Workplace Hazardous MaterialsInformation System

At-Your-PaceStudy Guide

WHMIS

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Workplace Hazardous MaterialsInformation System

At-Your-PaceStudy Guide

WHMISSAMPLE

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Table of Contents

Using this Guide ..............................................................................................................

Study Guide Topics .........................................................................................................

Section 1 - About WHMIS ..............................................................................................

Section 2 - Understanding the Hazards .......................................................................

Section 3 - WHMIS Labels ..............................................................................................

Section 4 - Material Safety Data Sheets ........................................................................

Section 5 - Emergency Actions .....................................................................................

Section 6 - Supplemental Information .......................................................................

Glossary ...........................................................................................................................

Checkpoint Answers .......................................................................................................

Final Exam ........................................................................................................................

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Using this Guide

Welcome to this WHMIS self-study guide. This guide is designed to familiarize you with key elements of the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, commonly referred to as WHMIS. This guide contains information on WHMIS symbols and labels; material safety data sheets; and worker, employer, and supplier responsibilities under WHMIS. This information will provide you with general WHMIS knowledge and training. You must receive training from your employer on the specific hazardous materials present on your work site.

Checkpoint questions are placed throughout this course. Please ensure that you complete these questions as they will help reinforce your understanding of the key concepts presented and prepare you for the final exam. The answers to the checkpoint questions can be found at the back of this guide.

As you work through this course, ensure that you:

• Review all information contained in this study guide.• Answer all questions.• Review all glossary terms that you are unfamiliar with. These key terms are indicated by a dotted line. The definitions for these terms can be found in the glossary (Page 46).• Consult with your supervisor if you have any questions.

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Study Guide Topics

The information in this study guide will be presented in six sections.

Section 1 – About WHMISAbout WHMIS (Page 8) introduces you to WHMIS, explains why it is important, describes its three key components, and provides an overview of WHMIS legislation and its related responsibilities.

Section 2 - Understanding the HazardsUnderstanding the Hazards (Page 14) identifies ways in which a controlled product can enter your body. It also provides an overview of the six WHMIS classes and the eight hazard symbols.

Section 3 – WHMIS LabelsWHMIS Labels (Page 22) are comprised of supplier and workplace labels. This section discusses the features of and differences between the two.

Section 4 - Material Safety Data SheetsMaterial Safety Data Sheets (Page 28) provide information about the hazards associated with controlled products. This section covers material safety data sheet format and information requirements as well as WHMIS exemptions.

Section 5 - Emergency ActionsEmergency Actions (Page 40) may be required if an incident involving a hazardous product occurs. This section discusses the components of an emergency response plan and the various types of personal protective equipment that can be used.

Section 6 – Supplemental InformationSupplemental Information (Page 44) includes additional WHMIS resources that you can refer to as well as a discussion of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling, which is also known as GHS.

Certificate

At the back of this study guide, you will find both a wall-sized and a wallet-sized certificate. Your employer must sign your certificates once you have finished the course, passed your test, and been informed about the specific hazardous products stored on and used at your work site. If you are self-employed, you are required to sign the certificates yourself.

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Objectives

By the end of this section, you should be able to:

• Explain what WHMIS is and why it is important• Describe the consequences for not following WHMIS regulations• List the three key components of WHMIS• Explain the responsibilities of the employer, employee and supplier under WHMIS

Section 1

ABOUT WHMISSAMPLE

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What is WHMIS?

WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. It is a Canada-wide system that provides employers and workers with information about the hazardous products that are stored and used on work sites.

Under WHMIS, a hazardous product is called a controlled product.

A controlled product is any material, product or substance that is included in any of the following six classes:

• Compressed gas• Flammable and combustible material• Oxidizing material• Poisonous and infectious material• Corrosive material• Dangerously reactive material

Why WHMIS is Important

In Canada, approximately one in four workers is exposed to chemical hazards on the job. The social cost of exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace is about $600,000,000 a year.

Exposure to hazardous materials can cause or contribute to a wide range of health concerns including:

• Diminished mental alertness • Irritation to the skin• Burns• Heart, liver, kidney and pulmonary ailments• Cancer• Death

Some materials can also be a safety hazard and may contribute to such things as fires, explosions and other accidents if they are stored or handled improperly.

WHMIS, when implemented on the work site, can help reduce the number of incidents by making workers aware of the dangers associated with the hazardous materials they are using.

WHMIS Legislation

WHMIS is legislated both federally through Bill C-70 and provincially through Occupational Health and Safety. Under the OH&S Code, if an employer or employee is found in non-compliance with WHMIS, they could be fined up to $500,000 with imprisonment for up to 6 months for a first offence and fined up to $1,000,000 with imprisonment for up to 12 months for a second or subsequent offence.

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Components of WHMIS

WHMIS has three key components:

1. Labels – All hazardous products, other than exempted ones, must be labelled.2. Material Safety Data Sheets – The Material Safety Data Sheet, or MSDS, is a detailed document that includes important information about a specific hazardous material. 3. Worker Education – Workers who use or are in close proximity to hazardous products on the work site must have WHMIS training. Two kinds of WHMIS training are available. General WHMIS training covers WHMIS hazards, labels, MSDSs and responsibilities. This course is an example of general WHMIS training. Specific WHMIS training provides detailed information about the particular hazardous products on a work site.

WHMIS Responsibilities

Under WHMIS regulations, the employer, employee and supplier all have responsibilities.

The employer is responsible for ensuring that:

• Containers of hazardous materials are properly labelled • Current MSDSs are readily available at the work site for all hazardous materials • Proper training for the safe storage, use and handling of hazardous materials at the work site is provided including instruction on the use of proper personal protective equipment

If a person switches jobs, the new employer is responsible for providing new WHMIS training.

The employee is responsible for:

• Participating in WHMIS training provided by the employer • Knowing and understanding the information on labels and in the MSDSs for all hazardous materials on the work site • Following safe work procedures and using the recommended control measures

The supplier is responsible for:

• Classifying hazardous products sold in Canada • Providing labels and MSDSs for all hazardous products • Testing or obtaining information on hazardous products

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1. WHMIS stands for:

Workplace Hazards Management Information System Workplace Health Management Information System Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Workers’ Health Management Information System

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Summary

For the purposes of complying with WHMIS legislation, it is important for employees to understand that hazardous products are called controlled products under WHMIS.

Every controlled product can be classified into one of the following six classes:

• Compressed gas• Flammable and combustible material• Oxidizing material• Poisonous and infectious material• Corrosive material• Dangerously reactive material

Complying with WHMIS is important because exposure to hazardous materials can cause a range of serious health concerns. Furthermore, non-compliance can result in fines of up to $1,000,000 along with jail time. Employers, employees and suppliers each have their own responsibilities under WHMIS laws.

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3. WHMIS is legislated:

Federally Provincially Both federally and provincially None of the above

4. Under WHMIS, a hazardous product is known as a:

Dangerous product Restricted product Controlled product Oxidizing product

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2. Only employers and suppliers have responsibilities under WHMIS.

True Falsea) b)

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a) b)c)d)

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