The province of Nova Scotia has updated the 1988 WHMIS regulations effective June 18, 2024. The province changed its regulations to comply with the federal Hazardous Products Regulations, thus following the rest of the country.
What does this mean for workplaces in the province of Nova Scotia?
Nova Scotia’s updated regulations now reflect changes to the federal Hazardous Products Act and regulations, including Canada’s 2015 adoption of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
The updated regulations include changes to some terms, definitions, and references. All other provinces have made similar changes to their WHMIS regulations to keep WHMIS requirements consistent across Canada.
New definitions clarify an important distinction between general WHMIS
education and workplace-specific training. Both are required.
“Education” refers to the delivery of general information about labels and safety
WHMIS classes and pictograms, labeling and SDS's so they can understand the training.
“Training” refers to the delivery of workplace- and job-specific information to employees. The delivery of workplace and job-specific information to employees. Employees must be trained in how to safely use the specific hazardous products they use in the workplace. This includes procedures for safe use, storage, handling, and disposal of a hazardous product • Procedures to be followed where fugitive emissions are present and employees may be exposed. Procedures to be followed in case of an emergency involving a hazardous product. • How to locate a safety data sheet at the workplace and the format in which it may be found.
The province of Nova Scotia through the Safety Branch of Labour Skills and Innovation(LSI) Safety Branch is offering a free on-line GENERAL EDUCATION WHMIS course offered through Skills Online NS. It is approximately one hour in duration. The course introduces the overall purpose and key elements of WHMIS
and provides an easy way for self-employed persons (or others not already
familiar with WHMIS) to satisfy the general education requirement.
Here is the link to the free WHMIS Education program
The updated regulations provide a general 6-month transition period. Workplaces that would be in compliance with the former WHMIS Regulations will be deemed compliant with the updated regulations until December 18, 2024, and self-employed persons will not be required to comply with the updated regulations before that date.
Fish Safe NS is pleased to offer in-person training for the commercial fishing industry specific to your workplace that will meet and surpass the training requirements of the province of Nova Scotia.
Contact our Safety Coordinator today to discuss your WHMIS training requirements.
Important Links for businesses
Updated Workplace Health and Safety Regulations from the province of Nova Scotia. You can download your copy here in PDF format
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