Different Types of Labels for Hazardous

Pick up any container of a hazardous product and the first thing you’ll notice isn’t the colour of the bottle or the cap; it’s the label. 

Those few square inches carry life-or-death information; from what’s inside, why it’s dangerous, and how to handle it safely. 

In Canada, this isn’t optional. Under WHMIS and the Hazardous Products Regulations (SOR/2015-17), every hazardous product must carry the right label. 

Let’s break down the main types you’ll see in the workplace and when each one applies.

Supplier labels are the “first line” of hazard communication. Applied by the manufacturer or importer, these labels travel with the product into your facility. 

Supplier labels are required on all hazardous products sold or imported for use in Canadian workplaces, unless the product is exempt under the Hazardous Products Regulations. Exemptions can apply to products like consumer goods, wood, tobacco, and manufactured articles but many facilities still choose to label these internally for worker safety.

If the label is intact and legible, you don’t need to add or change a thing.

For a supplier label to be compliant, it must include:

• Product identifier (the exact name of what’s inside)
• Supplier’s contact information
• Pictograms showing the hazard class
• Signal words like “Danger” or “Warning”
• Hazard statements, like “Causes serious eye damage”
• Precautionary statements for storage, handling, PPE, or disposal
• Any supplemental information required

Supplier labels must also be bilingual (English and French), and must appear clearly and prominently on the container. If the label is damaged, missing, or illegible, a compliant replacement must be applied immediately.

Once that product moves into your facility, the responsibility shifts. If you transfer the substance into a secondary container, produce something in-house, or notice the supplier label is damaged or missing, you’re required to create a workplace label.

A workplace label is required when:

• The product is transferred from its original container to another (i.e. decanted)
• The supplier label is missing, damaged, or unreadable
• A hazardous product is produced and used within the workplace (e.g., blending cleaning agents)

In addition, a workplace label must contain three pieces of information:

• The product name (matching what’s on the Safety Data Sheet)
• Safe handling information
• A note that the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) is available

WHMIS doesn’t really require a specific format for workplace labels. They can be pre-printed, handwritten, or electronically generated, but they have to be durable, clearly visible, and easy to read, especially in harsh environments.

Note about exceptions: if a product is used immediately and only by the person who transferred it, you don’t need to label the container. But in all other cases, workplace labels ensure every worker has the same clear information, no matter where the product came from.

Using the wrong label, or no label at all, can have consequences: 

• Smearing, fading, or peeling text that makes warnings unreadable
• A missing topcoat that leaves labels vulnerable to heat, chemicals, or abrasion
• Labels lifting, falling off, or leaving behind residue that confuses rather than informs
• Incorrect hazard symbols that mislead workers about real risks
• Improper sizing or placement that makes labels hard to notice in emergencies
• Unclear or missing supplier information that complicates accountability and safe handling
• Non-compliance with WHMIS, which can trigger fines and legal issues

Beyond compliance, proper labelling also improves emergency response, worker training, and overall risk communication, helping you reduce incidents and workplace injuries.

WHMIS regulations tell you what content must appear on a label, but they don’t tell you what kind of label will actually survive in your environment. That’s where we come in.

We can help industrial clients select the right:

• Material (e.g., vinyl, polyester, polycarbonate)
• Adhesive (for rough, oily, or curved surfaces)
• Finish (chemical-resistant, UV-stable, abrasion-resistant)
• Format (roll, cut sheet, overlaminated)

We can help ensure your labels stay readable and intact to endure outdoor UV exposure, chemical splash zones, or high-pressure washdowns.

Hazardous products don’t all need the same label, but they all need the right one. Knowing the difference between supplier labels and workplace labels, and how to use them properly, is the foundation of workplace safety in Canada.

At Industrial Nameplates, we produce WHMIS-compliant labels that stand up to the realities of your environment, whether that means chemicals, abrasion, moisture, or UV exposure. 

Need help figuring out which label applies to your product? Call us at 403-930-5543, email sales@industrialnameplates.ca, or contact us, and we’ll guide you to the perfect solution.