WHMIS Compliance in Canada: What Businesses Need to Know

What is WHMIS?

WHMIS, or the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, is a national communication standard in Canada designed to protect workers by ensuring they have critical information to handle, use, and store potentially dangerous substances in the workplace. This mandated system consists of three key elements: labels, Safety Data Sheets (SDS), and worker education.

What is the Purpose of WHMIS?

Established in 1988, the WHMIS is a consensus-driven initiative that addresses the need for consistent and accessible information about hazardous materials in the workplace. It’s a by-product of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations’ (COHSR) Right to Know principle, which states employees should be informed of the dangers associated with the materials they use or come into contact with at work, including the following:

• Health effects, such as burns, skin rashes, and damage to organ systems

• Safety hazards, including fires, explosions, and other accidents

• Controls to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, deaths, medical costs, and property damage.

Since its creation in 1988, improvements have been made to the standard to align it with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals.

Why is WHMIS Important?

The WHMIS 2015 provided a more comprehensive workplace hazardous materials information system that includes detailed criteria for hazard classification, a standardized 16-section SDS, new label requirements, and more appropriate terminology to reflect the nature of materials. All these changes aim to do the following:

• Protect employees by providing information about the risks of hazardous materials and safe handling procedures to reduce the likelihood of workplace accidents and illnesses.

• Prepare workers to respond to emergencies involving these hazards, minimizing harm and business disruptions.

• Save costs associated with workplace injuries, such as hospitalization, claims, and insurance payments.

• Comply with federal, provincial, and territorial laws, avoiding potential legal penalties.

Key Components

WHMIS is built on three foundational elements that work together to ensure that frontline workers have the right information at the right time to protect health, save lives, and avoid costly incidents. These are the three components of WHMIS:

Labels

Considered the first line of defense in Hazard Communication (HazCom), these visual identifiers are placed on hazardous products, ensuring immediate recognition of hazards, particularly their risks and necessary precautions. These are the two types:

• Supplier labels are provided by the manufacturer or importer

• Workplace labels are created by the employer for secondary containers

Here are some label requirements based on the WHMIS 2015:

• Product identifier (in both English and French)

• Pictograms (standard hazard symbols)

• Signal word (e.g., danger or warning)

• Hazard and precautionary statements

• Supplier identification

Safety Data Sheets

These detailed documents provide in-depth information about the hazardous substances and serve as a key reference for supervisors, workers, and emergency responders. Here are the critical sections of a GHS-aligned SDS:

• Hazard identification

• First-aid measures

• Handling and storage

• Exposure controls or personal protection

• Toxicological information

Education and Training

Workers should be able to recognize WHMIS elements, promptly identify hazards, and readily respond to potential exposure or emergencies. Targeted training equips employees at all levels with the necessary knowledge and skills to accomplish all those. Here are some guidelines per the standard:

• Employers are obligated to provide workplace training.

• Training should cover the following:

  • Understanding WHMIS labels and SDS

  • Proper handling, use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials

  • Emergency procedures

• Workers should demonstrate competency.

• Refresher trainings are required in these cases:

  • Introduction of a new hazard

  • Change in process or condition

  • A significant change in SDS information

Who is Responsible for WHMIS?

Canada’s hazard communication system works only when everyone involved does their part seriously. Suppliers should ensure their products comply with the standards. Employers carry most of the responsibility for WHMIS implementation in the workplace, from preparing labels to developing control measures. Workers are required to participate in training and follow safe work practices.

In Canada, the WHMIS is regulated under the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR). Several agencies enforce the rules:

• Health Canada and the Labour Program of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) at the federal level

• Provincial and territorial OHS agencies

The Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom 2012) enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States has a lot of similarities with WHMIS, due to the GHS. Except for the bilingual format in Canada, the biggest distinction between the two is the hazard classification and legal jurisdiction. Collaboration is vital between the two countries to facilitate cross-border trade and compliance.

Best Practices for WHMIS Program Implementation

Implementing WHMIS in the workplace is about creating a safe, informed, and compliant work environment. While numerous challenges may disrupt the operations and put workers at risk, adopting the following best practices can strengthen the system:

Maintain an up-to-date hazardous materials inventory.

Untracked or forgotten chemicals create hidden risks. Keeping a current and accurate list of all hazardous products used, stored, or handled ensures visibility of potential risks. Remember, this is the foundation for other WHMIS elements, such as labeling, SDS access, and training.

Ensure immediate access to current safety data sheets.

Outdated or inaccessible SDS can delay response during emergencies. Making this document readily available minimizes potential risks, including compliance-related ones during inspections.

Enforce proper labeling practices.

Ensuring all containers (original or secondary) have appropriate, legible, and compliant labels eliminates confusion, subsequently reducing exposure, accidents, or violations. Safety signs and symbols are essential and mandatory components of proper labeling practices. Ascertain that workers are also knowledgeable about this.

Deliver comprehensive and role-specific WHMIS training.

Knowledge gaps lead to unsafe behaviors. Providing employees with initial and ongoing WHMIS training specific to their job functions and materials handled can directly decrease incident rates. Targeted safety training also helps the company comply with the regulations, wherever its jurisdiction is.

Establish and communicate emergency response procedures.

Preparedness reduces panic, delayed emergency actions, and chaos. Creating and practicing clear protocols for handling spills, exposures, and other hazardous materials incidents improves response times.

Assign clear responsibilities and monitor compliance.

Designating individuals or teams to oversee the program elements is crucial to its success. Accountability tackles the issue of neglect and inconsistent application, which may lead to gaps in training, documentation, and enforcement.

Regularly review and improve WHMIS practices.

Workplaces, materials, and regulations continuously evolve, making static programs outdated and ineffective. Periodically auditing WHMIS procedures, training programs, labels, and SDS prevents complacency, helping companies stay ahead of changes.