What Information is Required on a Workplace Label?

Supplier labels get most of the attention under WHMIS. But workplace labels are just as important, and often misunderstood.

A workplace label is required in specific situations inside your facility. When products are transferred, produced onsite, or when supplier labels become unreadable, employers are responsible for ensuring proper labelling continues.

A workplace label is required when:

• A hazardous product is produced (made) at the workplace and used there
• A hazardous product is decanted (poured or transferred) into another container
• A supplier label becomes lost, damaged, or illegible

In short, if the original supplier label is no longer present or applicable, the employer must step in.

Here’s a rule of thumb that’s easy to follow: When in doubt, label it.

Unlike supplier labels, workplace labels have fewer required elements. In general, a workplace label must include:

1. Product Name

The product name must match the name used on the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). This ensures workers can easily cross-reference the label with the correct SDS.

Consistency is critical. If the product identifier differs from what appears on the SDS, confusion and risk increase.

2. Safe Handling Information

The label must include information about safe handling precautions. This may be written in text or presented using pictograms or other hazard information from the supplier label. It must clearly communicate how to reduce risk when using, storing, or handling the product.

3. Reference to the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

The workplace label must indicate that a Safety Data Sheet is available. This does not require reproducing the full SDS content. Instead, it ensures workers know that detailed hazard and emergency information can be accessed if needed.

Workplace labels are simpler than supplier labels.

They do not require:

• Supplier contact information
• Signal words (“Danger” or “Warning”)
• Standardized hazard statements
• Standardized precautionary statements
• Bilingual formatting under federal supplier regulations (though local jurisdictional requirements may vary)

That said, workplace labelling requirements are enforced at the provincial or territorial level (or under the Canada Labour Code for federally regulated workplaces). Always confirm specific jurisdictional rules.

Decanting is one of the most common triggers for workplace labelling requirements. If a worker transfers a hazardous product into another container, such as a spray bottle, secondary jug, or temporary holding container, that new container must be labelled unless:

• It will be used immediately, and
• It remains under the control of the person who transferred it
• If the container will be stored, shared, or used later, a full workplace label is required.

Unlabelled secondary containers are one of the most common WHMIS compliance failures during inspections.

Content is only part of the requirement. A workplace label must also:

• Be clearly visible
• Remain legible under normal conditions of use
• Be securely affixed to the container

Handwritten labels are permitted, provided they are clear and durable. If writing fades, smears, or becomes unreadable, the label must be replaced.

Workplace labels are a practical safeguard in place to ensure that hazard information follows the product wherever it goes.  If your operations involve frequent decanting, onsite mixing, or heavy handling, durable labels matter. Abrasion, chemical exposure, and routine cleaning can quickly degrade poorly constructed labels.

That’s where we come in. We produce workplace labels designed to stay legible in real industrial environments. Whether you need simple secondary container labels or more durable solutions for demanding conditions, we can help you maintain compliance and clarity.

Call us at 403-930-5543, email sales@industrialnameplates.ca, or contact us, and we’ll help you find the perfect solution for your labelling needs.