Understanding the Difference Between WHMIS and GHS
When it comes to workplace safety, especially considering chemicals or other hazardous products, clear and consistent communication is essential. In Canada, two key systems work together to ensure that workers and employers have the information they need to protect health and safety: WHMIS and GHS. While they are related, they are not the same, and understanding the difference is important for compliance, training, and safe operations.
The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is Canada’s national hazard communication standard. It provides a framework for how hazardous products are classified, labeled, and documented, ensuring that workers understand the risks and know how to work with these materials safely. WHMIS applies to most workplaces in Canada and sets out the requirements for standardized hazard symbols and pictograms on labels, detailed Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) containing important product safety information, and worker education and training on safe handling, storage, and emergency procedures. The ultimate goal of WHMIS is to make sure that everyone who works with or near hazardous materials understands the hazards and knows how to protect themselves.
The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), on the other hand, is an international standard developed by the United Nations. Its purpose is to create a consistent approach for classifying and communicating chemical hazards worldwide. Before GHS was developed, countries often had their own hazard classification systems, which created confusion and inconsistencies in labeling and documentation. GHS addresses this problem by providing a common set of criteria for hazard classification and a standardized format for label elements such as pictograms, signal words, and hazard statements.
In 2015, Canada updated WHMIS to align with GHS, resulting in WHMIS 2015. This alignment brought Canada’s system in line with global standards, making it easier for businesses to import and export products without the need to re-label or re-classify them for different markets. It also ensured consistency in hazard communication for workers who may work with products from multiple countries. It is important to note that GHS is not a separate or replacement system for WHMIS in Canada. Instead, WHMIS incorporates GHS elements into its existing framework, meaning that WHMIS remains the law in Canadian workplaces while using GHS criteria for classifying hazards and formatting labels and SDSs.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that all hazardous products are labeled according to WHMIS 2015 requirements, that Safety Data Sheets are up-to-date and easily accessible, and that workers receive training that reflects the GHS-aligned WHMIS standards. For workers, being able to read and understand the updated pictograms, hazard statements, and precautionary statements is essential for preventing accidents, injuries, and long-term health issues.
WHMIS can be thought of as Canada’s safety rulebook for hazardous materials, while GHS is the global language that WHMIS now speaks. By incorporating GHS, WHMIS 2015 makes it easier for Canadian workplaces to remain compliant, participate in international trade, and, most importantly, protect the health and safety of workers.
