In this short video, Mike will be explaining the WHMIS system as well as the primary changes to WHMIS legislation that were introduced in 2015.
Video Transcript
Hi I’m Mike.
Today we are going to talk about a control program for hazardous chemicals. The letters “WHMIS” can be pronounced “whim-is”, and these letters stand for “Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System”.
WHMIS makes it easier to get the information you need so you can recognize and protect yourself from a chemical hazard.
WHMIS was first introduced in 1988, and it was a system that identified hazardous chemicals with symbols in a round label, a supplier label or a workplace label, and a material safety data sheet or “MSDS” that had 9 sections of information.
In 2015 WHMIS changed and these pictograms replaced the round labels. The supplier label was changed, but the workplace label stayed the same. Finally, a safety data sheet or “SDS” with 16 sections of information replaced the MSDS.
WHMIS was updated to introduce the “GHS” and that stands for the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. Now countries all over the world use the same system to identify hazardous chemicals.
If you are working with or near to a hazardous chemical, you should complete a WHMIS 2015 course. Not WHMIS 2018, or 2019, or 2020. WHMIS 2015 is the only WHMIS training you need. There are no other versions.
Thanks for watching.
Learn about the latest changes to WHMIS training in Canada. The “WHMIS 2015” legislation introduced the Globally Harmonized System (GHS). This update comes with some significant changes including updated pictograms, a new safety data sheet format, and changes to supplier labels.
The new system is referred to as “WHMIS 2015” as that is when the legislation was introduced, as compared to what is now commonly referred to as “WHMIS 1988” , which reflects the original WHMIS legislation introduced in 1988.
“2015” is not intended to imply that there is a new version of WHMIS every year. There is no such thing as WHMIS 2016, 2017, 2018,2019, 2020, etc..
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