{"id":6235,"date":"2023-12-07T09:09:20","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T14:09:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citationcanada.com\/glossary\/%topics%\/what-is-a-reference-letter-copy\/"},"modified":"2025-02-03T15:49:42","modified_gmt":"2025-02-03T15:49:42","slug":"whmis","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/www.citationcanada.com\/fr\/glossary\/health-and-safety\/whmis\/","title":{"rendered":"WHMIS 2015\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \n \n \n \n HR Glossary\n <\/span>\n\n <\/a>\n \/<\/span>\n \n \n \n \n Health and Safety\n <\/span>\n\n <\/a>\n \/<\/span>\n \n \n \n \n WHMIS 2015\u00a0\n <\/span>\n\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n WHMIS 2015\u00a0\n <\/h1>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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What is WHMIS 2015?<\/h2>\n

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WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. The system was last majorly updated in 2015 when elements of the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (a United Nations program) was integrated into the Canadian legislative scheme. This is why you will often see references to \u201cWHMIS 2015.\u201d This integration was done to standardize Canada\u2019s approach with those of other countries and thereby improve consistency, communication, and overall safety. WHMIS 2015 establishes the requirements for labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) for hazardous materials. Hazardous materials can only be used, handled, and stored in the workplace after they are properly identified and labelled, SDSs are made available, and employees have received training or instruction on their safe use, handling, and storage.<\/p>\n

What are WHMIS symbols?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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WHMIS symbols or pictograms are graphic images that appear on hazardous chemical labels to denote the type of hazard. From a quick glance, the user of the chemical can see, for example, that a product is flammable. Most pictograms have a distinctive red square as a border, and the square is set on one of its points. The image inside the border depicts the specific hazard associated with the hazardous material. The only exception to this is the pictogram for biohazardous infectious materials, which is a black circle with the biohazard symbol set in black.<\/p>\n

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Resources:<\/h2>\n