Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

WHMIS stands for the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. It is a comprehensive system for providing health and safety information on hazardous products intended for use, handling, or storage in Canadian workplaces.

A WHMIS program ensures that the information about hazardous products is effectively communicated to workers. Effective communication of information means that workers understand the WHMIS system, know the hazards of the products they work with, know and apply the safe work procedures specific to their jobs and tasks, and know how to respond in an emergency.

Hazard Identification and Product Classification

Physical hazards

  • Based on the physical or chemical properties of the product, such as flammability, reactivity, or corrosivity to metals

Health hazards

Based on the ability of the product to cause a health effect such as:

  • Eye Irritation
  • Respiratory sensitization (may cause allergy or asthma symptoms, or breathing difficulties)
  • Carcinogenicity (may cause cancer)
These groups are divided into classes, and some classes are further divided into categories. The category tells you how hazardous the product is (category 1 within the same hazard class is more hazardous than category 2)

Product Labelling

What are the types of labels for hazardous products?

There are two main types of WHMIS labels:

Supplier labels

  • It is the responsibility of the supplier to provide a supplier label for each hazardous product
  • A supplier label must include six fields of information and must be bilingual

Workplace labels

  • Needed if a hazardous product is produced and used in the workplace, if a hazardous product is decanted into another container or if a supplier label must be replaced
  • At minimum, a workplace label must include:
    • The product identifier (name)
    • Safe handling information
    • Reference to safety data sheet

What are pictograms?

Pictograms are graphic images that immediately show you what type of hazard a hazardous product represents. They have a red, diamond-shaped border; inside the border is a symbol that represents the hazard (e.g. fire, health hazard, corrosive). The “biohazard” pictogram is the only one without a border. Pictograms are assigned to specific hazard classes or categories.

Exploding Bomb
(for explosion or reactivity hazards)
Gas cylinder
(for gases under pressure)
Health hazard
(May cause or be suspected of causing serious health effects)
Biohazardous Infectious Materials
(for organisms or toxins that can cause diseases in people or animals)
Flame
(for fire hazards)
Corrosion
(for corrosive damage to metals, as well as skin and eyes)
Exclamation mark
(may cause less serious health effects or damage the ozone layer*)
Flame over circle
(for oxidizing hazards)
Skull and Crossbones
(Can cause death or toxicity with short exposure to small amounts)
Environment
(may cause damage to the aquatic environment)

SDS

CNC uses an online SDS program called CANManage to manage its SDS sheets throughout all of its campuses. Physical copies of these can be found in locations where items requiring SDS sheets are stored, such as janitorial rooms and trades shops. You can use this link to take you to the online database.

Learn More

Worker Education and Training

WHMIS training is mandatory for all employers in BC if the employer has controlled products in the workplace or workers are exposed to controlled products. You can acquire your online WHMIS training course by emailing safety@cnc.bc.ca

Frequently Asked Questions

When a hazardous product is used in the workplace, employers are required to:

  • Educate and train workers on the hazards and safe use of products.
  • Ensure that hazardous products are properly labelled.
  • Prepare workplace labels, as needed.
  • Prepare SDSs, as necessary (e.g., if an employer manufactures a hazardous product that is used on-site).
  • Provide access to up-to-date SDSs to workers.
  • Ensure appropriate control measures are in place to protect the health and safety of workers

Workers must:

  • participate in WHMIS education and training programs
  • take necessary steps to protect themselves and their co-workers
  • participate in identifying and controlling hazards.
Safety & Security

Contact

Security and First Aid (PG)

  • Prince George
  • +1 250-562-2131 ext. 200
24 Hrs/ Day, 7 days/ week
+1 250-561-5827 (After Hours)

Security and First Aid (Burns Lake)

  • Burns Lake
  • +1-250-692-6840 (9:00am- 4:00pm)
  • +1-250-251-0469 (4:00pm- 8:00pm)
Monday- Friday: 9:00am- 8:00pm

Security and First Aid (Mackenzie)

  • Mackenzie
  • +1-250-997-7200
  • +1-877-997-4333
Monday-Friday 8:30 am- 4:30 pm

Security and First Aid (Quesnel)

  • Quesnel
  • +1-250-255-4685
Monday- Friday: 7:30am- 9:30pm
Saturday: 8:30am- 4:30pm

Security and First Aid (Vanderhoof)

  • Vanderhoof
  • +1-250-567-3200
  • +1-877-567-3270
Monday - Friday: 8:30am- 4:00pm