3.1 An Introduction to WHMIS 2015

As part of the workplace safety program, employers are responsible for ensuring their workers are protected from hazardous products, previously referred to as controlled products. WHMIS, or the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, is designed to protect workers from the health effects of exposure to hazardous products.

Globally, there has been a move to align all hazardous product legislation to create uniformity. As such, the GHS, or the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, was created to support such uniformity. In 2015, Canada updated its WHMIS legislation to what is known as WHMIS 2015 to align with GHS. Throughout this chapter, we will review the three elements of WHMIS 2015, look at hazard classification and the transportation of dangerous goods.