More About WHMIS

The most important information about WHMIS is contained in its symbols and labels. There are eight symbols and as many labels as there are hazardous materials used in the Canadian workplace.

Look at the following symbols and the meaning attached to the symbol. Do you think the symbol is a good representation of the meaning?

Not all of these symbols are found in every workplace. When you work for an organization, you need to ask about WHMIS. Some companies train new employees to recognize symbols found in their workplace and they inform employees of all safety precautions.

Many people assume that WHMIS symbols are only found in manufacturing and on industrial sites. This is a dangerous assumption. Some real life examples from other environments:

• in a health care organization, needles or "sharps" are considered biohazardous waste and come with WHMIS rules for their disposal
• in office environments, there can be WHMIS labels on some brands of correction fluid and photocopy toner
• many cleaning solutions used in workplaces, including schools, have WHMIS labels

Recognizing a symbol is only the first step. You also need to be able to read the information on a label. Most warning labels contain the following information:

• the WHMIS hazard symbol
• a code or number that identifies the product
• a brief description of the hazard
• proper storage and safety precautions e.g. wear gloves
• first aid instructions if you are exposed
• the name and address of the company that supplied the product