[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":129},["ShallowReactive",2],{"gql:data:-2U7DPXbIKHSyVF7W62nxLjG7jewplrIrYX4o7ol6gc":3},{"blogPostInfo":4},{"id":5,"title":6,"slug":7,"slug_en":7,"slug_fr":8,"published_date":9,"modified_time":10,"read_time":11,"media":12,"quick_navigation":15,"info_cta":73,"content_first_part":78,"content_second_part":14,"recommended_courses":20,"resources":79,"related_articles":96,"votes":115,"schema":119},263128,"WHMIS Symbols & Pictograms: All 10 Hazard Symbols Explained","whmis-symbols-pictograms-guide","symboles-pictogrammes-simdut","Aug 31, 2026","2026-08-31T15:55:34+03:00","13 min",{"video":13},{"src":14,"duration":14},"",[16,21,25,29,33,37,41,45,49,53,57,61,65,69],{"title":17,"subtitles":20},{"text":18,"slug":19},"Quick-reference chart: all 10 WHMIS pictograms","quick-reference-chart-all-whmis-pictograms",null,{"title":22,"subtitles":20},{"text":23,"slug":24},"Flame (Flammable)","flame-flammable",{"title":26,"subtitles":20},{"text":27,"slug":28},"Flame Over Circle (Oxidizing Materials)","flame-over-circle-oxidizing-materials",{"title":30,"subtitles":20},{"text":31,"slug":32},"Gas Cylinder (Gases Under Pressure)","gas-cylinder-gases-under-pressure",{"title":34,"subtitles":20},{"text":35,"slug":36},"Corrosion (Corrosive Materials)","corrosion-corrosive-materials",{"title":38,"subtitles":20},{"text":39,"slug":40},"Exploding Bomb (Explosion and Reactivity Hazards)","exploding-bomb-explosion-and-reactivity-hazards",{"title":42,"subtitles":20},{"text":43,"slug":44},"Skull and Crossbones (Acute Toxicity)","skull-and-crossbones-acute-toxicity",{"title":46,"subtitles":20},{"text":47,"slug":48},"Health Hazard (Serious Long-Term Health Effects)","health-hazard-serious-long-term-health-effects",{"title":50,"subtitles":20},{"text":51,"slug":52},"Exclamation Mark (Irritation and Less Severe Hazards)","exclamation-mark-irritation-and-less-severe-hazards",{"title":54,"subtitles":20},{"text":55,"slug":56},"Environment (Aquatic Toxicity)","environment-aquatic-toxicity",{"title":58,"subtitles":20},{"text":59,"slug":60},"Biohazardous Infectious Materials (Canada-Specific)","biohazardous-infectious-materials-canada-specific",{"title":62,"subtitles":20},{"text":63,"slug":64},"Old WHMIS 1988 symbols vs today's pictograms","old-whmis-symbols-vs-today-s-pictograms",{"title":66,"subtitles":20},{"text":67,"slug":68},"Where you'll see pictograms: labels and SDSs","where-you-ll-see-pictograms-labels-and-sdss",{"title":70,"subtitles":20},{"text":71,"slug":72},"Do you need to know these for WHMIS certification?","do-you-need-to-know-these-for-whmis-certification",{"content":74,"slug":77},[75,76],"While this informational page discusses various aspects of WHMIS definition, legislation, changes and training requirements, our company also offers WHMIS training services.","For more information, please consult the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fesafetyfirst.com\u002Fcourses\u002Fwhmis\u002F\">WHMIS\u003C\u002Fa> product page.","whmis","\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>WHMIS uses 10 hazard pictograms — red-bordered diamonds that show, at a glance, why a chemical product is dangerous.\u003C\u002Fstrong> They're set by the Hazardous Products Regulations, aligned with the global GHS standard, and you'll find them on supplier labels and safety data sheets across Canadian workplaces. Nine are assigned to WHMIS hazard classes; the tenth, the environment pictogram, is optional in Canada. \u003Ca class=\"source\" href=\"#resources-and-guides\" data-source-name=\"CCOHS\">\u003Cspan class=\"source-number\">1\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-quick-reference-chart-all-10-whmis-pictograms\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quick-reference chart: all 10 WHMIS pictograms\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"icon-grid\">\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fflame.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WHMIS flame pictogram\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Flame\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Flammable\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F08\u002Fskull-crossbones.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WHMIS skull and crossbones pictogram\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Skull and crossbones\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Acute toxicity\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fflame-over-circle.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WHMIS flame over circle pictogram\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Flame over circle\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Oxidizer\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fhealth-hazard.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WHMIS health hazard pictogram\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Health hazard\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Serious health effects\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fgas-cylinder.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WHMIS gas cylinder pictogram\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Gas cylinder\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Gas under pressure\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fexclamation-mark.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WHMIS exclamation mark pictogram\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Exclamation mark\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Irritant \u002F less severe hazards\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fcorrosion.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WHMIS corrosion pictogram\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Corrosion\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Corrosive\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fenvironment.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Environment pictogram, optional under WHMIS\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Environment\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Aquatic hazard (optional in Canada)\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fexploding-bomb.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WHMIS exploding bomb pictogram\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Exploding bomb\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Self-reactive \u002F organic peroxide, explosion risk\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003Cfigure>\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapp.esafetyfirst.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2026\u002F07\u002Fbiohazard.png\" width=\"60\" height=\"60\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"WHMIS biohazardous infectious materials pictogram\">\u003Cfigcaption>\u003Cstrong>Biohazardous infectious materials\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Cspan>Infectious (Canada-specific)\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Ffigcaption>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"action-grid\">\n    \u003Cdiv class=\"action-card\">\n      \u003Ch4>Printable Symbols Chart\u003C\u002Fh4>\n      \u003Cp>Get a one-page printable chart of all 10 official WHMIS 2015 pictograms to keep on hand or post at work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n      \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.dev311.esafetyfirst.com\u002Ffiles\u002FWHMIS-Symbols-Chart.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Download the symbols chart (PDF) (opens in a new tab)\">Download the symbols chart (PDF) \u003Cspan aria-hidden=\"true\">↓\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\n    \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n    \u003Cdiv class=\"action-card\">\n      \u003Ch4>Get WHMIS Certified\u003C\u002Fh4>\n      \u003Cp>Learn every pictogram and pass your workplace certification with our official online WHMIS course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n      \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fcourses\u002Fwhmis\u002F\">Get WHMIS certified online \u003Cspan aria-hidden=\"true\">→\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\n    \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n  \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Not every hazardous product carries a pictogram.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Some hazard classes and categories require none — the label still carries a signal word, hazard statements and the other required elements its classification calls for. The absence of a red diamond does not mean the product is safe: read the label and the safety data sheet. \u003Ca class=\"source\" href=\"#resources-and-guides\" data-source-name=\"CCOHS\">\u003Cspan class=\"source-number\">2\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-flame-flammable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flame (Flammable)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The flame pictogram means a product catches fire easily.\u003C\u002Fstrong> It covers flammable gases, aerosols, liquids and solids, and also the products that can ignite without an external flame at all: pyrophoric substances that ignite on contact with air, self-heating substances, substances that emit flammable gases in contact with water, most self-reactive substances and organic peroxides, and chemicals under pressure. \u003Ca class=\"source\" href=\"#resources-and-guides\" data-source-name=\"CCOHS\">\u003Cspan class=\"source-number\">1\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> solvents and thinners, aerosol adhesives and sprays, fuels and fuel additives, alcohol-based cleaning products, some paints and coatings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> keep the product away from heat, sparks, static discharge and open flame; do not smoke nearby; store in the conditions the safety data sheet specifies, and keep containers closed and grounded when the SDS calls for it. Check section 7 of the SDS before you decide where to store it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-flame-over-circle-oxidizing-materials\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flame Over Circle (Oxidizing Materials)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The flame over circle pictogram means a product can cause or intensify a fire by releasing oxygen.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Oxidizers do not have to burn themselves — they feed the fire in whatever is around them, which is why an oxidizer stored beside a flammable is a far bigger hazard than either alone. It covers oxidizing gases, liquids and solids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> pool and water-treatment chlorination products, hydrogen peroxide solutions, some bleaches, nitrates and certain industrial cleaning chemicals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> store oxidizers away from flammables, combustibles and organic material, and follow the separation distances in the SDS. Keep them off wooden shelving and away from rags, cardboard and sawdust. Clean up spills immediately — dried oxidizer on a combustible surface is an ignition source.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-gas-cylinder-gases-under-pressure\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Gas Cylinder (Gases Under Pressure)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The gas cylinder pictogram means the contents are stored under pressure\u003C\u002Fstrong> — as a compressed gas, a liquefied gas, a dissolved gas or a refrigerated liquefied gas. The hazard is the container as much as the contents: a cylinder that is heated can rupture violently even if the gas inside is harmless, and refrigerated liquefied gases can cause cryogenic burns on contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> welding and cutting gases, propane, oxygen and medical gases, CO₂ cylinders for beverage systems, refrigerants, and compressed air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> secure cylinders upright with a chain or strap, keep valve caps on when they are not in use, keep them away from heat sources and direct sun, and never drop, drag or roll a cylinder. Move them on a proper cart, and treat a damaged cylinder as an emergency, not a maintenance job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-corrosion-corrosive-materials\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Corrosion (Corrosive Materials)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The corrosion pictogram means a product causes severe skin burns and eye damage, or is corrosive to metals, or both.\u003C\u002Fstrong> \"Severe\" is the operative word: this is the classification for products that destroy tissue on contact rather than irritating it. Products that only irritate carry the exclamation mark instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> drain and oven cleaners, battery acid, strong caustic and acidic cleaning products, descalers, and some concrete and masonry products.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> wear the gloves and eye or face protection the SDS specifies — for corrosives the SDS will usually name a material, not just \"gloves\". Know where the nearest eyewash station and safety shower are before you open the container, and know how long you are expected to flush for. Never mix corrosives with other cleaning products.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-exploding-bomb-explosion-and-reactivity-hazards\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exploding Bomb (Explosion and Reactivity Hazards)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The exploding bomb pictogram means a product may explode from heat, shock, friction or contamination.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Under WHMIS it marks the most unstable self-reactive substances and organic peroxides. It does not mean \"explosives\": explosives as defined in the Explosives Act are excluded from WHMIS altogether and are regulated separately — a detail many sources get wrong. \u003Ca class=\"source\" href=\"#resources-and-guides\" data-source-name=\"Hazardous Products Act (R.S.C.\">\u003Cspan class=\"source-number\">4\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa> Being honest about frequency also matters: outside specific industries and laboratories, most Canadian workers will never handle a product bearing this pictogram.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> certain laboratory reagents, and some organic peroxides used in plastics, resins and composites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> follow the SDS storage instructions exactly — temperature limits on these products are not advisory. Control heat, shock and friction, keep quantities to a minimum, and never improvise handling. If your workplace stores products in this class, the site-specific procedures are part of your WHMIS training, not optional reading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-skull-and-crossbones-acute-toxicity\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Skull and Crossbones (Acute Toxicity)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The skull and crossbones pictogram means acute toxicity\u003C\u002Fstrong> — the product can cause death or serious harm by swallowing, skin contact or inhalation, in the most severe categories (1, 2 and 3). Acute toxicity is the only endpoint it covers. Products whose danger lies in a different endpoint — cancer, organ damage, sensitization — carry the health hazard pictogram instead, even where that harm can follow a single exposure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> certain pesticides and fumigants, some industrial cleaning and stripping products, methanol, and a range of laboratory chemicals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> use exactly the personal protective equipment the SDS specifies, work with the ventilation the SDS specifies, and never work with these products without WHMIS training and site-specific procedures. Know the first-aid measures in section 4 before you start, not after something happens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-health-hazard-serious-long-term-health-effects\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Health Hazard (Serious Long-Term Health Effects)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The health hazard pictogram means a serious health hazard\u003C\u002Fstrong> — carcinogenicity, germ cell mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, respiratory sensitization, specific target organ toxicity, or aspiration hazard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the pictogram people most often confuse with the skull and crossbones, and the difference is the \u003Cstrong>endpoint, not the timing\u003C\u002Fstrong>: skull and crossbones means acute toxicity; the health hazard pictogram means one of the serious health endpoints listed above. Some of those effects are delayed by years, but not all of them are — and a product with this symbol may feel entirely harmless while you are using it. \u003Ca class=\"source\" href=\"#resources-and-guides\" data-source-name=\"CCOHS\">\u003Cspan class=\"source-number\">1\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> crystalline silica-containing products, some solvents and degreasers, certain paints, isocyanate-containing products, and some fuels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> engineering controls first — ventilation, enclosure, dust suppression — then the PPE and respiratory protection the SDS specifies. Follow exposure limits, and take the housekeeping rules seriously; long-term hazards are managed by reducing dose, not by feeling fine at the end of the shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-exclamation-mark-irritation-and-less-severe-hazards\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Exclamation Mark (Irritation and Less Severe Hazards)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The exclamation mark pictogram is the \"less severe\" warning\u003C\u002Fstrong> — skin and eye irritation, skin sensitization, the milder acute toxicity category, and short-term effects like narcotic effects or respiratory irritation. It is also an easy pictogram to shrug off — \"less severe\" does not mean harmless, and skin sensitization in particular is permanent once it develops. \u003Ca class=\"source\" href=\"#resources-and-guides\" data-source-name=\"CCOHS\">\u003Cspan class=\"source-number\">1\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> many everyday workplace cleaners and detergents, adhesives, some paints, and a large share of maintenance products.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> avoid skin and eye contact, wear the gloves the SDS specifies, wash after handling and before eating, and stop using a product and report it if you develop a rash or reaction — sensitization gets worse with each exposure, not better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-environment-aquatic-toxicity\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Environment (Aquatic Toxicity)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The environment pictogram means the product is harmful to aquatic life — and here is the Canada-specific fact many sources get wrong: this pictogram is not assigned to any WHMIS hazard class.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Canada did not adopt the GHS environmental hazard classes into the Hazardous Products Regulations, so no Canadian supplier is required to display it — but many do, because the same product is sold internationally under GHS. That is why it belongs on a list of ten symbols you will encounter, and why only nine of them are WHMIS classifications. \u003Ca class=\"source\" href=\"#resources-and-guides\" data-source-name=\"CCOHS\">\u003Cspan class=\"source-number\">1\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Ca class=\"source\" href=\"#resources-and-guides\" data-source-name=\"Hazardous Products Regulations (SOR\u002F2015-17)\">\u003Cspan class=\"source-number\">3\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> some pesticides, oils and lubricants, marine coatings, and imported products labelled to an international standard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> prevent release to drains, storm sewers, soil and waterways; use containment when decanting; and dispose of the product and its packaging according to section 13 of the SDS and your local environmental rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-biohazardous-infectious-materials-canada-specific\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Biohazardous Infectious Materials (Canada-Specific)\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>The biohazardous infectious materials pictogram means micro-organisms, viruses or their toxins that can cause disease in people or animals.\u003C\u002Fstrong> This is Canada's own symbol: it is not part of GHS, and it was carried across from WHMIS 1988 because Canada regulates infectious materials in the workplace under WHMIS where most GHS jurisdictions do not. If you see it, you are looking at a Canadian classification. \u003Ca class=\"source\" href=\"#resources-and-guides\" data-source-name=\"CCOHS\">\u003Cspan class=\"source-number\">1\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Where you'll see it:\u003C\u002Fstrong> clinical, research and veterinary laboratories, healthcare and diagnostic settings, and some waste-handling operations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>What to do:\u003C\u002Fstrong> containment procedures, biosafety requirements and specific training come before handling — this class is not covered by generic WHMIS education alone. Follow your facility's biosafety manual, and treat exposure as a reportable incident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-old-whmis-1988-symbols-vs-todays-pictograms\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Old WHMIS 1988 symbols vs today's pictograms\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Workers trained before 2015 learned a different set of symbols: black-and-white images inside a circle, grouped into classes A to F. Those symbols are gone from new labels, but the products did not change. Here is how the old classes map onto the pictograms in use today under \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fblog\u002Fghs-canada-whmis-alignment\u002F\">the GHS standard\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-regular\">\u003Ctable class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\u003Cthead>\u003Ctr>\u003Cth>WHMIS 1988 (circle)\u003C\u002Fth>\u003Cth>Since 2015 (red diamond)\u003C\u002Fth>\u003Cth>What changed\u003C\u002Fth>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Fthead>\u003Ctbody>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Class A — Compressed gas\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Gas cylinder\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Same meaning; the symbol changed\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Class B — Flammable and combustible material\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Flame\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Same core meaning, GHS-standard symbol; self-heating and pyrophoric substances now explicit\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Class C — Oxidizing material\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Flame over circle\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Same meaning, GHS-standard symbol\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Class D1 — Poisonous, immediate and serious effects\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Skull and crossbones, or exclamation mark\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Now split by acute toxicity category: the most severe categories take the skull, the milder category takes the exclamation mark\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Class D2 — Poisonous, other toxic effects\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Health hazard, or exclamation mark\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Now split by endpoint: carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity, sensitization and organ toxicity take the health hazard symbol; irritation and skin sensitization take the exclamation mark\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Class D3 — Biohazardous infectious material\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Biohazardous infectious materials\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Unchanged in meaning and retained as a Canada-specific pictogram\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Class E — Corrosive material\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Corrosion\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Same meaning; corrosive-to-metals is now stated explicitly\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Class F — Dangerously reactive material\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Exploding bomb, and\u002For hazard statements on the label\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>The single 1988 class was redistributed across self-reactives, organic peroxides and the reactivity information in sections 7 and 10 of the SDS\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>(no equivalent)\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>Environment\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>New under GHS; not mandatory in Canada\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003Ctr>\u003Ctd>Hatched border on supplier labels\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>No border required\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003Ctd>The 1988 hatched border is no longer required, though it is not prohibited\u003C\u002Ftd>\u003C\u002Ftr>\u003C\u002Ftbody>\u003C\u002Ftable>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-where-youll-see-pictograms-labels-and-sdss\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where you'll see pictograms: labels and SDSs\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pictograms do not appear on their own — they reach you through two documents. The first is the \u003Cstrong>supplier label\u003C\u002Fstrong>, which carries the pictograms the product's classification requires; a \u003Cstrong>workplace label\u003C\u002Fstrong>, created on site, may reproduce them but is not required to — see \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhmis-labels-supplier-vs-workplace\u002F\">supplier and workplace labels\u003C\u002Fa> for how the two types differ.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second is the safety data sheet, where the pictograms or symbol names appear in \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fblog\u002Fsafety-data-sheet-sections-explained\u002F\">section 2 of the safety data sheet\u003C\u002Fa> alongside the signal word and hazard statements, so you can confirm the symbol on the drum matches the document that explains it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Labels, safety data sheets and the classification behind them are the \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhmis-in-the-workplace-understanding-the-key-components\u002F\">key components of WHMIS\u003C\u002Fa>, and pictogram recognition is only useful when you can read all three together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 id=\"h-do-you-need-to-know-these-for-whmis-certification\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Do you need to know these for WHMIS certification?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes — pictogram recognition is part of WHMIS education everywhere, and it is evaluated in our course. It is also an area where many people lose marks, usually by confusing the skull and crossbones with the health hazard symbol, or by not knowing that the biohazard symbol is Canada-specific. The eSafetyFirst course takes about 1 hour 45 minutes online and issues the certificate immediately; the site-specific half — your own workplace's products and procedures — stays with your employer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cdiv class=\"cta-panel\">\n\u003Cdiv>\n    \u003Cp class=\"cta-panel-title\">Yes — pictogram recognition is tested. Get certified in about an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not sure you’re ready? \u003Ca href=\"\u002Fblog\u002Fwhmis-practice-test\u002F\">Try the free practice test\u003C\u002Fa>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n\u003Cdiv class=\"cta-media\">\n    \u003Ca class=\"cta-button\" href=\"\u002Fcourses\u002Fwhmis\u002F\">Get WHMIS certified \u003Cspan aria-hidden=\"true\">❯\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fa>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\n  \u003C\u002Fdiv>\n",[80,85,88,92],{"author_name":81,"page_site_title":82,"available_at":83,"accessed_at":84},"CCOHS","WHMIS: Pictograms","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ccohs.ca\u002Foshanswers\u002Fchemicals\u002Fwhmis_ghs\u002Fpictograms.html","10\u002F08\u002F2026",{"author_name":81,"page_site_title":86,"available_at":87,"accessed_at":84},"WHMIS: Labels","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ccohs.ca\u002Foshanswers\u002Fchemicals\u002Fwhmis_ghs\u002Flabels.html",{"author_name":89,"page_site_title":90,"available_at":91,"accessed_at":84},"Hazardous Products Regulations (SOR\u002F2015-17), Schedule 3","Symbols and Pictograms","https:\u002F\u002Flaws-lois.justice.gc.ca\u002Feng\u002Fregulations\u002FSOR-2015-17\u002F",{"author_name":93,"page_site_title":94,"available_at":95,"accessed_at":84},"Hazardous Products Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-3)","Schedule 2 hazard classes; Schedule 1 exclusions","https:\u002F\u002Flaws-lois.justice.gc.ca\u002Feng\u002Facts\u002Fh-3\u002F",[97,103,109],{"title":98,"slug":99,"slug_en":99,"media":100},"The 16 Sections of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Explained","safety-data-sheet-sections-explained",{"image":101},{"alt":102},"eSafetyFirst - The 16 Sections of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Explained",{"title":104,"slug":105,"slug_en":105,"media":106},"WHMIS Employer Responsibilities: Building a Compliant Program","whmis-employer-responsibilities",{"image":107},{"alt":108},"eSafetyFirst - WHMIS Employer Responsibilities: Building a Compliant Program",{"title":110,"slug":111,"slug_en":111,"media":112},"GHS in Canada: How the Global Standard Works with WHMIS","ghs-canada-whmis-alignment",{"image":113},{"alt":114},"eSafetyFirst - GHS in Canada: How the Global Standard Works with WHMIS",{"yes":116,"no":117,"user_voted":118},"0","1","not-voted",{"title":120,"description":121,"article_section":14,"about":122},"WHMIS Symbols & Pictograms: All 10 Explained (With Chart)","All 10 WHMIS hazard pictograms explained: what each red-bordered diamond means, where you'll see it, and what to do — plus a printable reference chart.",[123,126],{"name":124,"same_as":125},"GHS hazard pictograms","https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FGHS_hazard_pictograms",{"name":127,"same_as":128},"Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System","https:\u002F\u002Fen.wikipedia.org\u002Fwiki\u002FWorkplace_Hazardous_Materials_Information_System",1788410573298]