Transitioning to WHMIS 2015
Are you ready?
As of September 1, 2018, all hazardous products sold or imported into Canada and intended for storage, handling or use in a Canadian workplace must be compliant with WHMIS 2015.
Each federal, provincial, and territorial jurisdiction across Canada has agreed to target a final deadline of December 1, 2018* for transition to WHMIS 2015. By this date:
- All hazardous products in Canadian workplaces must have a WHMIS 2015 compliant label and safety data sheet
- Workplace WHMIS programs must be reviewed and updated to reflect WHMIS 2015 hazards, appropriate hazard control measures and emergency procedures
- Workers who work with or may be exposed to hazardous products in the course of their work must be educated and trained on WHMIS 2015
Employer duties have not changed. They include:
- Ensure that hazardous products are properly labelled
- Prepare workplace labels as needed
- Prepare safety data sheets (SDSs) as necessary
- Provide workers with access to up-to-date SDSs
- Ensure appropriate control measures are in place to protect the health and safety of workers
- Educate and train workers on the hazards and safe use of products
Worker education and training
Employers are required to educate and train workers about WHMIS 2015, including:
- New hazard pictograms
- New hazard classes
- New label requirements such as signal words, hazard statements and precautionary statements
- The meaning of the signal word and all hazard statements found on labels and safety data sheets
- The new safety data sheet format, required content and location of information needed to work safely with a hazardous product
- Worksite-specific training on how to work safely with the hazardous products used at your workplace
Transition Tips
- Meet with workplace leadership to develop a transition plan.
- Keep an accurate list of all hazardous products in your workplace and whether they are WHMIS 1988 or WHMIS 2015 compliant.
- Understand the hazard classification differences between WHMIS 1988 and WHMIS 2015. These differences mean that products may have more or different hazard classifications under WHMIS 2015.
- Review your training processes and materials to make sure they are WHMIS 2015 ready.
- Check with your suppliers to find out if upcoming shipments will contain safety data sheets (SDSs) and labels that are WHMIS 2015 compliant, and request that they provide them as soon as they become available.
- Plan to use up or remove WHMIS 1988 stock, or to relabel these products with WHMIS 2015 compliant labels (and obtain WHMIS 2015 SDSs).
- Confirm that the WHMIS 2015 labels and SDSs you request from your suppliers for WHMIS 1988 product still apply to the product. Some products may be renamed or reformulated.. Safely dispose of hazardous products that cannot be brought into compliance.
For Updates
whmis.org
whmis.gc.ca
*Specific dates may vary by jurisdiction. Check your jurisdiction’s deadline on whmis.org or contact your WHMIS regulator.