2025 WHMIS Pictograms Breakdown: WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) is a crucial framework designed to communicate essential health and safety information about hazardous products used, handled, or stored in Canadian workplaces.

Explore the following sections to gain a deeper understanding of the 2025 WHMIS pictograms:

Click on each corresponding link to learn more about WHMIS meaning:

1. 2025 WHMIS Pictograms Breakdown
2. What is WHMIS and Why is it Important?
3. What are Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

If you require WHMIS training, contact the professionals at ACUTE Environmental today! We have over 100 years of combined experience and we offer health and safety training, rescue services, and consulting services.

WHMIS Meaning Explained

1. 2025 WHMIS Pictograms Breakdown

Exploding Bomb (WHMIS meaning: Explosion or reactivity hazards)

Description: This pictogram is used for materials or mixtures that can detonate or explode under certain conditions. It represents a serious physical hazard. The Exploding Bomb WHMIS pictogram is commonly seen in chemical storage rooms, construction sites, welding areas, manufacturing plants, and laboratories, indicating the presence of materials that can detonate or explode under certain conditions.

Example: Fireworks

Flame (WHMIS meaning: Fire hazard)

Description: This pictogram represents materials that are flammable, including liquids, solids, and gases. It indicates the potential for fire or explosion.

The Flame WHMIS pictogram is commonly found in workplaces such as chemical storage rooms, laboratories, manufacturing plants, welding areas, auto repair shops, and kitchens, indicating the presence of flammable materials that pose a fire or explosion risk.

Example: Gasoline

Flame Over Circle (WHMIS meaning: Oxidizing hazard)

Description: This pictogram represents oxidizing materials that are reactive to oxygen. They will generate a large amount of heat if they come into contact with oxygen, increasing the likelihood of a fire.

The Flame Over Circle WHMIS pictogram is commonly found in chemical storage rooms, laboratories, manufacturing plants, and welding areas, indicating the presence of oxidizing materials that can intensify fires by releasing oxygen.

Example: Swimming pool chemicals (chlorine)

Gas Cylinder (WHMIS meaning: Gases under pressure)

Description: This pictogram represents compressed or liquified gases stored under pressure. It indicates the potential for explosion or other physical hazards.

The Gas Cylinder WHMIS pictogram is commonly found in laboratories, welding areas, manufacturing plants, and storage facilities, indicating the presence of compressed or liquefied gases that pose explosion or pressure-related hazards.

Example: Propane tank

Corrosion (WHMIS meaning: Corrosive damage to metals, skin, and eyes)

Description: This pictogram is used for materials that can cause damage to metals, living tissues, or other materials through chemical reactions. It indicates the potential for corrosion or burns.

Example: Drain cleaner

Skull and Crossbones (WHMIS meaning: Can cause death or toxicity with short exposure to small amounts)

Description: This pictogram is used for materials that can cause death or severe health effects through ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption. It represents acute toxicity.

The Skull and Crossbones WHMIS pictogram is commonly found in laboratories, chemical storage areas, manufacturing plants, and pesticide storage, indicating the presence of highly toxic materials that can cause severe health effects or death with short-term exposure.

Example: Strong pesticide or poison

Health Hazard (WHMIS meaning: May cause or be suspected of causing serious health effects)

Description: This pictogram represents materials that can cause acute or chronic health effects. It includes hazards such as skin irritants, respiratory sensitizers, carcinogens, and toxins.

The Health Hazard WHMIS pictogram is commonly found in workplaces like laboratories, manufacturing plants, and chemical storage areas, indicating the presence of materials that may cause serious health effects, including skin irritation, respiratory issues, carcinogenicity, or long-term toxicity.

Example: Pesticide

Exclamation Mark (WHMIS meaning: May cause less serious health effects or damage the ozone layer)

Description: This pictogram is used for materials that may cause less severe health effects or irritate the skin, eyes, or respiratory system. It also indicates hazards such as acute toxicity, skin corrosion, or eye damage.

Example: Cleaning solution

Environment (WHMIS meaning: May cause damage to the aquatic environment)

Description: This pictogram is used for materials that can cause harm to the environment, including aquatic organisms, soil, or air quality. It indicates potential environmental hazards.

Example: Toxic waste

Biohazards Infectious Materials (WHMIS meaning: Organisms or toxins that can cause diseases in people or animals)

Description: This pictogram is specific to biological hazards, such as bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms that can cause diseases in humans or animals.

Example: Medical waste container

Please note:

These are just examples, and various products can contain multiple WHMIS symbols depending on their hazardous properties. Always refer to the product labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) for accurate and specific information regarding the hazards associated with a particular product.

2. What is WHMIS and Why is it Important?

WHMIS Meaning: WHMIS stands for the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, a standardized system in Canada that classifies and communicates the hazards of materials in the workplace. In 2025, WHMIS will continue to evolve to provide clear, updated information about the risks associated with hazardous substances, helping workers stay informed and safe.

Developed to ensure workers are knowledgeable about the hazards they encounter on the job, WHMIS uses pictograms to represent various types of hazards. This system is vital for workplace safety and legal compliance.

Here’s why WHMIS remains crucial in 2025:

Hazard Communication

WHMIS ensures effective communication of information about hazardous materials to workers. It provides standardized labels, safety data sheets, and other relevant information to help workers understand the potential hazards of the materials they work with or are exposed to.

Worker Safety

WHMIS aims to protect the health and safety of workers by providing them with information on how to handle hazardous materials safely. It helps workers identify potential risks, implement appropriate control measures, and take necessary precautions to prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses.

Legal Compliance

In 2025, compliance with WHMIS remains a legal obligation in Canada. Employers must provide workers with the training and resources needed to meet these standards, protecting both workers and the business from penalties.

Prevention of Accidents and Incidents

WHMIS helps reduce the risk of workplace accidents by ensuring workers have the necessary knowledge to handle hazardous materials safely. Standardized hazard information plays a critical role in preventing spills, leaks, and exposures.

With a solid understanding of the importance of WHMIS, let’s now dive into Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) and their role in 2025.

3. What are Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)?

In order to fully understand WHMIS meaning, you must also understand what WHMIS Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are. Formerly known as Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), SDSs are comprehensive documents that provide detailed information about a hazardous substance or product.

It is an essential component of the WHMIS system and is used to communicate important safety-related information to employers, workers, and emergency responders.

SDSs contain key elements and information, such as:

• Product Identification: This section includes the product name, manufacturer or supplier information, and emergency contact details.
• Hazardous Ingredients: It lists the hazardous substances present in the product, including their Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) numbers and concentration levels.
• Physical and Chemical Properties: This section provides information about the physical and chemical characteristics of the product, such as appearance, odour, boiling point, flashpoint, and pH.
• Fire and Explosion Hazards: It outlines the flammability properties of the substance and provides guidance on appropriate fire-fighting measures.
• Toxicological Information: This section details the potential health effects associated with exposure to the substance, including acute and chronic toxicity, routes of exposure, and symptoms of exposure.
• First Aid Measures: It provides guidance on immediate medical attention and appropriate first aid procedures to be followed in case of exposure or ingestion of the substance.
• Handling and Storage: This section offers recommendations for safe handling, storage, and disposal practices to minimize the risks associated with the substance.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): It suggests the types of protective equipment (e.g., gloves, goggles, respirators) that should be worn when working with the substance.
• Accidental Release Measures: It provides guidance on how to respond to spills, leaks, or releases of the substance, including containment, clean-up procedures, and protective measures.
• Ecological Information: This section highlights the potential environmental hazards and ecological impacts of the substance, including its persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential effects on wildlife and ecosystems.
• Disposal Considerations: It provides information on proper disposal methods and any specific regulatory requirements for the substance.
• Regulatory Information: This section outlines relevant regulatory information, such as WHMIS classification, transportation regulations, and other applicable laws and regulations.

SDSs are crucial tools for hazard communication and provide comprehensive information about the potential hazards associated with a substance, as well as guidance on safe handling, storage, and emergency response.

About ACUTE Environmental

If you are looking for high-quality online safety training or in-person safety training in 2025, book a course with ACUTE. Also, if you have any questions regarding what you need to assemble before safety training, contact us.

Here are some of the benefits of working with ACUTE:

• Open Door Instructor-Student Partnership – ACUTE’s training services emphasize client participation, staff foster relationships with clients and serve as a touchstone for advice anytime moving forward.
• Serving Your Team and Industry – With a vast array of clients in manufacturing, construction, health, academic, and government sectors, ACUTE brings the best safety practices from across the spectrum to your workplace.
• 100 Years Combined Experience – ACUTE provides comprehensive health and safety training, on-site safety services, and consulting services. With over 100 years of combined experience, our company staff offers more than theoretical or abstract ideas. ACUTE offers solutions!
• Track Record of Success – ACUTE is rated 4.9/5 stars on Google reviews, demonstrating a commitment to our clients, quality, and passion for training.

Take a look at our course calendar, and find a date that works for you! We offer courses such as:

• WHMIS 2015 (GHS)
• Advanced Working at Heights and Rescue 
• Lift Truck Operator
• Elevating Work Platforms 
• Confined Space Rescue 

For a complete list of our training courses, click here.

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