DID YOU KNOW
WHMIS 2015 GHS
Canada has adopted GHS (WHMIS 2015). What does this mean? On February 11, 2015, the Government of Canada officially passed the GHS (Globally Harmonized System) to better follow the internationally recognized standard for hazard classification and communication into WHMIS. Health Canada’s program, WHMIS 2015, will be a transitional process to conclude December 1, 2018.
IF YOU HAVE AN OLDER VERSION YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE THE UPDATED VERSION
Description of Competent Person
OH&S Part#1 "Competent Person"
“competent”
Any reference to “worker” in the OHS Code is meant to be interpreted in its broadest sense as including all persons working for an employer e.g. “workers”, lead hands, foremen, supervisors, managers, directors, etc. Although a supervisor, for example, may be an employer’s representative, the supervisor is also a worker. Three characteristics are used to describe a worker as “competent”
(1) adequately qualified — the worker has some type of qualification, usually earned through a formal education program, training course, etc., or a combination of education and practical experience. With certain exceptions such as professional designations e.g. professional engineer, nurse, physician, etc. or other legal requirement involving qualifications, the employer is responsible for evaluating and deciding if a worker is adequately qualified. The employer should be able to justify the basis on which a worker is considered to be “adequately qualified”;
(2) suitably trained — the worker must have training that is appropriate to the tasks, equipment, etc., that will be performed or used. In addition to this training, the worker must receive safety training, the minimum requirements of which are described in section 15 of the OHS Regulation. The employer is responsible for evaluating and deciding if a worker is suitably trained. The employer should be able to justify the basis on which a worker is considered to be “suitably trained”; and
(3) with sufficient experience to safely perform work without supervision or with only a minimal degree of supervision — determining whether a worker has sufficient experience to safely perform work is the employer’s responsibility. A worker’s qualifications, training and experience are no guarantee that work will be performed safely. The employer should be able to justify the basis on which a worker is considered to have “sufficient experience”.