Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Chapter 3.1

WWorkplace orkplace HHazardous azardous MMaterials aterials IInformation nformation SSystem (WHMIS)ystem (WHMIS)

Chapter 3.1Chapter 3.1

Objective of ProgramObjective of Program

An increased awareness of the hazards An increased awareness of the hazards associated with workplace materialsassociated with workplace materialsAn understanding of the meaning of An understanding of the meaning of WHMIS symbolsWHMIS symbolsThe ability to identify controlled products The ability to identify controlled products by reading WHMIS Supplier Labels and by reading WHMIS Supplier Labels and Workplace LabelsWorkplace LabelsThe ability to read & understand MSDS’s The ability to read & understand MSDS’s ((MMaterial aterial SSafety afety DData ata SSheets)heets)

Objective of ProgramObjective of Program

An increased awareness of the proper An increased awareness of the proper handling and storage of workplace handling and storage of workplace materialsmaterials

An increased understanding of how to An increased understanding of how to handle emergencies connected with handle emergencies connected with workplace materials.workplace materials.

What is WHMIS?What is WHMIS?

WHMIS is a set of laws developed jointly by industry, WHMIS is a set of laws developed jointly by industry, labour, & government.labour, & government.Its goal is to inform you about the hazards of the Its goal is to inform you about the hazards of the materials you work with so that you can protect yourself materials you work with so that you can protect yourself and respond to emergency situationsand respond to emergency situationsThe legislation requiring the implementation of WHMIS The legislation requiring the implementation of WHMIS came into effect on October 31 1988came into effect on October 31 1988It is implemented across Canada by a combination of It is implemented across Canada by a combination of federal & provincial legislationfederal & provincial legislationWHMIS legislation applies to controlled products, that WHMIS legislation applies to controlled products, that are used, stored and handled at any workplace.are used, stored and handled at any workplace.

Who Has a Role?Who Has a Role?

SuppliersSuppliers; for disclosure of contents and ; for disclosure of contents and proper labeling of materialsproper labeling of materials

EmployersEmployers; to provide safe handling of ; to provide safe handling of hazardous materialshazardous materials

WorkersWorkers; to use the system to ensure ; to use the system to ensure their own safety and the safety of others their own safety and the safety of others on the job.on the job.

Three Main PartsThree Main Parts

The three main parts of WHMIS;The three main parts of WHMIS;Labels; these alert everyone about the dangers of a product and tell where to find out about it.

MSDS; these Material Safety Data Sheets contain detailed information on the dangers & how to handle material safely.

Worker Education; employers must provide instruction to each worker on how to use WHMIS, what hazardous materials are on site, and how to handle them properly. (a hazardous material is any substance that can cause illness, disease or death to unprotected people also called hazardous products, controlled products, or dangerous goods)

How Bad are the Hazards?How Bad are the Hazards?

The dangers of hazardous materials can The dangers of hazardous materials can come from;come from;

Explosion

Fire

Skin contact

Breathing-in

Swallowing

Ingesting

How Bad are the Hazards?How Bad are the Hazards?

How bad the hazards are usually depend How bad the hazards are usually depend on one or more of these things;on one or more of these things;

How much pressure there is

How easily the material burns or explodes

How much of the material there is

How toxic it is

How it enters your body

How concentrated it is

How Can I Protect Myself?How Can I Protect Myself?Workers can protect themselves by:Workers can protect themselves by:

Watching carefully for hazard labels

Reading the MSDS’s to learn about proper handling & precautions

Handling hazardous materials the recommended way

Telling your supervisor about any unsafe conditions

Paying close attention to any WHMIS or Dangerous Goods training information provided by your employer or a material supplier.

Employer RequirementsEmployer Requirements

Employers are required to provide workers Employers are required to provide workers with training on four key things:with training on four key things:

How to use WHMIS labels and MSDS’s

Procedures for safe use, storage, handling, and disposal of the hazardous materials on site

Procedure to follow in case of an emergency involving the hazardous materials

Special colour, number or letter codes used to identify pumps, pipes, and vessels carrying hazardous materials on site

Employer ResponsibilityEmployer Responsibility

List all hazardous materials on siteList all hazardous materials on site

Make sure all materials are labeledMake sure all materials are labeled

Provide information (easy access to info. Provide information (easy access to info. On each hazardous material on site)On each hazardous material on site)

Develop procedures (for handling, storage Develop procedures (for handling, storage & disposal)& disposal)

Train workers (WHMIS, MSDS’s …)Train workers (WHMIS, MSDS’s …)

Workers ResponsibilityWorkers Responsibility

While each worker has a right to know, While each worker has a right to know, each worker also has a responsibility to:each worker also has a responsibility to:

Learn how to use WHMIS

Accept and review information on hazardous materials

Follow recommended procedures to protect themselves and others

Inform employer of hazards and damaged or missing labels

Suppliers ResponsibilitySuppliers Responsibility

To provide labels & hazard information on To provide labels & hazard information on the MSDS”sthe MSDS”s

Overall ResponsibilitiesOverall Responsibilities

Two Main Types of LabelsTwo Main Types of Labels

Two main types of labels included in Two main types of labels included in WHMIS are:WHMIS are:

Supplier Labels: placed on the product by the manufacturer or distributor

Workplace Labels: placed by the employer where needed on the job site

The Supplier LabelThe Supplier LabelThe following information must be contained on a The following information must be contained on a Supplier Label: (label can be identified by its distinctive Supplier Label: (label can be identified by its distinctive broken borders)broken borders)

Product identifier: brand name, code number, chemical name, common name, generic name or trade name

Hazard symbol: eight different pictograms representing the hazard posed by the substance

Risk Phrase: any risk not covered by the symbol

Precautionary measures: precautions to be taken during handling, storage, or disposal

First Aid measures: immediate first aid measures

Reference to safety materials data sheet: both English & French

Supplier identifier: name of supplier/manufacturer

The Supplier LabelThe Supplier Label

The Workplace LabelThe Workplace Label

These labels are provided by your These labels are provided by your employer and they show:employer and they show:

The name of the product

How to protect yourself from the hazards

That more information is available in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

These are applied when a hazardous material has been taken out of its original container (decanted) or the original label becomes illegible



Controlled ProductControlled Product

The WHMIS process begins with the The WHMIS process begins with the classification of products by their classification of products by their manufacturers or importers to find out if manufacturers or importers to find out if they are controlled or not.they are controlled or not.

A controlled product is one that meets the A controlled product is one that meets the criteria of one or more of the six hazard criteria of one or more of the six hazard classes, divisions, or subdivisions.classes, divisions, or subdivisions.

Hazard SymbolsHazard Symbols

Class A: Compressed GasClass A: Compressed Gas This class includes This class includes compressed gases, compressed gases, dissolved gases and dissolved gases and gases liquefied by gases liquefied by compression or compression or refrigeration (ex. refrigeration (ex. Acetylene & oxygen)Acetylene & oxygen)

Heat may cause Heat may cause explosion, do not explosion, do not drop, handle with caredrop, handle with care


Class B Flammable & Class B Flammable & CombustibleCombustible

Solids, liquids & Solids, liquids & gases capable of gases capable of catching firecatching fire

May burst into flames May burst into flames spontaneously, keep spontaneously, keep away from heat away from heat sources, sparks, sources, sparks, never smoke around, never smoke around, store in cool, fire-store in cool, fire-proof areaproof area


Class C: Oxidizing Class C: Oxidizing MaterialMaterial

Materials which provide Materials which provide oxygen or similar oxygen or similar substances and which substances and which increase the risk of fire if increase the risk of fire if they come into contact they come into contact with flammable or with flammable or combustible materialscombustible materialsMay burn skin or eyes, May burn skin or eyes, protective equipment protective equipment required, eyes, hands, required, eyes, hands, clothingclothingExamples include sodium Examples include sodium hypochloritehypochlorite

Hazard SymbolsHazard SymbolsClass D Division 1 Class D Division 1 Poisonous & Infectious Poisonous & Infectious Material: Immediate & serious Material: Immediate & serious toxic effectstoxic effects

This division covers This division covers material that can cause material that can cause death with exposures to death with exposures to small amounts (ex. small amounts (ex. Sodium cyanide, Sodium cyanide, hydrogen sulphide)hydrogen sulphide)May burn skin or eyes, May burn skin or eyes, handle with extreme handle with extreme caution, avoid inhaling, caution, avoid inhaling, wash & shower after wash & shower after usingusingPotentially fatal Potentially fatal poisonous substancepoisonous substance


Class D, Division 2Class D, Division 2Poisonous & Infectious Material: Poisonous & Infectious Material: Other toxic effectsOther toxic effects

Poisonous but not Poisonous but not immediately dangerous to immediately dangerous to health. May cause health. May cause immediate eye or skin immediate eye or skin irritation as well as long irritation as well as long term affects to prolonged term affects to prolonged exposure (ex. acetone, exposure (ex. acetone, asbestos..)asbestos..)May cause cancer, avoid May cause cancer, avoid inhaling, eye/skin contact, inhaling, eye/skin contact, & store in designated & store in designated areas.areas.


Class D, Division 3Class D, Division 3Poisonous & Infectious Material: Poisonous & Infectious Material: Bio-Hazardous Infectious Bio-Hazardous Infectious MaterialMaterial

Applies to materials Applies to materials which contain harmful which contain harmful micro organisms (ex. micro organisms (ex. Salmonella bacteria, Salmonella bacteria, hepatitis B virushepatitis B virusMay cause illness or May cause illness or death. Take every death. Take every measure to avoid measure to avoid contamination. contamination. Handle material only Handle material only when fully protected.when fully protected.Store in designated Store in designated areas.areas.


Class E Corrosive Class E Corrosive MaterialMaterial

Acid or caustic materials Acid or caustic materials which can destroy the which can destroy the skin or eat through metals skin or eat through metals (ex. lye, hydrocholoric (ex. lye, hydrocholoric acid)acid)

May be harmful if inhaled, May be harmful if inhaled, keep containers tightly keep containers tightly closedclosed

Avoid skin & eye contactAvoid skin & eye contact

May require respiratory May require respiratory equipmentequipment


Class F: Dangerously Class F: Dangerously Reactive MaterialReactive Material

Product can undergo Product can undergo dangerous reaction if dangerous reaction if subjected to heat, subjected to heat, pressure, shock or pressure, shock or allowed to come into allowed to come into contact with water (ex. contact with water (ex. Butadiene, & some Butadiene, & some cyanide)cyanide)

Material is very unstable, Material is very unstable, open container carefully, open container carefully, do not drop.do not drop.

MMaterial aterial SSafety afety DData ata SSheetsheets(MSDS)(MSDS)

The MSDS is an important technical document The MSDS is an important technical document containing detailed information about the containing detailed information about the potential hazards of a product, safe handling potential hazards of a product, safe handling instructions, and emergency proceduresinstructions, and emergency procedures

There must be one MSDS for every hazardous There must be one MSDS for every hazardous material on site.material on site.

Must be made available by the supplier to the Must be made available by the supplier to the employer/employee who are exposed to the employer/employee who are exposed to the productproduct


Must contain the following 9 components;Must contain the following 9 components;

Product information

Hazardous ingredients

Physical data

First aid measures

Fire & explosion data

Toxicological properties

Reactivity measures

Preventive measures

Preparation information


Product Information:Product Information: Hazardous Ingredients:Hazardous Ingredients:

Product name/PIN Number

Supplier’s Name & address

Emergency phone Number

Identify all ingredients in terms of toxicity

For each ingredient must show, name, concentration, chemical abstracts registry number

LD50% Lethal dose 50% - the dose which kills 50% of the animals in a toxicity test.


Physical data:Physical data: Fire & Explosion Data:Fire & Explosion Data:

Physical state

Appearance & odour

Vapour density

Boiling & freezing points

PH of appropriate

Specific gravity

Coefficient of oil/water separation

Water solubility

Whether product is flammable or explosive and under what conditions

Means of extinction

Flash point – temperature at which enough of the material evaporates to form an ignitable mixture

sensitivity


Reactivity Data:Reactivity Data: Toxicological Properties:Toxicological Properties:

Possible hazardous chemical reactions that might occur

Products stability

Sensitivity to shock, temperature, or pressure

Reactivity

incompatibility

Hazardous decomposition

Describes how people might come into contact with the product & what the long term affects would be

Route of entry into body

Effects of acute (short term) exposure

Effects of chronic (long term) exposure

Legal exposure limit


Preventive Measures:Preventive Measures: First Aid Measures:First Aid Measures:

One of the most useful sections of a MSDS is the suppliers list of suggestions;

Use & handling procedures

Personal protective equipment

Storage requirements

Leak & spill procedures

Shipping information

Disposal practices

Similar to that presented on the product label

This info will allow people to help someone who has been made unwell by a chemical


Preparation Date of MSDS:Preparation Date of MSDS:

As people may need information that is not present on the MSDS and need to ensure that the MSDS is current, the regulations require the supplier to indicate who prepared the MSDS, when it was prepared and a phone number to contact the person who prepared the document

This is usually the last section of the MSDS

Routes of Entry Into the BodyRoutes of Entry Into the Body

Most chemical substances are only harmful if taken into Most chemical substances are only harmful if taken into the body. This may occur in one of four ways:the body. This may occur in one of four ways:

Inhalation via the respiratory system

Absorption across the skin

Ingestion into the digestive system

Through the eye


Respiratory System:Respiratory System: Skin:Skin:

Inhalation is by far the most common route

Either as dust particles, vapours, gases, mists, fumes, or smoke

Once inhaled they readily gain access to the circulatory system

Chemicals may be absorbed through the skins two layers (epidermis & dermis)

Once absorbed they also enter the circulatory system

Many chemicals cause various degrees of skin irritation

Certain chemicals have also been linked with skin cancer


Digestive System:Digestive System: Eye:Eye:All forms of chemicals such as gases, vapours, mists, dust, smoke, fumes, liquid, & solids can enter the digestive system

Chemicals usually first enter via the mouth and continue on its path through the entire gastrointestinal system

Any chemical in the form of a liquid, dust, vapour, gas aerosol, or mist can readily enter the eye

Our eyes have a rich supply of blood vessels which readily permit the passage of chemicals into the body’s systemic circulation

WWorkplace orkplace HHazardous azardous MMaterials aterials IInformation nformation SSystem (WHMIS)ystem (WHMIS)

Chapter 3.1Chapter 3.1

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Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Chapter 3.1