There are a few hazard classes with five or more categories (e.g., organic peroxides). Some hazard classes have only one category (e.g., corrosive to metals), others may have two categories (e.g., carcinogenicity (cancer)) or three categories (e.g., oxidizing liquids). Subcategories are identified with a number and a letter (e.g., 1A and 1B). In a few cases, sub-categories are also specified.

Types are assigned an alphabetical letter (e.g., A, B, etc.). The hazard categories are assigned a number (e.g., 1, 2, etc.). Explosives are covered by other legislation in Canada.Įach hazard class contains at least one category. The WHMIS regulations do not currently include the Explosives hazard class. Note: GHS also defines an Explosive class and the Environmental Hazards group (not mandatory). Health hazards not otherwise classified.Specific target organ toxicity – repeated exposure.Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure.Physical hazards not otherwise classified.Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases.Flammable gases (includes pyrophoric gases and chemically unstable gases).Some hazard classes are specific to WHMIS 2015. Most of the hazard classes are common to GHS and will be used worldwide by all countries that have adopted GHS. Hazard classes are a way of grouping together products that have similar properties. Including information about environmental hazards is allowed by WHMIS. However, you may see the environmental classes listed on labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDSs). This group (and its classes) was not adopted in WHMIS.

GHS also defines an Environmental hazards group. Health hazards group: based on the ability of the product to cause a health effect – such as eye irritation, respiratory sensitization (may cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled), or carcinogenicity (may cause cancer).Physical hazards group: based on the physical or chemical properties of the product – such as flammability, reactivity, or corrosivity to metals.Each hazard group includes hazard classes that have specific hazardous properties. WHMIS applies to two major groups of hazards: physical, and health. WHMIS – Confidential Business Information (CBI).Please refer to the following OSH Answers documents for information about WHMIS: Suppliers and employers must use and follow the WHMIS requirements for labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) for hazardous products sold, distributed, or imported into Canada. While these jurisdictions based their WHMIS regulations on a common model, small variations between jurisdictions may exist. Note that WHMIS is also regulated in the workplace by the provinces, territories and federal (for federally regulated workplaces) governments under their occupational health and safety legislation. Health Canada is the government body responsible for the overall WHMIS supplier-related laws. Suppliers are granted a 3-year transition period (to December 15, 2025) to bring product classifications, safety data sheets and labels into compliance with the amendments.įor most workplaces, the most notable impact will be seen in the changes to the flammable gases class, and the new class of chemicals under pressure.

The changes introduced in December 2022 are in force. This document reflects the Hazardous Products Regulations requirements as of December 15, 2022. This document discusses the WHMIS supplier requirements as regulated by the federal legislation – the Hazardous Products Act and the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR). You are here: WHMIS - Hazard Classes and CategoriesĬanada has aligned the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).

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