WHMIS 2015 GHS: WHAT ONTARIO WORKERS NEED TO KNOW

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What Is WHMIS 2015?

WHMIS stands for the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. It is Canada's national system for communicating information about hazardous products used in the workplace. Every province and territory has adopted WHMIS legislation, which means it applies to virtually every Canadian worker who handles, stores, or works near hazardous chemicals.

In 2015, WHMIS was updated to align with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). This international framework was created by the United Nations to standardize how chemical hazards are communicated around the world. The result is often referred to as WHMIS 2015 or WHMIS GHS.

The goal of the update was straightforward: make hazard communication consistent across borders so that a worker in Ontario reads the same symbols, labels, and safety data as a worker in Germany or Japan. If you handle any hazardous product at work, WHMIS 2015 training is a legal requirement.

What Changed from WHMIS 1988?

The original WHMIS system was introduced in 1988. It served Canadian workers well for decades, but it used symbols and formats that were unique to Canada. The 2015 update brought several important changes:

New Pictograms

The old circular WHMIS symbols (like the skull in a circle or the test tube pouring on a hand) have been replaced with red-bordered diamond-shaped GHS pictograms. These are internationally recognized and used worldwide.

Safety Data Sheets Replace MSDS

The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) has been replaced by the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). While the name change seems small, the format behind it is significant. Every SDS now follows a standardized 16-section format, making it much easier to find the information you need, no matter who manufactured the product.

Updated Label Requirements

Labels on hazardous products now include standardized elements:

• Product identifier — the name of the product
• GHS pictogram(s) — red diamond-shaped hazard symbols
• Signal word — either "Danger" (more severe) or "Warning" (less severe)
• Hazard statement(s) — standardized phrases describing the nature of the hazard
• Precautionary statement(s) — recommended measures for prevention, response, storage, and disposal
• Supplier identifier — name, address, and phone number of the supplier

Two Types of Labels

Under WHMIS 2015, you will encounter two types of labels:

• Supplier labels — applied by the manufacturer or importer before the product reaches your workplace. These include all six required elements listed above.
• Workplace labels — created by your employer when a product is transferred to a different container, or when a supplier label is damaged or missing. At minimum, these must include the product name, safe handling information, and a reference to the SDS.

If you cannot find a Safety Data Sheet for a product you are working with, stop and ask your supervisor immediately. You have the legal right to that information before handling any hazardous product.

The 9 GHS Pictograms

GHS pictograms are red diamond-shaped symbols with a black image on a white background. Each one represents a specific category of hazard. You need to recognize all nine:

1. Flame

Represents flammable materials — gases, liquids, solids, and aerosols that can catch fire easily. Also covers self-reactive substances, pyrophoric materials (ignite on contact with air), self-heating chemicals, and substances that emit flammable gases on contact with water.

2. Flame Over Circle

Represents oxidizers — substances that can cause or intensify a fire by providing oxygen. Oxidizing materials may not burn on their own, but they can make other materials ignite more easily or burn more intensely.

3. Gas Cylinder

Represents gases under pressure — compressed gases, liquefied gases, refrigerated liquefied gases, and dissolved gases. These containers can explode if heated, and refrigerated gases can cause cryogenic burns.

4. Corrosion

Represents substances that cause corrosion — they can damage or destroy metal, cause severe skin burns, or cause serious eye damage on contact.

5. Exploding Bomb

Represents explosive materials — substances and mixtures that can undergo a rapid chemical reaction producing gas and heat. Also includes self-reactive substances and organic peroxides that may explode when heated.

6. Skull and Crossbones

Represents acute toxicity (severe) — products that can cause death or serious harm even from a single, short exposure through ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation. If you see this pictogram, the product is highly toxic and demands extreme caution.

7. Health Hazard

Represents serious long-term health hazards, including:

• Carcinogenicity (can cause cancer)
• Respiratory sensitization (can cause allergy or asthma symptoms)
• Reproductive toxicity
• Target organ toxicity (damages specific organs over time)
• Germ cell mutagenicity
• Aspiration hazard

8. Exclamation Mark

Represents less severe health hazards, including skin and eye irritation, skin sensitization (allergic reactions), acute toxicity (harmful but not immediately fatal), narcotic effects, and respiratory tract irritation. This is sometimes called the "warning" pictogram.

9. Environment

Represents products that are toxic to aquatic life — they can cause serious damage to fish, water organisms, and aquatic ecosystems. While not always a direct workplace health hazard, these products require careful handling and disposal to protect the environment.

Understanding Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

A Safety Data Sheet is a detailed document that accompanies every hazardous product in your workplace. Under WHMIS 2015, every SDS must follow the same 16-section format. This makes it easier to find the information you need quickly, regardless of the product or manufacturer.

The 16 Sections of an SDS

• Section 1: Identification — product name, supplier details, recommended use
• Section 2: Hazard identification — classification, label elements, other hazards
• Section 3: Composition / information on ingredients
• Section 4: First-aid measures
• Section 5: Fire-fighting measures
• Section 6: Accidental release measures (spill procedures)
• Section 7: Handling and storage
• Section 8: Exposure controls / personal protection
• Section 9: Physical and chemical properties
• Section 10: Stability and reactivity
• Section 11: Toxicological information
• Section 12: Ecological information
• Section 13: Disposal considerations
• Section 14: Transport information
• Section 15: Regulatory information
• Section 16: Other information

Key Sections Every Worker Should Know

You do not need to memorize all 16 sections, but you should be comfortable navigating these four:

• Section 2 — Hazard Identification: Tells you exactly what dangers the product poses and which pictograms apply. Start here when you encounter an unfamiliar product.
• Section 4 — First-Aid Measures: Describes what to do immediately if someone is exposed — whether through skin contact, eye contact, inhalation, or ingestion. Knowing where to find this quickly could save a life.
• Section 7 — Handling and Storage: Explains how to work with the product safely and how to store it properly, including temperature requirements, incompatible materials, and ventilation needs.
• Section 8 — Exposure Controls and Personal Protection: Specifies what PPE (personal protective equipment) you need — gloves, goggles, respirators, protective clothing — and outlines exposure limits.

Your employer must keep SDSs for every hazardous product on site. They must be readily accessible to any worker who may be exposed. If you cannot find an SDS for a product you are using, ask your supervisor immediately.

Employer Responsibilities Under WHMIS 2015

Ontario employers have clear legal obligations under WHMIS 2015 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. If your workplace uses hazardous products, your employer must:

• Provide WHMIS training — every worker who works with or near hazardous products must receive education on hazard identification, labels, SDSs, and safe work procedures. Training must be completed before a worker handles hazardous products and must be updated when conditions change.
• Make Safety Data Sheets available — SDSs for every hazardous product must be kept in the workplace and be easily accessible to workers during their shift. They must be reviewed and updated at least every three years.
• Ensure proper labelling — all hazardous product containers must have either a supplier label or a workplace label. If a label is missing, illegible, or damaged, your employer must replace it.
• Provide workplace-specific training — general WHMIS education is not enough. Your employer must also train you on the specific hazardous products in your workplace, the procedures for safe use, and what to do in an emergency.
• Keep training records — employers must document that WHMIS training has been provided. In Ontario, this documentation should be available for inspection by the Ministry of Labour.

Your Rights as a Worker

WHMIS 2015 exists because of a fundamental principle in Canadian occupational health and safety law: workers have the right to know about hazards in their workplace. In Ontario, the Occupational Health and Safety Act gives you three core rights:

The Right to Know

You have the right to be informed about any hazards — chemical, physical, or biological — that you may be exposed to at work. This includes access to SDSs, properly labelled products, and training that helps you understand the risks.

The Right to Participate

You have the right to take part in keeping your workplace safe. This includes participating in the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC), reporting unsafe conditions, and raising concerns about hazardous products without fear of reprisal.

The Right to Refuse Unsafe Work

If you have reason to believe that a hazardous product or condition puts you in danger, you have the legal right to refuse the work. Your employer cannot discipline or penalize you for exercising this right in good faith. If a chemical is unlabelled, an SDS is unavailable, or you have not been trained on a product, you are within your rights to stop and ask questions.

Why WHMIS Training Matters

WHMIS is not just a legal checkbox. Chemical exposures remain one of the leading causes of workplace illness in Ontario. Proper training helps you:

• Identify hazards before they cause harm
• Use the correct PPE for each product
• Respond effectively to spills, leaks, or accidental exposure
• Understand your rights and your employer's obligations
• Protect yourself and your coworkers every day

Whether you work in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, or an office, if there are hazardous products in your workplace, WHMIS 2015 training is required by law.