What is WHMIS?
1. WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.
2. It is an information system implemented in 1988, which is designed to help
students know more about safety and health hazards of materials that they use in
the workplace.
3. WHMIS gives workers and employers key safety and handling information in the
form of special labels, symbols, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) on
potentially dangerous chemicals that are used on the job.
4. You will come across controlled products that fall under the WHMIS legislation at
school (for example, the chemicals used in your science class or shop class),
and at any workplace where chemicals are used.
The purpose of a WHMIS symbol is to identify the product as controlled and to alert
workers to the hazards and safe handling procedures of the product. However, WHMIS
symbols are small and can only give limited information. The MSDS (Material Safety
Data Sheet) gives more information. It informs you of the:





Name of the chemical
WHMIS hazard symbols
Risks and precautions
First Aid instructions
Name and address of supplier
WHMIS Symbols
Symbol
Class A
Compressed Gas
Examples: fire extinguishers,
propane, chlorine, welding
gases.
Hazards and Safe Handling Measures
- Is kept under pressure
- Heat may cause to explode
- Dropping may cause to explode
- Keep container closed tightly and ensure
valves are effective.
Symbol
Class B
Flammable & Combustible
Material
Examples: propane, gasoline
Hazards and Safe Handling Measures
Includes any solid, liquid or gas that will burn.
- May burn at relatively low temperatures
- May burst into flame spontaneously when in
contact with air
- May release flammable gas when in contact
with water
- Keep away from heat or sources of ignition
- Keep container tightly closed
Class C
Oxidizing Material
Examples: Oxygen gas,
hydrogen peroxide, bleach
Oxidizers cause other substances to burn or
continue to burn because they release oxygen.
Oxidizers will not usually catch fire by
themselves.
- May cause a fire if it contacts combustibles
such as wood.
- Keep away from heat
- Keep away from flammable and combustible
materials
Class D – Poisonous and
Infectious Materials
Class D1
Material Causing
Immediate & Serious Toxic
Effects Examples: hydrogen
sulphide, strychnine, cyanide
These materials are highly poisonous and
immediately dangerous to life.
- May be fatal or cause permanent damage if it
enters the body through the skin, is inhaled or
ingested.
- Do not breath gas or vapours
- Avoid skin contact
- Wear suitable personal protective equipment
Symbol
Class D2
Material Causing Other
Toxic Effects
Examples: asbestos,
saccharin, mercury
Hazards and Safe Handling Measures
Materials in this class are toxic, but their
effects are not immediate but likely to harm
you in some way.
- May cause death if repeatedly exposed
- May irritate eyes and skin and cause
chemical allergies
- May cause cancer, birth defects and sterility
- Do not breath gas or vapours
- Wear suitable personal protective equipment
- Wash hands thoroughly after using these
materials
Class D3
Biohazardous Infectious
Materials
Examples: HIV, Hepatitis B,
salmonella
These materials are organisms (and the toxins
of organisms) that cause disease in persons
and animals. They are germs – bacteria,
viruses, fungi, etc.
- May cause serious illness and death
- Keep containers tightly closed
- Wear suitable protective equipment
- Seek medical attention if you feel ill
Class E
Corrosive
Examples: sulphuric acid,
caustic soda, many cleaners
and disinfectants
These materials effects are permanent. Acids
and bases are corrosive.
- Causes severe eye and skin irritation upon
contact
- Tissue damage with extended exposure
- May be harmful if inhaled/avoid skin contact
- Use recommended respiratory protective
equipment and other personal protective
equipment
Symbol
Class F
Dangerously Reactive
Material
Examples: benzoyl peroxide,
epoxy resins.
Hazards and Safe Handling Measures
This includes a wide variety of chemicals that
are potentially self-reactive.
- It is very unstable
- May react with water to release toxic or
flammable gas
- May explode if subjected to shock, friction or
heat
- Keep away from heat and water
- Wear suitable protective clothing
International Symbol Hazards
• Not all products are controlled by the WHMIS legislation. You’ll see other symbols on
products you commonly find around the house and garden, including cosmetics (like
hairsprays), pesticides, and some household products (like oven cleaners).
These products use the International Hazard Symbols you see below.
Note: The border that surrounds each symbol signifies the danger level of the hazard
• An octagon (same shape as a stop sign) indicates “DANGER” and represents the
most dangerous hazard.
• A diamond indicates “WARNING” and represents a moderate or medium hazard level.
A warning diamond does not pose as extreme a risk as the danger octagon.
• The upside-down triangle indicates “CAUTION” and represents the slightest or least
hazard of the three borders. This does not make it hazardless! Use these products with
caution.
What is WHMIS?
1. WHMIS stands for _________________________________________________.
2. It is an information system implemented in 1988, which is designed to help
students know more about safe ___________________________________ of
materials that they use in the workplace.
3. WHMIS gives workers and employers key safety and handling information in the
form of special labels, symbols, and ____________________________ (MSDS)
on potentially dangerous chemicals that are used on the job.
4. You will come across controlled products that fall under the WHMIS legislation at
school (for example, the chemicals used in your science class or shop class),
and at any workplace where chemicals are used.
The purpose of a WHMIS symbol is to identify the product as _____________ and to
alert workers to the hazards and safe handling procedures of the product. However,
WHMIS symbols are small and can only give limited information. The MSDS (Material
Safety Data Sheet) gives more information. It informs you of the:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
WHMIS Symbols
Symbol
Class A
_______________________
Examples: fire extinguishers,
propane, chlorine, welding
gases.
Hazards and Safe Handling Measures
- Is kept under pressure
- Heat may cause to explode
- Dropping may cause to explode
- Keep container closed tightly and ensure
valves are effective.
Symbol
Class B
Hazards and Safe Handling Measures
Includes any solid, liquid or gas that will burn.
_______________________
- May burn at relatively low temperatures
_______________________
- May burst into flame spontaneously when in
contact with air
Examples: propane, gasoline
- May release flammable gas when in contact
with water
- Keep away from heat or sources of ignition
- Keep container tightly closed
Class C
_______________________
Examples: Oxygen gas,
hydrogen peroxide, bleach
Oxidizers cause other substances to burn or
continue to burn because they release oxygen.
Oxidizers will not usually catch fire by
themselves.
- May cause a fire if it contacts combustibles
such as wood.
- Keep away from heat
- Keep away from flammable and combustible
materials
Class D –
______________________________________________
Class D1
These materials are highly poisonous and
immediately dangerous to life.
_______________________
_______________________
Examples: carbon monoxide,
cyanide
- May be fatal or cause permanent damage if it
enters the body through the skin, is inhaled or
ingested.
- Do not breath gas or vapours
- Avoid skin contact
- Wear suitable personal protective equipment
Symbol
Class D2
_______________________
Hazards and Safe Handling Measures
Materials in this class are toxic, but their
effects are not immediate but likely to harm
you in some way.
_______________________
- May cause death if repeatedly exposed
Examples: asbestos,
saccharin, mercury
- May irritate eyes and skin and cause
chemical allergies
- May cause cancer, birth defects and sterility
- Do not breath gas or vapours
- Wear suitable personal protective equipment
- Wash hands thoroughly after using these
materials
Class D3
_______________________
These materials are organisms (and the toxins
of organisms) that cause disease in persons
and animals. They are germs – bacteria,
viruses, fungi, etc.
_______________________
- May cause serious illness and death
Examples: HIV, Hepatitis B,
salmonella
- Keep containers tightly closed
- Wear suitable protective equipment
- Seek medical attention if you feel ill
Class E
These materials effects are permanent. Acids
and bases are corrosive.
_______________________
Examples: ammonia gas,
chlorine
- Causes severe eye and skin irritation upon
contact
- Tissue damage with extended exposure
- May be harmful if inhaled/avoid skin contact
- Use recommended respiratory protective
equipment and other personal protective
equipment
Symbol
Class F
Hazards and Safe Handling Measures
This includes a wide variety of chemicals that
are potentially self-reactive.
_______________________
- It is very unstable
_______________________
Examples: benzoyl peroxide,
epoxy resins.
- May react with water to release toxic or
flammable gas
- May explode if subjected to shock, friction or
heat
- Keep away from heat and water
- Wear suitable protective clothing
International Symbol Hazards
• Not all products are controlled by the WHMIS legislation. You’ll see other symbols on
products you commonly find around the house and garden, including cosmetics (like
hairsprays), pesticides, and some household products (like oven cleaners).
These products use the International Hazard Symbols you see below.
Note: The border that surrounds each symbol signifies the danger level of the hazard
• An _______________ (same shape as a stop sign) indicates “DANGER” and
represents the most dangerous hazard.
• A ____________ indicates “WARNING” and represents a moderate or medium hazard
level. A warning diamond does not pose as extreme a risk as the danger octagon.
• The _________________________ indicates “CAUTION” and represents the slightest
or least hazard of the three borders. This does not make it hazardless! Use these
products with caution.
WHMIS Worksheet
1. What does WHMIS stand for?
2. What is the purpose of WHMIS?
3. What information would you find on a WHMIS label?
4. Do all products have WHMIS labels? Explain.
5. Identify the following symbols, write down at least one hazard the symbol
represents and one example of a material that might have this symbol
A
B
C
Identify Symbol
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
D
E
One Hazard
F
G
Example
H
6. What is an MSDS and what kind of information can be found on it?
7. Identify the following International Safety Symbols
A ________________________
B ________________________
C ________________________
D ________________________
E ________________________
F ________________________
G ________________________
H ________________________
I ________________________
J ________________________
K ________________________
L ________________________