View source for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

{{Short description|Canadian national hazard communication standard}}
[[File:WHMIS logo.svg|thumb|right|WHMIS logo]]

The '''Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System''' ('''WHMIS'''; {{langx|fr|links=no|Système d'information sur les matières dangereuses utilisées au travail}}, '''SIMDUT''') is [[Canada]]'s national workplace hazard communication standard. The key elements of the system, which came into effect on October 31, 1988, are cautionary labelling of containers of WHMIS controlled products, the provision of [[material safety data sheets]] (MSDSs) and worker education and site-specific training programs.

WHMIS is an example of synchronization and cooperation amongst Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments. The coordinated approach avoided duplication, inefficiency through loss of scale and the interprovincial trade barriers that would have been created had each province and territory established its own hazard communication system.

== Legislative framework==
The federal ''Hazardous Products Act'' and associated ''Controlled Products Regulations'', administered by the Workplace Hazardous Materials Bureau residing in the federal Department of [[Health Canada]],{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} established the national standard for chemical classification and hazard communication in Canada and is the foundation for the workers' "right-to-know" legislation enacted in each of Canada's provinces and territories.

Under the [[Constitution of Canada]], labour legislation falls primarily under the jurisdiction of Canada's provinces and territories.<ref name=digiacomo/> The Labour Program, of the federal government Department of [[Human Resources and Skills Development Canada]], is the [[occupational health and safety]] (OHS) regulatory authority for the approximately 10% of workplaces designated to be under federal jurisdiction.<ref name=digiacomo>{{cite web |last1=DiGiacomo |first1=Gordon |title=Federalism and Labour Policy in Canada |url=https://www.queensu.ca/iigr/sites/iirwww/files/uploaded_files/2001-6GordonDigiacomo.pdf |website=queensu.ca |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614020850/https://www.queensu.ca/iigr/sites/iirwww/files/uploaded_files/2001-6GordonDigiacomo.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2024}}</ref> As such, each of the thirteen federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) agencies responsible for OHS has established employer WHMIS requirements within their respective jurisdiction.<ref name="whmis enforce">{{cite web |last1=Occupational Safety and Health Administration |title=WHMIS - General - Who enforces WHMIS? |url=http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608225557/www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |archive-date=8 June 2024}}</ref> These requirements place an [[Legal burden of proof|onus]] on employers to ensure that controlled products used, stored or handled in the workplace are properly labelled, that [[material safety data sheets]] are made available to workers, and that workers receive education and site-specific training to ensure the safe storage, handling and use of controlled products in the workplace.<ref name="whmis inspect">{{cite web |last1=Occupational Safety and Health Administration |title=WHMIS - General - What happens when an inspector visits the workplace? |url=http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608225557/www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |archive-date=8 June 2024}}</ref>

The development of WHMIS 1988 was a collaborative effort, involving Industry, organized labour and governments as part of a advisory body to develop the system.<ref name="1988 general"/> The system divides responsibility among the various levels of a product, with suppliers, employers and workers each having a role in WHMIS. Suppliers are distributing 'hazardous products', must ensure containers are properly marked, SDS documentation is accurate and provided to customers.<ref name="whmis general"/> Employers are responsible for the training of their workers on the safe usage of hazardous products and any risks they pose, providing safe storage and labeled containers, and ensure availability of SDS to workers. Workers are expected to take part in WHMIS trainings, follow training and instructions on the safe usage of hazardous materials and report issues such as damaged or missing container labels.<ref name="whmis general">{{cite web |last1=Occupational Safety and Health Administration |title=WHMIS - General |url=http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608225557/www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |archive-date=8 June 2024}}</ref> Even after the move from WHMIS 1988 to WHMIS 2015, this structure of shared responsibility is retained, largely unchanged.<ref name="1988 general"/><ref name="whmis general"/>

==WHMIS 2015==
{{further|Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals|GHS hazard pictograms}}
On February 11, 2015, the Government of Canada published in the Canada Gazette a new modified version of the WHMIS system called ''WHMIS 2015''. WHMIS 2015 was created "to incorporate the [[Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals]] (GHS) for workplace chemicals."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/occupational-health-safety/workplace-hazardous-materials-information-system/whmis-2015.html|title=WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) 2015|website=Health Canada|date=May 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505041217/https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/occupational-health-safety/workplace-hazardous-materials-information-system/whmis-2015.html|archive-date=5 May 2022}}</ref><ref name="ghs symbols">{{cite web |last1=Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) |title=WHMIS - Pictograms |url=https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/pictograms.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=8 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221111221/https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/pictograms.html |archive-date=21 February 2024 |date=10 May 2024}}</ref> A notable difference in the WHMIS adoption of GHS was the inclusion of a 'biohazard' hazard pictogram, retained from the original WHMIS 1988 pictograms. The standard GHS pictograms do not include a specific symbol for biohazards.<ref name="2015 symbols">{{cite web |last1=Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) |title=WHMIS - Pictograms |url=https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/pictograms.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608225555/https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/pictograms.html |archive-date=8 June 2024 |date=30 March 2023}}</ref>

===Transition Period===
WHMIS 2015 was phased into use over a three year period from February 2015 to December 2018.<ref name="whmis transition">{{cite web |last1=Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) |title=WHMIS 2015 Transition FAQ |url=https://whmis.org/documents/FAQ_Transition_Mar2015_revised%20July%202017.pdf |website=whmis.org |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=13 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119133702/https://whmis.org/documents/FAQ_Transition_Mar2015_revised%20July%202017.pdf |archive-date=19 January 2022}}</ref> By 1 December 2018, use of WHMIS 2015 was mandatory by manufacturers/importers, distributors and employers.<ref name="whmis transition"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Health Canada |title=WHMIS Transition |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/occupational-health-safety/workplace-hazardous-materials-information-system/whmis-transition.html |website=canada.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220505041257/https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/occupational-health-safety/workplace-hazardous-materials-information-system/whmis-transition.html |archive-date=5 May 2022 |date=24 June 2017}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Transition timeline<ref name="whmis transition"/>
|-
!rowspan=2| Phase !!rowspan=2| Dates !!colspan=2| Suppliers !!rowspan=2| Employer
|-
||{{center|Manufactures and Importers}} || {{center|Distributors}}
|-
| {{center|1}} || 11 February 2015 - 31 May 2018 || WHMIS 1988 or WHMIS 2015 || WHMIS 1988 or WHMIS 2015 || {{center|Varied{{efn|Determined by authorities at the local, territory and federal level.}}}}
|-
| {{center|2}} || 1 June 2018 - 31 August, 2018 || {{center|WHMIS 2015}} || WHMIS 1988 or WHMIS 2015 || WHMIS 1988 or WHMIS 2015
|-
| {{center|3}} || 1 September, 2018 - 30 November, 2018 || {{center|WHMIS 2015}} || {{center|WHMIS 2015}} || WHMIS 1988 or WHMIS 2015
|-
| {{center|Completion}} || {{center|1 December, 2018}} ||colspan=3| {{center|WHMIS 2015}}
|}

===Materials covered===
WHMIS 2015 regulations cover materials, referred to as a 'hazardous products' used in a workplace, that meets the criteria of hazard classification, such as [[toxicity]], [[flash point]]. These are classified as 'hazardous product':<ref name="whmis covered">{{cite web |last1=Occupational Safety and Health Administration |title=WHMIS - General - What products does WHMIS cover? |url=http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608225557/www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |archive-date=8 June 2024}}</ref><ref name="[SOR/2015-17">[https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2015-17/FullText.html Hazardous Products Regulations] - Canada. SOR/2015-17.</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=10em|
* Aerosols
* Oxidizing liquids, solids and Gases
* Gases Under Pressure
* Flammable Liquids, solids and gases
* Self-reactive substances/mixtures
* Pyrophoric liquids and solids
* Self-heating substances/mixtures
* Water-reactive substances/mixtures
* Organic peroxides
* Corrosives
* Combustible dusts
* Toxic
* Skin corrosion/irritant
* Eye irritant
* Respiratory hazard
* Carcinogenic
* Specific Target Organ toxicity
* Aspiration hazard
* Biohazard
}}

The following were exempt from WHMIS, and are in most cases subject to legislation specific to the material:<ref name="whmis not covered">{{cite web |last1=Occupational Safety and Health Administration |title=WHMIS - General - Which products are not covered by WHMIS? |url=http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240608225557/www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html |archive-date=8 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Reference Manual for the WHMIS Requirements of the Hazardous Products Act and Controlled Products Regulations |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/occupational-health-safety/reference-manual-whmis-requirements-hazardous-products-act-controlled-products-regulations-table-contents.html#intro |website=canada.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711023459/https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/occupational-health-safety/reference-manual-whmis-requirements-hazardous-products-act-controlled-products-regulations-table-contents.html#intro |archive-date=11 July 2017 |date=25 October 2010}}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=10em|
* Consumer products{{efn|Products that are sold to the public for non-commercial uses. These are regulated by ''Consumer Chemicals and Containers Regulations''.}}
* Cosmetic, drug or foodstuff{{efn|Defined in the ''Food and Drugs Act''}}
* Explosives{{efn|Defined in the ''Explosives Act''}}
* Hazardous waste
* Radioactive substances{{efn|Defined in ''Nuclear Safety and Control Act''}}
* Manufactured materials
* Pest control products{{efn|Defined in the ''Pest Control Products Act''}}
* Tobacco products{{efn|Defined in the ''Tobacco Act''}}
* Wood and products made of wood
}}

==WHMIS 1988==
The original WHMIS went into effect 31 October 1988, as part of a series of legislations at both the federal and provisional and territory levels.<ref name="1988 general">{{cite web |last1=Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) |title=WHMIS 1988 - General |url=https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/legisl/intro_whmis.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024}}</ref> WHMIS 1988 was phased out from 2015 to 2018, with the old system being completely phased out on 1 December, 2018.<ref name="whmis transition"/>

All substances that WHMIS applied, 'controlled products', fell into one of the six general WHMIS classes:<ref name="1988 class">{{cite web |last1=Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) |title=WHMIS 1988 - Classification |url=https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/legisl/whmis_classifi.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |access-date=14 June 2024 |date=1 April 2011}}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* Compressed gases (Class A)
* Flammable/combustible materials (Class B)
* Oxidizing materials (Class C)
* Poisonous and biohazards (Class D)
* Corrosives (Class E)
* Reactive substances (Class F)
}}

The 1988 system included eight symbols, one per classification, except for ''Class D'', which had three symbols, one for each division of the class.<ref name="1988 symbols">{{cite web |last1=Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) |title=WHMIS 1988 - Labelling Requirements |url=https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/legisl/msds_lab.html |website=ccohs.ca |publisher=Government of Canada |date=25 June 2009}}</ref>
<gallery caption="WHMIS 1988 Symbols">
Image:WHMIS Class A.svg|'''Class A''': Compressed gas
Image:WHMIS Class B.svg|'''Class B''': Flammable and combustible material
Image:WHMIS Class C.svg|'''Class C''': Oxidizing material
Image:WHMIS Class D-1.svg|'''Class D-1''': Materials causing immediate and serious toxic effects
Image:WHMIS Class D-2.svg|'''Class D-2''': Materials causing other toxic effects
Image:WHMIS Class D-3.svg|'''Class D-3''': Biohazardous infectious material
Image:WHMIS Class E.svg|'''Class E''':Corrosive material
Image:WHMIS Class F.svg|'''Class F''': Dangerously reactive material
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Hazard symbol]]
* [[Hazard Communication Standard]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|WHMIS hazard symbols}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/occup-travail/whmis-simdut/ghs-sgh/contact-eng.php Seeking Information from the Workplace Hazardous Materials Bureau in Health Canada and from the Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Occupational Health and Safety Regulatory Agencies]
* [http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/occup-travail/whmis-simdut/mail_list-liste_distrubution-eng.php/ Subscribe to "WHMIS News" from Health Canada]
* [http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/occup-travail/whmis-simdut/ghs-sgh/index-eng.php Canada's WHMIS website for the GHS] 
* [http://www.nexreg.com/wiki/index.php/MSDS_Authoring_in_Canada Canadian WHMIS MSDS FAQ (Nexreg Compliance)]
* [http://ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/whmis/search.html WHMIS Classifications Database (CCOHS)]
* [http://www.nationalsafetycouncils.ca Provincial Safety Councils of Canada: Courses on WHMIS and other safety information]
* [http://www.johnsankey.ca/whmis.html A major exemption from WHMIS]
* [http://www.reptox.csst.qc.ca/SIMDUT.htm CSST information on WHMIS and the GHS in Canada] {{in lang|fr}}
* [https://kaliumsolutions.com/en/whmis-training WHMIS Training by Kalium Solutions]

{{hazardous materials}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Safety in North America]]
[[Category:Health in Canada]]
[[Category:Standards of Canada]]
[[Category:Occupational safety and health]]