How will WHMIS change when GHS is adopted by Canada?
At this time, it is not completely clear as to what will happen in Canada. Canada is in the process of consulting with stakeholders about a number of different issues regarding proposed GHS changes. For example, depending on which parts (building blocks) are chosen for the Canadian workplace sector, the classification criteria will need to be changed to reflect the GHS criteria. There is no direct translation from WHMIS hazard classifications to the GHS hazard classifications. There are more hazard classes under GHS than there are under WHMIS. Detailed analysis of the differences between the current WHMIS criteria and the corresponding GHS criteria are available from Health Canada through the main page at: The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/intactiv/ghs-sgh/index_e.html In addition, GHS applies to all chemicals but some of these chemicals, for example explosives, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and consumer produ
