A product label and a safety data sheet belong together in the workplace information system. One should not be treated as a replacement for the other, and neither replaces the site-specific training needed for the assigned task.
Start with the product identity
Match the full product name and supplier on the container to the document. Similar names or packaging do not establish that two formulations are identical. If the identity is unclear, ask the supplier before treating a downloaded file as the correct reference.
Record the document date and the source from which it was obtained. This gives the person maintaining the records a way to follow up when a container or instruction changes.
Know what you are looking for
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety describes WHMIS as an information system involving labels, safety data sheets and education and training. The SDS provides detailed hazard-related information; the label and product directions also need to be read for the actual product use.
For an operational task, employees need to find the current instructions and the workplace procedure that applies them. A purchasing summary or website paragraph is not a complete substitute.
Build a linked record
Keep a simple product entry with:
- Full product name and supplier.
- Approved workplace task.
- Label or current product-instruction reference.
- SDS language, date and location.
- Equipment or surface procedure.
- Contact for unresolved questions.
This makes the relationship between documents visible without copying technical instructions into several uncontrolled versions.
Check understanding through a task
Ask a trained employee to locate the correct product record and explain where they would find the instructions for their assigned work. The exercise should reveal access or identification problems; it is not a substitute for required WHMIS education or workplace training.
For further background, consult CCOHS’s WHMIS overview and SDS guidance. Aspin’s document centre links the English and French files currently available online; contact the team to confirm the latest document for your supply.