The multi-year WHMIS 2015 transition is getting closer to the deadline. Now it's not too late to make sure that employers and workers are up to speed with courses and information to help them understand the system.
Remaining Transition Phases
Phase 2
From June 1, 2018 to August 31, 2018
Distributors can continue to sell, and those importing for their own use can continue to use, hazardous products with labels and (M)SDSs that are compliant with WHMIS 1988 or WHMIS 2015.
During this phase, manufacturers and importers are required to only sell or import hazardous products with labels and SDSs that are compliant with WHMIS 2015. The transition to WHMIS 2015 for manufacturers and importers is now complete.
Phase 3
From September 1, 2018 to November 30, 2018
During this phase, manufacturers, importers and distributors are required to sell or import only those hazardous products that are complaint with WHMIS 2015. At this point, transition to WHMIS 2015 is complete for all suppliers.
Full Implementation of WHMIS 2015
By December 1, 2018, all suppliers and employers will be required to be in compliance with the new Hazardous Products Act (HPA) and Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR).
CCOHS WHMIS 2015 online training and resources
- WHMIS 2015: An Introduction provides a basic overview of the changes to WHMIS after its alignment with GHS. Free.
- WHMIS 2015 for Workers provides worker education on the new WHMIS system, along with an exam and a certificate for those who complete it successfully.
For chemical suppliers
- The WHMIS 2015 – How Canada is Adopting the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) for Workplace Chemicals webinar summarizes key WHMIS 2015 requirements for suppliers (or their representatives).
Free WHMIS 2015 Resources from CCOHS:
- GHS Classification of Substances: An Introduction webinar
- GHS Classification of Mixtures: An Introduction webinar
- How to write a GHS Label webinar
- WHMIS 2015 – General Information
- WHMIS 2015 Fact Sheets
- WHMIS 2015 Labels poster
- WHMIS 2015 Pictograms, individual downloads
For WHMIS updates visit https://www.whmis.org/.
