Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS; French: Système d'information sur les matières dangereuses utilisées au travail, SIMDUT) is Canada's national workplace hazard communication standard. The key elements of the system, which came into effect on October 31, 1988, are cautionary labelling of containers of WHMIS controlled products, the provision of material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and worker education and site-specific training programs.

WHMIS is an example of synchronization and cooperation amongst Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments. The coordinated approach avoided duplication, inefficiency through loss of scale and the interprovincial trade barriers that would have been created had each province and territory established its own hazard communication system.

Old WHMIS Hazard Symbols

Class A
Compressed gas
Class D-2
Materials causing other toxic effects

Class B
Flammable and combustible material
Class D-3
Biohazardous infectious material

Class C
Oxidizing material
Class E
Corrosive material

Class D-1
Materials causing immediate and serious toxic effects
Class F
Dangerously reactive material
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