WHMIS Signs: How to Choose the Right Symbol, Size and Material

A storage room full of solvents, a cabinet of corrosive cleaners, a cage of compressed gas cylinders: each of these spots has to tell people, at a glance, what they are walking into. WHMIS signs do that job. They put the right hazard pictogram and a clear message where workers, visitors and contractors will see it before they open the door.

Choosing them looks simple until you get to the details. Which symbol? English, French or both? How big does the sign need to be at the end of a warehouse aisle, and will vinyl hold up on an outside door? This guide walks you through each decision so you can order once and get it right.

At Sticker MTL, we print WHMIS 2015 signs in our Blainville workshop, in Québec, with the symbol, message, size and material you choose. Here is how to make those choices with confidence.

What WHMIS signs do, and what they don't replace

WHMIS 2015 is Canada's system for communicating the hazards of products used at work. It is aligned with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which is why its pictograms look like the ones you see on product labels from other countries.

The core of WHMIS is made up of supplier labels, workplace labels, safety data sheets and worker education. A sign on a wall does not replace any of these. What it does is add a visible layer on top of them:

• It identifies a room, cabinet or zone where hazardous products are stored or used.
• It reminds trained workers of the hazard right before they enter.
• It warns visitors, delivery drivers and contractors who have not had your training.
• It reinforces what your team learned, every day, in the place where it matters.

Requirements depend on your products, your layout and the jurisdiction that covers your workplace. In Québec, the CNESST oversees WHMIS for most employers. Before you finalize your signage plan, confirm with the authority that applies to you, or with your health and safety advisor, what is expected in your case.

Choosing the pictogram and message for your WHMIS signs

Start with the hazard, not the look

The pictogram should match the actual hazard of what is stored behind the door. The safety data sheet for each product lists its hazard classification and pictograms, so it is the best place to start. Walk through each storage area with your SDS binder and note which hazards are present.

Our WHMIS sign editor offers WHMIS 2015 pictograms such as flammable, corrosive, gases under pressure and toxic. You pick the symbol first, and the editor fills in a matching default message that you can keep or change.

If a single room holds products with different hazards, think about whether one sign per main hazard makes more sense than one crowded sign. Clear beats complete when someone has two seconds to read it.

Keep the message short and specific

The default text, for example "Flammable materials", is often all you need. If you want to be more specific, adjust it:

• Name the area: "Flammable liquids storage".
• Add a short instruction your team already knows from training.
• Avoid long sentences that shrink the text until nobody can read it.

In the editor, the text resizes itself to fit the sign. Press Enter to force a line break where you want it, and if you change your mind, you can restore the symbol's original text in one click.

French, English or bilingual

Each sign can be printed in French, English or bilingual. In Québec, workplace safety information is generally expected to be in French, and many employers with English-speaking staff or visitors choose bilingual signs. If you are not sure what applies to your business, check before you order.

Colours and logo

You can choose the background colour and set the text in white or black. Keep the contrast high: a sign that blends into the wall does not do its job.

Adding your logo is optional. It goes at the bottom, centred, and you can upload it as a PNG, JPG, WEBP or SVG file. A logo gives your signage a consistent, professional look across several rooms or sites, without taking attention away from the pictogram.

Picking a size people can read from where they stand

WHMIS signs are offered in ten sizes: 6 × 12, 9 × 12, 12 × 12, 12 × 18, 12 × 24, 18 × 18, 18 × 24, 24 × 24, 24 × 36 and 36 × 48 in. You can set each one in portrait or landscape, with rounded or square corners.

A simple way to think about it:

• Cabinets and small doors: the smaller formats, like 6 × 12 or 9 × 12 in, fit on a cabinet front without covering hinges or handles.
• Room entrances and corridor walls: mid sizes such as 12 × 18 or 18 × 24 in are a common choice where people approach from a few steps away.
• Warehouses, yards and large walls: the larger formats, up to 36 × 48 in, help when the sign has to be seen from across a busy space.

Not sure? Print a quick paper mockup at the size you are considering, tape it in place and walk back to where people normally approach. If you squint to read the message, go one size up.

Matching the material to the location

The right material depends on where the sign goes and how long it needs to last. Prices start at $9.50 and change with size and material; the editor shows your price live as you build the sign. As a reference, in the 12 × 18 in size, adhesive vinyl is listed at $18.50 each and .063 in aluminum at $57.25 each, before tax.

Indoor walls, doors and cabinets

• Adhesive vinyl: a sticker for any smooth surface, such as walls, doors and glass. A good fit for cabinets and interior doors.
• PVC 1/8 in: rigid PVC that you can screw or glue to a wall. Rated for indoor use.
• PVC 1/4 in: thicker and sturdier PVC for indoor spots where the sign may get bumped.
• Acrylic 1/8 in and 1/4 in: a premium glossy finish for indoor areas where appearance matters, like a lab entrance or a front office.

Outdoors, for the long term

• ACM 3 mm: aluminum composite, rigid and flat, rated for long-lasting outdoor use. A solid choice for exterior walls.
• Aluminum .063 in: the standard for signs mounted on posts, and our pick for outdoor use. Think fuel storage, gas cylinder cages or outdoor chemical sheds.

Short term or temporary

• Coroplast 4 mm: light fluted plastic suited to job sites and events. Rated for short-term outdoor use.
• Adhesive vinyl: also works outdoors for the short term on a smooth surface.

Finish and protective laminate

You can choose a matte, gloss or reflective finish. Matte limits glare under strong lighting, gloss gives a crisp look, and reflective is worth considering in areas that are dark or lit by headlights or flashlights. A protective laminate option is also available to add a layer over the print.

Placement and installation tips

A well-designed sign in the wrong spot is a missed warning. A few practical habits help:

• Mount signs at eye level near the entrance, on the side people see first as they approach.
• Make sure an open door, a stack of boxes or a rolling rack does not hide the sign.
• On cabinets, place the sign on the door itself so it stays visible when the cabinet is closed.
• For outdoor zones, a post-mounted aluminum sign keeps the warning visible even when there is no wall nearby. You will find posts, anchors and mounting hardware to match.
• Inspect your signs during your regular safety walk-throughs and replace any that are faded, damaged or out of date after a change in what is stored.

Hazard signs work best alongside other safety signage. If workers need gloves, goggles or a respirator in the same area, pair your WHMIS sign with PPE signs so the hazard and the protection are both clear at the door.

Ordering signs for several rooms or sites

Many businesses update their signage all at once: a new warehouse, a safety audit, or a decision to standardize across several locations. A few points make that easier.

Build a simple list first

Before you open the editor, list each location with:

• the hazard and pictogram,
• the message and language,
• the size and orientation,
• the material and finish.

This keeps your order consistent and makes it easy to reorder or add a sign later.

Volume pricing by material

Every design and size in the same material counts together, by size, even if you build them on different product pages. Per-unit prices go down from 5 signs (5%) through 10, 25 and 50 signs, up to 25% at 100 signs or more. For a multi-site rollout, choosing one material for similar locations keeps both the look and the ordering simple.

Need something the template doesn't cover?

If your sign needs a layout beyond a pictogram and a message, our full editor for custom signs and panels gives you more freedom.

Orders ship across Québec, and you can also pick them up at our workshop in Blainville, north of Montréal.

Get WHMIS signs that fit your workplace

Good WHMIS signs come down to a few clear choices: the right pictogram for the actual hazard, a short message in the right language, a size that can be read from where people stand, and a material suited to the location. Get those right and your signs will support your labels, safety data sheets and training every single day.

Everything is printed in Québec, at our Blainville workshop. When your list is ready, design your WHMIS signs: pick the symbol, adjust the message, add your logo and see your sign and price before you order.