Published on: 12/05/2015

Since 1988, the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) has been Canada’s national hazard communication system for workplace chemicals. It is supported by interlocking federal, provincial and territorial legislation and regulations. However, this process is now changing, moving towards the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

WHMIS legislation and regulations have already been modified in the province in order to allow for a transition to this new system. This new system is now in the midst of a phase in period, which must be completed by December 2018.

Suppliers (manufacturers, importers and distributors) will have time to deplete their stocks of hazardous products with WHMIS 1988 labels and safety data sheets. Employers and workers will have time to become familiar with the new chemical classifications, and the design and content of WHMIS 2015 labels and safety data sheets.

While Ontario is updating its requirements, the Ministry of Labour will continue to enforce the existing OHSA and WHMIS requirements for labels, material safety data sheets and worker training, and continue to do so for as long as these requirements remain in force.

More information about the new federal WHMIS requirements is available at http://WHMIS.gc.ca.

General information for suppliers, employers and workers is available at http://whmis.org.

WHMIS 2015 Questions and Answers are available at: (http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/faqs/whmis2015.php).