WHMIS

• Canada has laws that specify what information needs to be made available to employees who need to work with hazardous materials.– W - workplace– H - hazardous– M - materials– I - information– S – system

Purpose of WHMIS

• The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is Canada's national hazard communication standard. The key elements of the system are cautionary labeling of containers of WHMIS "controlled products", the provision of material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and worker education and training programs.

WHMIS

• WHMIS creates responsibilities for suppliers, employers, and workers

Supplier Responsibilities

• Classify products that are sold or distributed

• Label products with supplier labels• Provide MSDS for controlled products

Employer Responsibilities

• Ensure WHMIS Labels are used• Ensure MSDS are up to date (<3year)• Give workers access to MSDS• Train workers to use WHMIS

Worker Responsibilities

• Participate in training• Use WHMIS information to safely handle

products and protect themselves and coworkers

• Report missing information or violations to the employer

Right to Know

• As part of the 3 basic rights of the worker, you have the right to know what you are working with, what the hazards are, and how to protect yourself.

• Consult WHMIS labels, and MSDS for hazard information.

• If in doubt about the hazards of a particular material—ask your supervisor!

Internal Responsibility System (IRS)

• Multipartite Approach which promotes communication between employer, supervisor, worker and the Joint Health and Safety Committee.

• A system that “shares” Health and Safety responsibilities, as well as to strive to identify, measure and correct hazards in the workplace.

• Everyone is an “internal auditor” to ensure that we as a company/individuals comply with the Act and Regulations.

Controlled Products

• “Controlled products” is the name given to products, materials, and substances that are regulated by WHMIS legislation. All controlled products fall into one or more of six WHMIS classes.

Materials Not Covered by WHMIS

• Consumer Products• Hazardous Waste• Explosives

There are 6 WHMIS classes: (but Class D is broken into 3 categories)

Symbol Symbol

A – Compressed Gas D2 – Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects

B – Flammable and Combustible Material

D3 – Biohazardous Infectious Material

C – Oxidizing Material E – Corrosive Material

D1 – Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects

F – Dangerously Reactive Material

SYMBOLS

WHMIS ClassificationsClass A- Compressed GasContents under high pressureMay explode if heated, struck, or dropped

Examples: nitrogen, compressed air

Precautions: Chained uprightValve closedValve cap on

WHMIS ClassificationsClass B- Flammable & CombustibleMay catch fire if exposed to a source of ignition, heat, or

frictionMay burn at relatively low temperatures

Examples: IPA, ethanol, gasoline

Precautions: Keep away from heat and flameStore in a cool, dry placeGround and bond containers

WHMIS ClassificationsClass C- Oxidizing MaterialsMay cause a fire when it comes in contact with

flammable or combustible materials

Intensifies a fireCan cause a violent reaction

Examples: oxygen, chlorine

Precautions: Keep away from flammables and combustibles. Store in a cool, dry place

WHMIS Classifications

Class D – Poisonous and Infectious MaterialsMay be fatal or cause permanent damage if it

enters the body

Examples: Carbon monoxide, certain APIs

Precautions: Do not inhale or ingestWear proper PPE

D1

Immediate and Serious Toxic

Effects

WHMIS Classifications

Class D – Poisonous and Infectious MaterialsMay cause death or permanent damage as a result of

repeated exposure over timeMay be a skin or eye irritantMay be a sensitizer, which produces a chemical allergy May cause cancer, birth defects or sterility

Examples: asbestos, certain APIs

Precautions: Do not inhale or ingest Wear proper PPE

D2

Other toxic effects

WHMIS ClassificationsClass D – Poisonous and Infectious MaterialsMay cause serious disease resulting in death or

illness

Examples: HIV virus, waste from medical depts & micro laboratories

Precautions: Dispose in properly labelled container.

Store in designated area.Wear proper PPE.

D3

Biohazardous Infectious Material

WHMIS Classifications

Class E- Corrosive MaterialsMay cause severe damage to skin, eyes, and

respiratory tract

Examples: hydrochloric acid, Surface Kleen

Precautions: Wear goggles, gloves, respiratory protection & Label properly.

WHMIS Classifications

Class F- Dangerously ReactiveHighly unstableMay react violently when shaken, heated, or struckMay react with water to release toxic gasesMay explode as a result of shock, friction or change

in temperature

Examples: sodium metal, nitroglycerin

Precautions: store in a cool, dry place away from other chemicals

Labels • If you encounter a product without a label: Do not use the

product! Inform your supervisor that a label is missing• If you transfer a material from its original container, you must

put a workplace label on the new container• There are 6 WHMIS classes, but 8 WHMIS symbols (Class D is

broken up into three categories) • NC means “not controlled” by WHMIS

Labels cont’d• Supplier labels contain

more detailed information (7 elements)

• Hazard symbol• Precautionary measures• Reference to MSDS• Supplier identifier• First aid measures• Risk phrases• Product identifier

• Workplace labels require only 3 elements:

• Product identifier• Precautionary measures• Reference to MSDS

Supplier Label

Workplace Labels

• Workplace Labels are required when a material is:– Produced in the workplace– Transferred from the original container into

another container– Missing the original supplier label, or the original

supplier label is no longer legible

Workplace LabelProduct

identifier

Refers to MSDS

WHMIS symbols

Material Safety Data Sheets(MSDS)

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document that contains information on the potential hazards and how to work safely with the chemical product.

MSDS provide us with chemical properties, hazards, and emergency procedures

MSDSs are prepared by the supplier or manufacturer of the material. It is intended to tell what the hazards of the product are, how to use the product safely, what to expect if the recommendations are not followed, what to do if accidents occur, how to recognize symptoms of overexposure, and what to do if such incidents occur

MSDS• They must contain at least 9 categories:

1. Hazardous ingredients2. Preparation information3. Product information4. Physical data5. Fire or explosion hazards6. Reactivity data 7. Toxicological properties8. Preventative measures9. First aid measures

MSDSThere can be up to 16 categories on a MSDS:

1. Product and Company Identification

2. Composition/Information on Ingredients

3. Hazards Identification 4. First Aid Measures 5. Fire Fighting Measures 6. Accidental Release Measures 7. Handling and Storage 8. Exposure Controls/Personal

Protection

9. Physical and Chemical Properties

10.Stability and Reactivity 11.Toxicological Information 12.Ecological Information 13.Disposal Considerations 14.Transport Information 15.Regulatory Information16.Other Information

MSDS

MSDS

• Under WHMIS law, an MSDS for a controlled product must not be more than three years old. If you are still using a product that you bought more than three years ago, you may not have a current MSDS. Contact the manufacturer or supplier again and ask for a newer version of the MSDS.

• The three-year time limit does not apply to MSDSs for non-controlled products (i.e. products that do not meet WHMIS criteria).

Health Effects of Chemicals on the Body

• Irritation• Nausea, headache, fatigue• Difficulty breathing• Burns• Cancer

Health Terms

• Acute – short term, immediate• Chronic – long term, prolonged• Latency period – the time between exposure

to the chemical and its effects (disease/illness)

Routes of Entry

• Inhalation• Absorption• Ingestion• Injection (Puncture)

Summary• WHMIS applies to controlled products in the

workplace• It is a program made up of 3 parts: labels, MSDS,

education• Workers Responsibility

– Participate in training– Use WHMIS information to protect themselves and

others– Report missing information or violations to the

employer

Summary

• Know where to get labels and MSDS in your area

• Only work with labeled products• If in doubt about the hazards of a particular

material--ASK!