September 2023 issue: Workplace Hazardous Products Program newsletter

On this page

• Highlight: Publication of hazardous substance assessments
• Summary of UN GHS Sub-Committee of Experts 44^th session
• Service standard for claims for exemption under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act
• Exploring document retention requirements
• Spring 2024 multi-stakeholder workshop: Call-out for speakers and topics
• Future newsletter content
• Important WHMIS websites

Highlight: Publication of hazardous substance assessments

New hazardous substance assessments (HSAs) are now available:

• 4,4'-Methylenediphenyl diisocyanate
• Diethylene glycol
• D-Limonene
• EDTA tetrasodium salt
• Morpholine
• Toluene

HSAs are educational resources that support the creation of compliant safety data sheets and labels of hazardous products by providing information on how Health Canada would classify a given substance for the physical and health hazard classes of Parts 7 and 8, respectively, of the Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR).

Each HSA provides a fully referenced assessment supporting classification of the corresponding hazardous substance based solely on publicly available data. To support suppliers during the 3-year HPR transition, these new HSAs reflect the requirements of both the former and amended HPR.

Stakeholders may comment on published HSAs or nominate substances for HSA development (with rationale) for consideration at any time by sending an email to whmis-simdut@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Summary of UN GHS Sub-Committee of Experts 44^th session

The 44^th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS, collectively UNSCEGHS) took place in Geneva from July 10-12, 2023.

Overall, the recommendations that were put forward by the UNSCEGHS align with Canada's positions and interests, as follows:

• The UNSCEGHS adopted revisions to labelling examples 1 to 7 in annex 7 of the GHS to better illustrate the requirements of the GHS
• Revisions were adopted to Chapter 4.2 Hazardous to the ozone layer, to address the Kigali amendment to the Montreal Protocol
• The UNSCEGHS agreed on the mandate to the OECD to review the science needed for classification and labelling of substances and mixtures that have endocrine disrupting properties

Various additional updates included:

• Several countries provided status updates on GHS implementation, with Canada informing the UNSCEGHS of Canada's transition from the 5^th to the 7^th revised edition of the GHS
• Status updates were provided by Canada and the United States as co-chairs of the informal correspondence group on the possible development of a global list of chemicals classified in accordance with the GHS
• There was agreement on the Potential Hazard Issues Working Group 2023-2024 work plan
• The UNSCEGHS agreed to launch a new working group on "hazard communication for substances hazardous to the atmospheric system"

Further details can be found in the Report of the Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals on its forty-fourth session.

Service standard for claims for exemption under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act

The service standards for confidential business information (CBI) claims for exemption under the Hazardous Materials Information Review Act (HMIRA) are changing to reflect the new claim review process.

The new claim review process was communicated to stakeholders in June 2022 and implemented later that same year.

Details about the proposed new service standards will be communicated to stakeholders by email in the coming weeks. A 30-day comment period will begin on the day that the email is issued.

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Exploring document retention requirements

Health Canada made amendments to the Hazardous Products Act (HPA) in 2015 that included document retention requirements for suppliers of hazardous workplace products, including the requirement to maintain true copies of labels and safety data sheets, and to provide them to the Minister or an inspector upon request.

Health Canada recognizes stakeholder interest in reviewing true copy requirements and will be gathering additional data and consulting with our federal, provincial and territorial partners in the Fall.

Additional information on document retention requirements under the HPA to provide guidance for suppliers on meeting these requirements is available:

• Document retention requirements for suppliers of hazardous products
• Preparing and maintaining a true copy of a label: A requirement for suppliers under WHMIS 2015

Spring 2024 multi-stakeholder workshop: Call-out for speakers and topics

The second annual Workplace Hazardous Products Program multi-stakeholder workshop is planned for Spring 2024. The intent of this forum is to facilitate engagement and dialogue across the WHMIS community to improve participation and the exchange of knowledge.

We invite all interested stakeholder groups to propose discussion items that their organizations could lead as part of the upcoming workshop.

This invitation is open to industry associations, labour organizations, federal, provincial and territorial partners, and any other group with an interest in Health Canada decision-making regarding hazard communication of workplace chemical products.

To inform productive and effective sessions, please send proposed agenda items to whmis-simdut@hc-sc-gc.ca by January 10, 2024, including any relevant contact information for the individual(s) that would lead the discussion topic.

More details, including a save-the-date invitation, will be shared at a later date.

Future newsletter content

Is there a topic that you would like us to include in a future newsletter? We would love to hear from you. Email us at whmis-simdut@hc-sc.gc.ca.

Important WHMIS websites

• WHMIS.org
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS)