Successful training strategies to implement a workplace hazardous materials information system. An evaluation study...

According to recent regulations, Canadian companies must establish a Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). Employee training is an essential facet of the system. The study looked at various training strategies and evaluated employees' comprehension about WHMIS and the quality of the WHMIS system at 80 manufacturing plants in the province of Québec in Canada. Comprehension was best when external experts trained all employees. It was lower when internal instructors were trained to teach WHMIS to other employees of the plant. Other components of WHMIS, such as labels and material safety data sheets, were of better quality in the plants having opted for training internal instructors. WHMIS was better in the plants that were initially good in occupational health and safety than in the marginal plants.