WHMIS Symbols 2024 with meanings (Pictograms) [New Updated]

Last Updated on June 13, 2024

WHMIS Symbols 2024 with meanings [New Updated] Symbols (pictograms) are used in WHMIS to visually represent the type of hazard a hazardous substance presents. This will also help for WHMIS Test 2024.

WHMIS Pictograms/ Symbols

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) was introduced in Canada in 1988 so that workers could receive information about the hazardous products they may use.

The WHMIS Pictograms/ Symbols are graphic images that immediately show you what type of hazard a hazardous product presents. With a quick glance, you can see, for example, that the product is flammable, or if it might be a health hazard.

Most pictograms have a distinctive red, diamond-shaped border. Inside this border is a symbol representing the potential hazard (fire, health hazard, corrosive, etc.). Together, the symbol and the border are referred to as a pictogram. Pictograms are assigned to specific hazard classes or categories.

WHMIS Symbols are used in WHMIS to visually represent the type of hazard a hazardous substance presents. You will see both pictograms and class symbols in the workplace and it’s important to understand both.

WHMIS Symbols 2022 with meanings (Pictograms) [New Updated]

WHMIS Symbols 2024 Symbols with meaning (New)

WHMIS 2015 retains the use of class symbols:

Symbols

Description

WHMIS flame Symbol Name:  Flame

Meaning: Oxidizer

Classes and Categories

  • Flammable gases (Category 1)
  • Flammable aerosols (Category 1 and 2)
  • Flammable liquids (Category 1, 2 and 3)
  • Flammable solids (Category 1 and 2)
  • Pyrophoric liquids (Category 1)
  • Pyrophoric solids (Category 1)
  • Pyrophoric gases (Category 1)
  • Self-heating substances and mixtures (Category 1 and 2)
  • Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases (Category 1, 2 and 3)
  • Self-reactive substances and mixtures (Types B*, C, D, E and F)
  • Organic peroxides (Types B*, C, D, E and F)
WHMIS flame_circle symbol Name: Flame Over Circle

Meaning: Flammable, Self-Reactive, Pyrophoric, Self-heating, In Contact With Water, Emits Flammable Gases, Organic Peroxide

Classes and Categories

  • Oxidizing gases (Category 1)
  • Oxidizing liquids (Category 1, 2 and 3)
  • Oxidizing solids (Category 1, 2 and 3)
WHMIS exploding bomb Symbol Name: Exploding Bomb

Meaning: Explosive**, Self-Reactive (severe), Organic Peroxide (severe)

Classes and Categories

  • Self-reactive substances and mixtures (Types A and B*)
  • Organic peroxides (Types A and B*)
Name: Gas Cylinder

Meaning: Gas Under Pressure

Classes and Categories

  • Gases under pressure (Compressed gas, Liquefied gas, Refrigerated liquefied gas, and Dissolved gas)
Name: Skull and Crossbones

Meaning: Acute Toxicity (fatal or toxic)

Classes and Categories

  • Oral (Category 1, 2 and 3)
  • Dermal (Category 1, 2 and 3)
  • Inhalation (Category 1, 2 and 3)
Name: Corrosion

Meaning: Serious Eye Damage, Skin Corrosion, Corrosive to Metals

Classes and Categories

  • Corrosive to metals (Category 1)
  • Skin corrosion/irritation – Skin corrosion (Category 1, 1A, 1B and 1C)
  • Serious eye damage/eye irritation – Serious eye damage ( Category 1)
Name: Exclamation Mark

Meaning: Irritation (skin or eyes), Skin Sensitization, Acute Toxicity (harmful), Specific Target Organ Toxicity (drowsiness or dizziness, or respiratory irritation), Hazardous to the Ozone Layer**

Classes and Categories

  • Acute toxicity – Oral, Dermal, Inhalation (Category 4)
  • Skin corrosion/irritation – Skin irritation (Category 2)
  • Serious eye damage/eye irritation – Eye irritation (Category 2 and 2A)
  • Respiratory or skin sensitization – Skin sensitizer (Category 1, 1A and 1B)
  • Specific target organ toxicity – Single exposure (Category 3)
Name: Health Hazard

Meaning: Carcinogenicity, Respiratory Sensitization, Reproductive Toxicity, Target Organ Toxicity, Germ Cell Mutagenicity, Aspiration Hazard

Classes and Categories

  • Respiratory or skin sensitization – Respiratory sensitizer (Category 1, 1A and 1B)
  • Germ cell mutagenicity (Category 1, 1A, 1B and 2)
  • Carcinogenicity (Category 1, 1A, 1B, and 2)
  • Reproductive toxicity (Category 1, 1A, 1B and 2)
  • Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Single exposure (Category 1 and 2)
  • Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Repeated exposure (Category 1 and 2)
  • Aspiration hazard (Category 1)
Name: Environment

Meaning: Aquatic Toxicity**

May cause damage to the aquatic environment

Name: Biohazardous

Meaning: Biohazardous Infectious Materials

Classes and Categories

  • Biohazardous Infectious Materials (Category 1)

* Both the Flame and Explosive pictogram are used for Self-reactive substances and mixtures (Type B) and Organic peroxides (Type B)

** Not required by WHMIS 2015, but may be used.

WHMIS 1988 (Old) Symbols with meaning

WHMIS 1988 retains the use of class symbols: The following table shows the pictograms. The name of each pictogram is in bold type. The words in the brackets describe the hazard.

 

Symbols

Hazard class

Meaning

Compressed Gas WHMIS Symbols CLASS A Compressed Gas
Flammable and Combustible Material WHMIS Symbols CLASS B Flammable and Combustible Material
Oxidizing Material CLASS C Oxidizing Material
Poisonous and Infectious Material WHMIS Symbols CLASS D1 Poisonous and Infectious Material (causing immediate and serious effects)
CLASS D2 WHMIS Symbols CLASS D2 Poisonous and Infectious Material
(causing other toxic effects)
CLASS D3 WHMIS Symbols CLASS D3 Poisonous and Infectious Material

(Biohazardous Infectious Material)

Corrosive Material symbol CLASS E Corrosive Material
Dangerously Reactive Material symbol CLASS F Dangerously
Reactive Material

Download WHMIS Symbols 2024 with meanings [PDF]

Document Type Download Link
Free Editable Doc File Download Free Editable Doc File
Free Printable PDF File Download Free Printable PDF File
See also

Reference: https://www.ccohs.ca/WHMISpictograms.html