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Important Information
Canada has aligned the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
This document discusses the WHMIS 2015 supplier requirements as regulated by the federal legislation – the Hazardous Products Act and the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR).
Health Canada is the government body responsible for the overall WHMIS supplier-related laws. Note that WHMIS is also regulated in the workplace by the provinces, territories and federal (for federally regulated workplaces) governments under their occupational health and safety legislation. While these jurisdictions based their WHMIS regulations on the common model, small variations between jurisdictions may exist in how they adopted WHMIS 2015.
Suppliers and employers must use and follow the WHMIS 2015 requirements for labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) for hazardous products sold, distributed, or imported into Canada.
Please refer to the following OSH Answers documents for information about WHMIS 2015:
Pictograms are graphic images that immediately show the user of a hazardous product what type of hazard is present. With a quick glance, you can see, for example, that the product is flammable, or if it might be a health hazard.
Most pictograms have a distinctive red "square set on one of its points" border. Inside this border is a symbol that represents the potential hazard (e.g., fire, health hazard, corrosive, etc.). Together, the symbol and the border are referred to as a pictogram. Pictograms are assigned to specific hazard classes or categories.
The graphic below shows hazard pictograms. The bold type is the name given to the pictogram; the words in the brackets describe the hazard.
The following pictograms are associated with these hazard classes and categories.
The flame pictogram is used for the following classes and categories:
The flame over circle pictogram is used for the following classes and categories:
The gas cylinder pictogram is used for the following classes and categories:
The corrosion pictogram is used for the following classes and categories:
The exploding bomb pictogram is used for the following classes and categories:
The skull and crossbones pictogram is used for the following classes and categories:
The health hazard pictogram is used for the following classes and categories:
The exclamation mark pictogram is used for the following classes and categories:
The biohazardous infectious materials pictogram is used for the following classes and categories:
* Both the Flame and Explosive pictogram are used for Self-reactive substances and mixtures (Type B) and Organic peroxides (Type B).
NOTE: Physical Hazards Not Otherwise Classified and Health Hazards Not Otherwise Classified classes are required to have a GHS pictogram that is appropriate to the hazard identified.
No. There are hazardous products that meet the criteria for a hazard class or category, but these classes and categories do not require a pictogram. The product label and Section 2 (Hazards Identification) of the SDS still require the signal word, hazard statement(s), and other required label elements.
WHMIS 2015 classes and categories that do not require a pictogram are:
Pictograms will be on the product supplier labels of the hazardous products you work with. They will also be on the SDSs (as the symbol or words that describe the symbol). Please see the following for more information:
You may also be interested in our WHMIS 2015 Pictograms poster and our WHMIS 2015 Pictograms Kit.