History and evolution: WHMIS 1988, 2015, and the 2025 update

### Concept Development WHMIS stands for the **Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System**. It is Canada's national system for giving workers information about hazardous products they use or work near. The idea behind WHMIS is simple: **every worker has the right to know** what hazards a product presents and how to work with it safely. WHMIS has three main parts that work together: - **Hazard classification** — suppliers decide which hazards a product has, using criteria set in federal law. - **Labels** — supplier labels and workplace labels show the key hazard information at a glance. - **Safety Data Sheets (SDS)** — detailed documents that explain hazards, safe handling, first aid and emergency measures. These three parts are supported by **worker education and training**, which your employer must provide. **A short history** - **1988 — WHMIS is created.** Canada introduced WHMIS so that hazard information would be communicated the same way in every province and territory. Labels used a round symbol system and safety sheets were called MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets). - **2015 — WHMIS 2015 aligns with the GHS.** Canada adopted the **Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)**, the United Nations system used by many countries. Classification criteria, pictograms, label elements and the 16-section SDS format changed. This version is called **WHMIS 2015**. - **December 2022 — amendments.** Health Canada amended the **Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR)** to align with newer editions of the GHS (Revision 7 and parts of Revision 8). Suppliers had a three-year transition period. - **December 14, 2025 — end of the transition.** From this date, suppliers must classify, label and prepare SDSs according to the amended rules. **What the 2022 amendments changed (in brief)** - **Flammable gases** are now divided into **Category 1A** and **Category 1B**. Pyrophoric gases and chemically unstable gases are now part of Category 1A instead of separate classes. - **"Flammable aerosols"** became **"Aerosols"**, with a new **Category 3** for non-flammable aerosols. - A new physical hazard class was added: **Chemicals under pressure** (liquids or solids in a container pressurized with a gas). - Some SDS details changed, for example in Section 9 (physical and chemical properties). ### Real-World Example A maintenance supervisor tells the team: "We have to switch to WHMIS 2025." A worker asks whether all the old training is now useless. It isn't. The system is still **WHMIS 2015**; it was amended, not replaced. What changes for workers is that some products now arrive with updated labels and SDSs — for example, a can of spray lubricant may now show a gas cylinder pictogram because it is classified as a chemical under pressure, or a non-flammable spray may show the signal word "Warning" with no flame pictogram. ### Guided Practical Case A new worker finds two containers of the same cleaner on a shelf. One label is older and the other newer, and the pictograms are slightly different. 1. **Is one label wrong?** Not necessarily. Product classifications can change when suppliers update them to the amended rules. 2. **Which information should you follow?** The **most current SDS** and label for the product you are using. 3. **What should you do?** Tell your supervisor so the employer can check that the SDS on file is current and that workers know about the change. ### Workplace Application - Treat WHMIS as a system you use every day, not a one-time course. - When a label or SDS looks different from what you remember, read it again — information may have been updated. - Ask your supervisor where the SDSs for your work area are kept. ### Checklist — Can You Apply This? - I can explain what WHMIS stands for and why it exists. - I can name the three main parts of WHMIS. - I know that WHMIS 2015 was amended in 2022 and that the transition ended on December 14, 2025. - I can name at least two changes introduced by the amendments.