WHMIS Legislation & Enforcement
WHMIS is governed by a combination of federal, provincial, and territorial legislation. At the federal level, Health Canada administers the Hazardous Products Act and Hazardous Products Regulations, which establish the classification and labelling requirements for hazardous products used in Canadian workplaces.
At the federal level, WHMIS is administered by Health Canada under the authority of the Hazardous Products Act and the Hazardous Products Regulations. These laws set out the national criteria for the classification of hazardous products and the required elements of supplier labels and safety data sheets (SDSs). This federal framework aligns with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), allowing for consistent communication of hazard information across jurisdictions.
Enforcement of WHMIS requirements depends on the type of workplace and the jurisdiction under which it falls. For federally regulated workplaces—such as banks, telecommunications companies, interprovincial transportation, and the federal public service—the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada is responsible for enforcement. This is carried out under Part II of the Canada Labour Code, which addresses occupational health and safety for federal sectors.
In all other sectors, including provincially or territorially regulated workplaces, enforcement is the responsibility of the relevant provincial or territorial occupational health and safety authority. Each jurisdiction has adopted WHMIS through its own occupational health and safety legislation, which incorporates the federal classification and labelling standards while setting additional requirements for employer and worker responsibilities, training, and workplace-specific hazard controls.
Courses can be customized with your branding and delivered in a SCORM-compliant file or through our PRO Hosted LMS.
Stay compliant, keep workers safe, and meet your legal obligations with trusted WHMIS training from HR Proactive. Accessible anytime, anywhere.
Contact us now to get started or request a customized quote.
- 1 (888) 552-1155
- sales@hrproactive.com