WHMIS

WORKPLACE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INFORMATION SYSTEM

What is WHMIS?

WHMIS is a national system used to manage the hazardous materials in the workplace.

Throughout this presentation you will learn about:• Health Hazards

• WHMIS Symbols

• Consumer Product Symbols

• Workplace Controls

• Personal Protective Equipment

• Implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)

ResponsibilitiesSUPPLIER EMPLOYER EMPLOYEE

• Obtain the most current information about their product

• Create and use container labels

• Create and supply Material Safety Data Sheets

• Update the information about their product every 3 years or within 90 days of any changes to their product

• Develop and implement a WHMIS system for all employees

• Use proper workplace labels for any product not in its original packaging

• Maintain a current list of all hazardous materials in the workplace

• Maintain a database of MSDS’s for all hazardous materials

• Update the MSDS database every 3 years

• Provide annual training and education for all employees

• Participate in the annual training provided by their employer

• Play an active role in protecting themselves and their coworkers against hazards in the workplace

• Play an active role in identifying and eliminating risks

HEALTH HAZARDS

Chemical and physical health hazards

Chemical and physical hazards are materials that in the event of exposure may result in serious health problems, such as:

• Burns to your skin or eyes (upon contact)

• Allergic reactions

• Kidney or lung damage

• Biological diseases

• Sterility

• Cancer

WHMIS Hazard Symbols

There are 6 categories and 8 WHMIS hazard symbols used for industrial products:

• Compressed Gas

• Flammable and Combustible Material

• Oxidizing Material

• Poisons and Toxic Materials

‐ Immediately Poisonous Material

‐ Material Causing Other Toxic Effects

‐ Bio-hazardous Infectious Material

• Corrosive Material

• Dangerously Reactive Material

Class A: Compressed Gas

Materials under Class A are held under pressure and can explode if heated or subjected to physical shock.

Handling Tips:

• The container must be secured and held up-right when stored or moved.

• The cap must be kept on when not in use.

• If the container has a regulator, the regulator must be disconnected before it is moved.

• To avoid impact forces the container should never be dropped, dragged, rolled or punctured.

• Always keep containers away from heat and sparks.

• Never use grease/oil on any valve on the container.

Examples

• Oxygen• Fire Extinguisher

Class B: Flammable and Combustible Material

Materials under Class B can burn and/or burst into flames very easily and suddenly when exposed to spark or open flame.

Handling Tips:

• Always keep containers away from heat and flames.

• Always keep containers sealed tightly to avoid accidental release into the environment.

• Always clean up spills immediately and dispose of clean up materials in a metal container.

• Never store near oxidizing or reactive materials.Examples

• Isopropyl Alcohol• Formaldehyde

Class C: Oxidizing Material

Materials under Class C increase the risk of a fire and/or explosion in the presence of flammable or combustible materials.

Handling Tips:

• Always keep containers away from heat and flames.

• Always keep containers sealed tightly to avoid accidental release into the environment.

• Always store containers away from flammable/combustible and reactive materials. Examples

• Bleach• Hydrogen Peroxide• Oxygen

Class D1A/B: Immediately Poisonous Material

Materials under Class D1 have the potential to cause immediate and permanent damage.

These materials may cause death when exposed to small amounts.

Handling Tips:

• Always use in a well ventilated area.

• Always follow proper hygiene protocols after working with these materials; especially before eating, drinking or smoking.

• Always wear proper protective equipment.

• Never wear your work clothes home.

Examples

• Formaldehyde• Virkon• Anti-freeze

Class D2A/B: Material Causing Other Toxic

Effects Materials under Class D2 can cause serious long-term illnesses following repeated exposure to small amounts.

These materials have the potential to be life-threatening.

Handling Tips:

• Always use in a well ventilated area.

• Always follow proper hygiene protocols after working with these materials; especially before eating, drinking or smoking.

• Always wear proper protective equipment.

• Never wear your work clothes home.

Examples

• Bleach• Isopropyl Alcohol• Formaldehyde

Class D3: Bio-Hazardous Infectious Material

Materials under Class D3 have the potential to cause serious biological disease resulting in illness or death.

Handling Tips:

• Always use in a well ventilated area.

• Always follow proper isolation protocols when in contact with diseased patients.

• Always follow proper hygiene protocols after working with these materials; especially before eating, drinking or smoking.

• Always wear proper protective equipment.

• Never wear your work clothes home.

Examples

• Rabies• Leptospirosis• Toxoplasmosis

Class E: Corrosive Material

Materials under Class E have the potential to cause severe irritation and/or tissue damage under the following circumstances: upon contact with the skin or eyes, when inhaled, when ingested.

Some of the materials under Class E also have the ability to eat through metal.

Handling Tips:

• If exposed, immediately flush out the skin or eyes for at least 15 minutes and seek professional medical care if symptoms do not resolve quickly.

• Always use in a well ventilated area.

• Always follow proper hygiene protocols after working with these materials; especially before eating, drinking or smoking.

• Always wear proper protective equipment – a cartridge or supplied air respirator may be required.

• Never wear your work clothes home.

Examples

• Bleach• Peroxigard• Hydrogen Peroxide

Class F: Dangerously Reactive Material

Materials under Class F are very unstable and have the potential to self-react dangerously upon standing or if there is a change in temperature, pressure, physical shock or exposure to air/water.

Handling Tips:

• Always keep these materials away from any source of heat.

• Always dispose of old chemicals as soon as possible.

• Always handle with care, DO NOT DROP.

• Never mix these materials with other chemicals.

• Never mix these materials with water.

Examples

• Ethylene Oxide• Chlorine

Consumer Product Warning Symbols

Consumer Warning Labels are used on products that can be found on store shelves.

These symbols are similar to the WHMIS industrial symbols with the exception of the outer boarder.

Each outer border designates the product’s level of danger

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

• Highest level of hazard • Moderate hazard level • Lowest hazard level

Corrosive

Please refer back to WHMIS Class E for more information on the effects of exposure and handling tips.

Examples

• Bleach• Battery Acid• Dishwasher Detergent

Explosive

Consumer products under this category have the potential to explode if exposed to heat or physical shock.

Handling Tips:• Always handle the container with care, DO NOT

DROP.

• Always keep containers away from heat or flame.

Examples

• Fire Extinguishers• Aerosols

Flammable

Please refer back to WHMIS Class B for more information on the effects of exposure and handling tips.

Examples

• Isopropyl Alcohol• Gasoline

Poison

Please refer back to WHMIS Class D for more information on the effects of exposure and handling tips.

Examples

• Bleach• Gasoline• Wind Shield Washer Fluid

MEANS OF EXPOSURE

Acute vs Chronic Effects

Acute Effect

• Exposure causes immediate harm to your health (inside and/or out).

• The effects of exposure can occur within a few minutes, a few hours or a few days.

Chronic Effect

• Exposure causes harm to your health over a longer period of time.

• The effects of exposure can occur months or years after the exposure occurred.

Measuring Acute Toxicity

Lethal Dose 50 (LD50)

• The amount of material that causes death in 50% of the test patients when it is introduced into their body by a specified route.

• Usually method of exposure is ingestion or skin absorption

• It is usually measured in mg/kg or mL/kg of body weight

• Higher LD50 = Lower toxicity

• Lower LD50 = Higher toxicity

Measuring Acute Toxicity (continued)

Lethal Concentration 50 (LC50)

• The airborne concentration of the substance that causes death in 50% of the test patients in a given time frame.

• Usually expose patients for 4 hours.

• It is usually measured in mg/kg or mL/kg of body weight

• Higher LC50 = Lower toxicity

• Lower LC50 = Higher toxicity

Routes of Entry

INHALATION ABSORPTION INJECTION INGESTIONMOST

COMMONLEAST

COMMON

• Inhalation can cause more harm to the body than any other route of entry.

• Absorption allows for direct access to the blood stream; therefore, can cause damage externally and internally.

• Injection is when a material is forced into the body; for example, an injection.

• Ingestion is an accidental form of exposure.

• It is easily preventable following proper hygiene protocols.

MOST IMPORTANT

LEAST IMPORTANT

WORKPLACE CONTROLS

Sample Supplier LabelsProduct Identification• Chemical name• Brand/generic name• Code name/number

Hazard Symbols• The label must have a symbol

for every category the product is classified under.

Etched boarder is unique to WHMIS materials.

Supplier Identification• Name, address, phone

number

Reference to the MSDS• Refer to Material Safety Data

Sheet for more information.

First Aid Measures• If ingested, contact a

physician immediately and do not induce vomiting

• Flush skin/eyes immediately for 15 minutes

Precautionary Measures• Store in a temperature

controlled environment• Wear protective eye wear• Do not spray near

heat/flame/spark

Risk Phrases• Respiratory irritant• Highly irritating to skin, eyes

and nose

Workplace Label

A workplace label must be used for hazardous material when:

• It is transferred to a secondary container (for example: isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, peroxigard)

• The original (supplier) label is missing or damaged

DO NOT USE ANY CHEMICAL MATERIAL THAT IS NOT LABELLED.

Workplace Label Requirements

“ABC Cleaner”

Wear a face shieldWear rubber glovesWear a respirator

Refer to the MSDS for further

information

Product Identification

Precautionary MeasuresReference to MSDS

Sample Workplace Labels

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

A Material Safety Data Sheet is a document that provides detailed health and safety information specific to the material.

The content of the MSDS is legislated by WHMIS and includes 9 sections. Every section must be completed for every hazardous material. If the information is unavailable or inapplicable for a particular product, then it must be stated in the MSDS.

The supplier must update the MSDS every 3 years or within 90 days of a change to the product.

9 Sections to The MSDS

1. Product identification and use

2. Hazardous chemical content

3. Physical information: boiling point, etc.

4. Fire or explosion hazards

5. Reactivity information (with other materials)

MSDS (continued)

6. Toxicological information – describes the potential risks to your health.

Examples

• Effects of acute/chronic exposure • Synergistic Products

• Reproductive Problems • Exposure Limits

• Routes of Entry • Cancer Producing

• Producing Fetal Malformation • Induce genetic mutations

• Sensitization • Irritancy

MSDS (continued)

7. Preventative measures – provides safety guidelines for the use and storage of the material.

Examples

• Personal Protective Equipment • Waste Disposal

• Leak/Spill Procedures • Handling Procedures

• Storage Requirements • Shipping Requirements

MSDS (continued)

8. First Aid Measures

a) Eye wash station

b) Emergency showers

c) First aid – bandaging, splinting

d) CPR

9. MSDS Source – supplier’s name and address Click here to see a sample MSDS for Bleach.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PPE is necessary when engineering and/or administrative controls cannot completely remove the hazard to workers.

The purpose of PPE Is to minimize the exposure to hazardous materials in the workplace.

Employers are responsible for:• Supplying appropriate PPE

• Ensuring PPE is in good working order

• Providing training to all workers on when and how to use the PPE

PPE Symbols

Cartridge Respirator

Eye Protection

Disposable Dust Mask

Face Shield

Foot Protection

Full Body Protective Clothes

Hand Protection

Protective Apron

WHMIS AFTER GHS

Globally Harmonized System (GHS)

The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is an international initiative to standardize chemical hazard classification and communication globally. The GHS is anticipated to be implemented in Canada in June 2015.

GHS will not replace WHMIS. WHMIS will be modified to incorporate the GHS elements.

GHS (continued)

Under GHS, there will be new standardized:

1. Classification Rules

• Provides guidance on classifying pure chemicals and mixtures according to its criteria or rules

2. Label Requirements

• Standardized hazard statements

• Signal words

• Symbols

• Precautionary statements may also be required

3. Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Format

• This document will replace the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) that are currently used under WHMIS

• They will have 16 sections in a set order, and minimum information prescribed

GHS (continued)

Please review the following documents for a full understanding of how the GHS elements will change WHMIS.

Supplier Labels After GHS

Safety Data Sheets vs Material Safety Data Sheets

Symbols: GHS vs WHMIS

Additional Hazard Classes

TIME FOR THE QUIZ!

WHMIS QuizPlease print and submit your answers to the RRP office (by mail, email or fax). A certificate will be

issued upon receipt of your quiz.