WHMIS Symbols
The name for all symbols used by WHMIS to identify hazardous materials. Located on supplier labels and SDSs
Pictograms
This is a term that means “any action, conduct or comment, including of a sexual nature, that can reasonably be expected to cause offence, humiliation or other physical or psychological injury or illness to an employee, including any prescribed action, conduct or comment.”
Harassment and Violence
This is a worker’s first warning of a hazard. It will contain the product name, relevant pictograms, a signal word, hazard statements, precautionary statements and an initial supplier identifier.
Supplier Labels
This type of control involves physically removing the hazard from the workplace. Some people consider this a type of engineering control.
Elimination
A chemical, physical, or biological agent that has the ability to cause cancer. Examples include asbestos, silica and vinyl chloride.
Carcinogens
This symbol looks like a flame over a circle. Materials marked with this symbol may cause or intensify flame and should be stored away from flammable materials to reduce risk of fire
Oxidizing Hazards
This person or entity is defined in the Canada Labour Code as:
“a person who employs one or more employees and includes an employers’ organization and any person who acts on behalf of an employer.”
An Employer
This type of warning label is made by the employer and only used in that employer’s workplace. It is relatively short and must contain the product identifier, information for safe handling, and a statement that an SDS is available.
Workplace Labels
This is the least effective control type and places the responsibility on the worker. Before considering this type of control you must ensure a worker is trained on the proper use, inspection, storage, and maintenance.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
This type of substance can cause damage or changes to a person’s DNA. This can cause cancer, birth defects, or other health problems. The effect may or may not be noticeable in the person who was exposed and might only be seen in later generations (I.e. Children).
Mutagens
The symbol indicates a beaker pouring a liquid on a piece of metal and separately on a hand. Substances marked with this symbol may cause severe burns to skin or eyes. Before using a substance with this symbol you must ensure you have PPE and know where the nearest eyewash and showers are.
Corrosion and Corrosive Substances
Employers have many duties under the Canada Labour Code. Ensuring that each employee is made aware of every known or foreseeable health or safety hazard in the area where the employee works is an example of this type of duty.
Training and Supervision
This is a technical document produced by a supplier of a product that provides detailed information in multiple categories. There are 16 categories that must be listed on this document including First Aid Measures, Physical and Chemical Properties, and Handling and Storage instructions.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
This is a type of control in which a physical barrier is placed between the worker and the hazard. This may require engineering support to put into practise and inspection to ensure they remain effective over time.
Shielding or Guarding
This term means “How a substance got in the body.” Examples include inhalation, absorption, ingestion and injection.
Routes of Entry
This symbol is not part of the Global Harmonized System but is part of WHMIS. It is the only symbol without a solid red border. It is often found in labs, research facilities or in areas that provide healthcare.
Biohazardous Infectious Material
The purpose of this piece of legislation is “… to prevent accidents, occurrences of harassment and violence and physical or psychological injuries and illnesses arising out of, linked with or occurring in the course of employment …”
The Canada Labour Code Part II
This section of an SDS will contain the pictograms or the name of the pictograms, signal words, hazard statement and precautionary statements associated with a hazardous substance.
Hazard Identification
This type of administrative control is focused on ensuring that workers understand the hazards in their workplace and how to avoid them.
Worker Education Programs
If we had no way of doing this a substance would stay in our body indefinitely. Our body does this by using our kidneys, digestive system and respiratory system.
Excretion
This symbol is not adopted by WHMIS but is allowed. A substance marked with this symbol has acute or chronic effects on the aquatic environment and requires secondary containment
Environmental Hazards
This system, which was updated in 2015, is also known as “The Right to Know” legislation. It gives workers the right to know about the hazardous products they work with and how to work with them safely.
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) 2015
When doing this with a hazardous substance you must have a workplace label unless:
All of the hazardous products in the portable container are required for immediate use or
All of these three conditions are met
The hazardous product is used by the worker who filled the container;
The hazardous product is used only during the shift in which the portable container was filled; &
Decanting Hazardous Products
This type of control is used to prevent absorption or ingestion of hazardous chemicals. Examples include wearing a labcoat, handwashing, and showers.
Personal Hygiene Practices
A term used to describe an interaction of materials to give an effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.
Synergism