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The purpose of a label is to make controlled products easily identifiable to employers and workers on
the job. Labels are the “first alert” to workers that they are handling a hazardous product.

A label can be a mark, stamp, sign, sticker, ticket, tag, etc. which is attached to, or stenciled, imprinted, or
embossed onto the controlled product or container. Labels are the first element of WHMIS.

In most cases, controlled products require a “supplier label” – the label placed on a container by the
supplier before shipping. Sometimes, “worksite labels” may be required; these are applied by a
worker/supervisor at the municipality. Both supplier and worksite labels are required to provide certain
kinds of information for the benefit of workers who use the materials or come into contact with them on
the job.

SUPPLIER LABELS

The Hazardous Products Act requires those who supply a controlled product, either by importing it,
product it, or selling it in Canada, to affix a supplier label to the container.

Supplier Labels must:

 contain 7 pieces of information
1. product identifier (name of the product),
2. supplier identifier (name of the supplier of the material),
3. MSDS statement (a statement that a MSDS for that product is available),
4. hazard symbols (each hazard symbol that applies to the product),
5. risk phrases (brief description of the hazards and effects of over-exposure),
6. precautionary measures (brief instructions for safe use), and
7. first-aid measures (how to treat persons who’ve been over-exposed).
 have a distinctive hatch mark border
 be bilingual (English and French)

Flexibility is allowed in the layout of the label, as long as it is easily legible. The supplier label must be
surrounded by the distinctive hatch mark border. All WHMIS information must be inside the border; any
other product information must be outside the border. Although there is no specified size or layout of
labels, several principles apply:

 Size: label size should be appropriate for the container.
 Border and Writing: can be in any colour that contrasts with the background.
 Hazard Symbols: The colour of the hazard symbols cannot conflict or cause confusion with
symbol colours used in Transportation of Dangerous Goods (e.g. orange may not be used for
any symbols because it is reserved for explosives in TGD).
 Language: The information must be printed in English and French, either on a single, bilingual
14 label, or on 2 separate labels. AMHSA
 Durability and Application: Labels must be made of strong enough material to remain
attached and readable under normal conditions of transport, use, and storage. They may be
attached to the product or container, or may be printed, stenciled, or embossed on it. They
should be positioned to be easily seen under normal conditions.
 Other Requirements: A supplier label must be attached to all containers of controlled products.
However, if the receiver (employer) has agreed in writing, the supplier may ship these controlled
products inside a larger container, and provide the labels separately. The employer will then attach
them to the individual containers when the shipment is received.
Variations on Supplier Labels

(a) Small Container: A variation is allowed for supplier labels on containers of controlled products
of less than 100 ml (3.5 oz, or less than ½ cup):