Under the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), a controlled product:

  • Is any substance that is a compressed gas, or an oxidizing material.
  • A substance that is poisonous, infectious, flammable, combustible, corrosive or dangerously reactive.
  • Meets the criteria in The Controlled Products Regulations.

There is no master list of controlled products.

How do I determine which products in my workplace are controlled products?

  • Check the list of harmful substances. Every employer is required to keep a list of regularly used products that may be a hazard to or of concern to workers. Any product with a hazard warning could be a controlled product.
  • Check for WHMIS labels. If the product arrives with a WHMIS label, it is a controlled product.
  • Check for exemptions. The following products are exempt from labels and material safety data sheet (MSDS) requirements, but not from worker education. Employers must inform workers of the hazards of these products and provide worker training on safe handling procedures:
    • consumer products
    • pesticides (pest control product number is on label)
    • drugs (with Drug Identification Number [DIN#])
    • food
    • cosmetics
    • radioactive materials (with radiation symbol)
    • explosives (that carry the word EXPLOSIVE)

Hazardous waste does not require a label, but it must be identified. Wood, tobacco and manufactured articles are totally exempt from WHMIS. However, workers must be made aware of potential risks and safe handling procedures.

Your suppliers should be able to tell you if their products are controlled products.

See chart about hazard symbols and classes