When a hazardous product is used in the workplace, employers are required to:
Suppliers must compare their products against specific criteria as required by the Hazardous Products Regulations. If a product meets any of the criteria for a hazard class, it is considered to be a WHMIS-regulated hazardous product. All hazardous products must be labelled according to the Hazardous Products Regulations and must have a corresponding safety data sheet provided to the purchaser at the time of sale.
The hazard class and category are provided in Section 2 (Hazard Identification) of the safety data sheet and on the supplier label. Each hazard class or category must use the specified pictograms and other label elements to indicate the hazard that is present, and what precautionary measures must be taken. Employers and workers then use this information provided by the label and safety data sheet to be informed and to know how to safely use, handle, store, and dispose of the hazardous product.
Employers who produce hazardous products for use in their own workplaces have the duty to assess the hazards, classify the hazards of the products, and provide appropriate labels and safety data sheets to their workers.
For more information, see CCOHS’ OSH Answers WHMIS – Hazard Classes and Categories.
Employers are responsible for making sure that hazardous products that come into the workplace are labelled and for preparing and applying a workplace label when appropriate. Employers must ensure that all hazardous products used in the workplace are labelled. Labels are the first alert to the user about the major hazards associated with that product and outline the basic precautions or safety steps that should be taken.
In most cases, suppliers are responsible for labelling the hazardous If employers receive hazardous products that are not labelled with a WHMIS-compliant label, they can only use the product in the workplace after they bring the label into compliance.
Supplier labels include standardized pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, and precautionary statements. Most hazard classes and categories have a prescribed pictogram, signal word, hazard statement and precautionary statements. Supplier labels are required in both English and French.
There is a supplier exemption period for updating labels (and SDSs) when significant new data become available. The significant new data must be provided separately until the update is complete.
Employers who import hazardous products from a foreign supplier for use in their own workplace in Canada are considered to be suppliers. These employers must follow the requirements of suppliers for labels and safety data sheets, with a few exceptions. See the SDS tab for more information.
Workplace labels must have the product name (matching the SDS product name), safe handling precautions (may include pictograms or other supplier label information) and a reference to the SDS (if available).
A workplace label is required when:
There are two situations when a workplace label is not necessary. When a hazardous product is:
If the product is not used right away or if more than one person will be in control of the product, a full workplace label is required. Note that a company may have specific rules about labelling containers that are above or exceed the WHMIS requirements.
NOTE that requirements for workplace labels are regulated by your local provincial or territorial jurisdiction. Check on your Jurisdiction’s page for more information.
For more information, see CCOHS’ OSH Answers WHMIS – Labels
Employers are required to make sure that all hazardous products have up-to-date safety data sheets (SDSs) when they enter the workplace. The safety data sheets must be readily available to the workers who are using, handling or storing hazardous products in a workplace in Canada, and to the health and safety committee or representative.
Safety data sheets are summary documents that provide information about the hazards of a product and advice about safety precautions. SDSs are usually written by the manufacturer or supplier of the hazardous product and must be provided by the suppliers of the hazardous products at the time of sale. In some circumstances, an employer may be required to prepare an SDS (e.g., when the product is produced and used exclusively in that workplace). The SDS must be provided in both English and French.
Safety data sheets provide more detailed hazard information about the product than the label and follow a standardized 16-section format with specified headings and content elements. They are an important information resource for workplaces and workers about the product(s) used. SDSs tell users what the hazards of the product are, how to use the product safely, what to expect if the recommendations are not followed, how to recognize symptoms of exposure, and what to do if emergencies occur.
Safety data sheets must be accurate at the time of sale or import for each sale or import. It is a requirement to update the SDS when significant new information becomes available. There is an exemption period for updating SDSs (and labels) when significant new data becomes available. The significant new data must be provided separately until the update is complete.
Employers who import hazardous products from a foreign supplier for use in their own workplace in Canada are considered to be suppliers. These employers must follow the requirements of suppliers for labels and safety data sheets, with a few exceptions:
Additionally, employers who produce hazardous products within their workplace must follow the WHMIS supplier requirements. In general, if an employer produces a hazardous product at their workplace, and the product is intended to be used within that workplace, the employer must assess and classify the hazards of the product, create and apply a workplace label to the hazardous product or its container, and must prepare a safety data sheet that meets the Hazardous Products Act supplier requirements for safety data sheets.
More information about this is provided in the provincial or territorial/federal workplaces’ WHMIS legislation.
See the Supplier Audience and/or your Jurisdiction’s page for more information.
For more information on SDSs, see CCOHS’ OSH Answers WHMIS – Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)
Employers are required to educate and train workers about WHMIS.
Education teaches workers the principles of WHMIS, and the meaning of the information on labels and safety data sheets (SDSs). Generic WHMIS education can apply to any workplace. WHMIS education and training must also include workplace-specific training. The training programs, developed in consultation with the health and safety committee or representative, should include:
Workplace-specific training teaches workers how to work safely with hazardous products at their worksite. Training is specific to a workplace. This training ensures workers know the hazards of specific products in their workplace and the procedures and other measures to work safely with those hazardous products.
Training topics include:
Workers should be able to answer these questions for every hazardous product they work with:
While the WHMIS worker education and training program needs to be reviewed annually, most jurisdictions across Canada do not specify whether an employer must provide refresher training nor whether retraining needs to be done at a required frequency.
In general, WHMIS refresher education and training is required as often as needed to protect worker's health and safety and when:
For more information, see CCOHS’ OSH Answers WHMIS – Education and Training