain when an SDS must be updated and what the employer must do with an outdated SDS.

Recognize acceptable alternatives or exemptions for SDS (e.g., controlled products in transit, lab samples) and the conditions attached.

Outline the elements of an effective worker education program: what must be taught, to whom, when, and how often.

Design a short training module that covers labels, SDS, pictograms, and site-specific safe work procedures.

Explain how to assess worker understanding and document training records.

Describe how education requirements differ for workers who handle hazardous products versus those who work near them.

Identify how to integrate WHMIS training with other site programs (emergency response, spill response, PPE).

Complete a full-length practice exam under timed conditions and record the score by domain.

Review every missed question and trace it back to the governing rule or regulation.

Re-drill the two weakest domains with targeted practice sets.

Reconstruct the pictogram and label requirements from blank paper without references.

Re-run a second timed practice exam and confirm improvement in the weakest domains.

Summarize the legislation and GHS alignment points in a single condensed reference sheet.

Practice scenario questions that combine labels, SDS, and worker education in a workplace context.

Confirm logistics and timing strategy for exam day, including how to handle ambiguous wording.