WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System)
Hazardous materials may cause serious health problems in workers or fires or explosions in the workplace. WHMIS provides information on hazardous products, as defined and described in the federal Hazardous Products Act and Hazardous Products Regulations, so workers can protect themselves.
- Responsibilities
- Resources
Each hazardous product must have a label and a safety data sheet (SDS). A label identifies the product’s hazards and precautionary measures. An SDS provides more detailed information.
Responsibilities
Under WHMIS, suppliers, employers, and workers have the following responsibilities.
Employers
Employers must:
- Establish and maintain a WHMIS program
- Ensure that all hazardous products are properly labelled
- Make SDSs readily available to workers
- Prepare workplace labels and SDSs as necessary
- Provide worker education and training
Workers
Workers must:
- Participate in WHMIS training and education programs
- Take necessary steps to protect themselves and their co-workers
- Participate in identifying hazards and controlling risks
- Inform employers if labels are illegible or missing
Suppliers
Suppliers (manufacturers, importers, and distributors) must:
- Classify hazardous products
- Prepare and provide labels and SDSs to customers
- Provide supplier labels on all containers of hazardous products they sell or produce
Education and training
Employers are responsible for ensuring their workers are trained and educated in WHMIS. Employers can provide this training themselves, as long as it meets the requirements of sections 5.6 and 5.7 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
Alternatively, employers can choose to have workers trained through an external provider, such as the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) or a provider listed on ohstrainingbc.com. WorkSafeBC does not offer WHMIS training or certification, and does not endorse one training provider over another.
Resources
WHMIS 2015: The Basics
Designed for workers, this book explains the basics of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), including:
- Key changes from WHMIS 1988 to WHMIS 2015
- Classification ...
WHMIS 2015 for Employers
This video explains the primary changes to WHMIS 2015: new hazard classes, new labelling requirements, and a revised safety data sheet format. It also describes your responsibilities as an employer...
WHMIS 2015 for Workers
This video helps workers understand the primary changes to WHMIS 2015 — new hazard classes, new labelling requirements, and a revised safety data sheet format — as well as the responsibilities...
WHMIS 2015: At Work
This book contains general information about WHMIS 2015. It summarizes key changes from the original WHMIS, describes the four main elements of WHMIS 2015 (classification, labels, safety data sheets,...