W.H.M.I.S.Workplace Hazardous Material Information System

Updated: September 2014

What is WHMIS?

WHMIS is an acronym, which stands

for Workplace Hazardous Materials

Information System. WHMIS is

commonly referred to as “Right to

Know” legislation.

What is WHMIS?

WHMIS was implemented

on October 31, 1988 as a

result of Bill C-70, to

provide information about

the safe handling,

storage, and use of

controlled products

across Canada.

What is WHMIS?

“Controlled

product” is another

name for a

hazardous substance

or chemical that falls

under WHMIS.

Controlled Product

List• Compile

a list at each work site of Controlled Products used in the workplace, and each work site must provide site specific training on them.

MSDS

• Ensure that current Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available for all chemicals being used, and advise employees of their location.

Labeling

• Have a procedure in place to ensure the correct labeling of all workplace containers containing controlled products.

Training

• Provide a WHMIS training program for all employees, and ensure that the training is updated annually.

Employer’s Responsibilities Employer (County of Simcoe) must:

Apply what you

learn.

Be able to understand a MSDS, and know where to find them.

Get trained

in WHMIS and get updated training annually

.

Know how to

use WHMIS

to protect yourself

and your co-workers

.

Be aware of the

potential

hazards of all the

controlled

products you work with.

When in doubt ASK!

Employee’s Responsibilities Employees (of the County of Simcoe) must:

“Right to Know”

WHMIS legislation gives everyone in a

workplace the right to know about the

hazards of materials being used.

“Right to Know”

The three main components of WHMIS

are:

Training

Labels

MSDS

WHMIS Symbols

The system requires the classification of hazardous materials into one or more of SIX CLASSES.

Each of these classes is represented by a symbol with the exception of class D which is broken into three divisions and each division has its own symbol.

The class A symbol must appear on all Compressed Gas cylinders.

This symbol indicates that the cylinder contains a gas under pressure.

Compressed Gas

Compressed Gas

Main hazard: The cylinder could explode if heated or impacted.

Examples: Propane or hydrogen cylinders.

The class B symbol appears on all Flammable and Combustible Materials.

Flammable and combustible materials

Main hazard: These materials can catch fire if they are exposed to a heat source or ignition source such as a spark or flame.

Examples: Kerosene, gasoline.

Flammable and combustible materials

The class C symbol must appear on all Oxidizing Materials.

Oxidizing materials

Main hazard: These materials present a fire or explosion risk when near other flammable or combustible materials. They also have potential to cause burns to the skin.

Examples: Chlorine, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid.

Oxidizing materials

Class D materials are poisonous and infections. This class is divided into three divisions, each with its own hazard symbol:

All the materials in this class must be handled with extreme caution, and safe work practices and procedures must be strictly adhered to.

Class D Division 1

Class D Division 2

Class D Division 3

Poisonous and infectious

Class D1 Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects symbol is represented by the universally recognizable skull and cross bones.

A single exposure to any of the materials in this division can be fatal.

Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects

Main hazard: These materials could cause immediate serious or fatal toxic effects.

Examples: Carbon monoxide, sodium cyanide, sulphuric acid.

Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects

Materials classified with the D2 symbol have toxic effects, but these effects are not immediately life threatening.

Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects

Main hazard: These material could cause immediate effects such as temporary irritation. Long Term exposure to these materials may lead to permanent health damage or even death.

Examples: Asbestos, benzene, ammonia.

Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects

A class D3 Biohazardous Infectious Material is a material that contains organisms, which can cause disease. Included in this division are viruses and bacteria.

Biohazardous and Infectious Materials

Main hazard: These materials could cause serious disease resulting in illness or death.

Examples: Blood contaminated with hepatitis or HIV.

Biohazardous and Infectious Materials

The symbol for Class E Corrosive Material is a picture of two test tubes pouring a corrosive liquid on a bar (piece of metal) and a hand.

Corrosive Materials

Main hazard: These materials can cause severe burns to skin and other human tissues, and can attack clothes and other materials including metal.

Examples: Sulfuric acid, caustic soda.

Corrosive Materials

Class F Dangerously Reactive materials are highly unstable controlled products that can react to other products, heat, light, or sudden movements.

Dangerously Reactive

Main hazard: These materials can react violently if exposed to energy sources. The results can include fire and explosion and/or the release of toxic gas. Examples: Picric acid, styrene, some rocket fuels.

Dangerously Reactive

Can you spot the hazards?

Answer: Containers with controlled products are not labelled.

Can you spot the hazards?

Containers of controlled products must be labeled to clearly indicate and identify the contents and the hazards of the material.

The two WHMIS labels are:

WHMIS Labels

Supplier Labels Workplace Labels

The supplier or manufacturer of the controlled product provides supplier labels and MSDS's.

The supplier label will have the following information:1. the name of the product,2. name of the company that

supplied,3. reference to MSDS, 4. hazard symbols, 5. risk phrases, 6. precautionary measures, 7. first aid measures,8. a distinctive "hatch mark" border,

and 9. the text must be in English and

French.

Supplier Labels

Example of a supplier label for Methanol

Workplace labels are used when the product is being transferred from its original supplier container to a different one.  It is also used when the supplier label is illegible, accidentally removed or if the product is produced in the workplace. 

Workplace labels must contain the following information:1. the name of the product, 2. information of the safe handling of

the product, and 3. a reference to a MSDS.

Workplace Labels

Example of a workplace label for Methanol

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document prepared by the supplier or manufacturer of the material that contains information on the potential hazards (health, fire, reactivity and environmental) and how to work safely with the chemical product.

What is a MSDS?

A MSDS also contains information on the use, storage, handling and emergency procedures all related to the hazards of the material.

MSDS

A MSDS should be consulted before using a controlled product and occasionally to review hazard and precautionary information.

MSDS

There are nine categories of information that must be present on a MSDS in Canada. These categories include:

1. product information,2. hazardous ingredients,3. physical data, 4. fire or explosion hazard data,5. reactivity data,6. toxicological properties,7. preventive measures,8. first aid measures, and9. preparation information.

MSDS Categories

Material Safety Data Sheets location

Many Material Safety Data Sheets are accessible through Corporate intranet. Material Safety Data Sheets can be located by clicking the “MSDS Database” link located on the right side of the main Corporate intranet webpage under the “Quick Links” section.

A fire or explosion is one of only three ways that we can become injured or ill when dealing with controlled products.

The other two ways are by having direct physical contact with controlled products and by having controlled products entering the body.

How controlled products can hurt us

The most frequent problem, and frequently the most serious, when using controlled products in the workplace, is when products actually enter the body. 

How controlled products can hurt us

And, this can only occur in one of four ways:

By absorption of the substance through the skin,

By injection of the substance most commonly via a needle,

By ingestion, most usually as a result of bad hygiene and contaminated food, and

By inhalation or simply breathing the substance, which is by far the most common route of entry into the body. 

How controlled products can hurt us

 Personal Protective Equipment or PPE for short, is the equipment we wear to protect ourselves from physical and chemical hazards. If we know about the chemical we are using we can protect ourselves against the possible hazards.

Personal Protective Equipment

Refer to the appropriate MSDS to find out what personal protective equipment is required to handle the chemical safely.

Personal Protective Equipment

Remember it is the employer’s responsibility to provide the required PPE, but it is your responsibility to ensure it is worn when working with the controlled product.

Ensure all equipment is in good repair, if it is not, report it to your supervisor immediately.

Personal Protective Equipment

Safety Glasses Safety Boots Face Mask Gloves