Everyone is responsible for health and safety.

WHMISWHMIS

• WHMIS is designed to help workers, students, teachers and employers to understand the risks posed by hazardous materials in the workplace.

• Identify hazards in the workplace.• WHMIS ensures consistency of information

provided to the workers about the hazardous materials in all Canadian Workplaces.

• This is accomplished with the use of proper labels, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and worker training.

Right To KnowRight To Know

The student and teacher has the right to know if the chemicals being handled are hazardous and if they are hazardous, what safe handling, storage, use and disposal measures should be taken.

LegislationLegislation

Federal legislation– The Hazardous Products Act

• Ensures that hazardous products have labels and MSDSs

– The Controlled Products Regulations• Identifies the classes of controlled products• Identifies the information required on labels and in MSDSs

– The Hazardous Materials Information Review Act• Protects Trade Secrets

BenefitsBenefits

Benefits from the WHMIS program are:Better informed teachers and students

Safer and healthier working conditions

Reduced accidents and illnesses

DutiesDuties

Employer– Ensure that all controlled products have WHMIS

labels– Acquires MSDSs and makes them available to all

workers– Trains studentss to safely store and handle the

chemicals

Student– Must cooperate with the WHMIS program– Use the training to protect their health– Comply with all Legislation

WHMIS ClassesWHMIS Classes

WHMIS uses classifications to group chemicals with similar properties or hazards. The Controlled Products Regulations specifies the criteria used to place materials within each classification.

These classes are:• Class A Compressed Gas• Class B Flammable and Combustible Material• Class C Oxidizing Materials• Class D Poisonous and Infectious Materials• Class E Corrosive Materials• Class F Dangerously Reactive Materials

LabelsLabels

A WHMIS label is a source of information on all controlled products designed to alert workers to the dangers and hazards of the products and the basic safety precautions to be followed. The label will be the first hazard people are likely to see.

– Supplier Labels• Required on all controlled products as a condition of sale or import.

– Workplace Labels• Required on materials that have been decanted from a larger container.• Replace labels that are defaced or lost

– Product Identifiers• Located on pipes and tanks• Piles of materials

Supplier LabelSupplier Label

Format– Distinctive broken-line WHMIS border– Must stand out from the colour of the

container– Must not conflict with TDG labels– English and French must be used– Must be durable and easy to read

Supplier LabelSupplier Label

The supplier is required to provide the following 7 items of information on the label:

1) Name of the Product – chemical name, brand name, trade name or common name

2) Name of the Supplier3) A reference to the MSDS – a statement alerting the user that

additional information is available4) Hazard symbols – could have more than one symbol if the

product falls into more than one category5) Risk Phrases – short statement identifying hazardous

properties6) Precautionary measures – short statement describing

precautions to be taken when handling, using, disposing or being exposed to the controlled product

7) First Aid Measures – short statement describing the immediate steps to be taken when an accident occurs.

Supplier LabelSupplier Label

Smaller containers require less information.

Containers with volumes < 100ml

1) Product identifier

2) Supplier identifier

3) A MSDS statement

4) A hazard symbol

Workplace LabelWorkplace Label

FormatNo formatNo hatched borderNo colour requirements

Information Required on the Label:Product identifierSafe handling instructionsStatement referring to MSDS

Workplace LabelWorkplace Label

(Product identifier)

GASOLINE(Precautionary/risk statement)

HIGHLY FLAMMABLEKEEP AWAY FROM OPEN FLAME

(Reference to MSDS)

REFER TO MATERIAL SAFETYDATA SHEET FOR ADDITIONAL

INFORMATION

LabelsLabels

Product Identifiers• Tags

• Placards

• Decals

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

What are they?– A technical document that summarizes the health and safety information on a

controlled product– Provide detailed information about health risks– Describe the properties of the controlled product– Informs the worker about safe handling requirements– Describes applicable protective measures and emergency procedures

Who is Responsible?– The employer is responsible to ensure the MSDS is available to all workers

Where are they located?– Hard Copies

• Located at the entrances to the laboratories, work areas and in the Control Room– Computer

• Manufacturer/supplier websites• CCOHS website

MSDSMSDS Format

The MSDS will vary in format from one supplier to another. The MSDS may vary in length, presentation and wording. It must have a minimum of 9 sections.The sections cannot be left blank, if information is unknown then it must be stated in the document.All hazardous ingredients must be disclosed.They cannot be more than 3 years old.Care must be taken to read each MSDS and become familiar with the document to be able to locate the required information.

MSDSMSDS

MSDS Sections:1. Hazardous Ingredients2. Preparation Information3. Product Information4. Physical Data5. Fire or Explosion Hazard6. Reactivity Data7. Toxicological Properties8. Preventive Measures9. First Aid Measures

MSDS - SectionsMSDS - Sections

1) Hazardous IngredientsThis section must provide information on the name concentration and toxicity of each of the hazardous ingredients of a controlled product.

• Chemical Identity• Concentration• CAS Number (Chemical Abstract Service)• PIN Number (Product Identification Number)• LD50 (lethal dose 50)

– The lethal single dose required to cause death in 50% of a test animal population.

• LC50 (lethal concentration 50)– The concentration in air which, administered over a specific

period of time, is expected to cause death in 50% of the test animal population.

MSDS - SectionsMSDS - Sections

2) Preparation Information• Name of the person or department who

prepared the document• Phone number• Preparation date

MSDS - SectionsMSDS - Sections

3) Product Information• Product Name• Product Use• Manufacturer Identifier• Supplier Name and Address• Emergency Phone Numbers

MSDS - SectionsMSDS - Sections

4) Physical DataThis section provides information on the physical properties of the product.

• Physical State • pH• Odour and Appearance • Odour Threshold• Vapour Pressure • Vapour Density• Boiling Point • Freezing Point• Evaporation Rate • Percent Volatile• Specific Gravity• Coefficient of Water/Oil Distribution

MSDS - SectionsMSDS - Sections

5) Fire or Explosion DataProvide information to assist with fire and explosion prevention.

• Flashpoint• Auto-ignition temperature• Lower Flammable Limit• Upper Flammable Limit• Means of Extinction• Sensitivity to Impact• Sensitivity to Static Discharge• Hazardous combustion Products• Conditions of Flammability

MSDS - SectionsMSDS - Sections

6) Reactivity Data

This section provides information on the stability of the product and its reaction with other chemicals or exposure to heat, shock or temperature.

• Chemical stability• Incompatible materials• Conditions of reactivity• Hazardous decomposition products

MSDS - SectionsMSDS - Sections

7) Toxicological PropertiesThis section provides information on how the product enters the body and what the short and long term effects are to be on the exposed worker.

• Routes of entry– Inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion

• Exposure Limits• Irritancy to product• Sensitivity to Product• Carcinogenicity• Reproductive Toxicity• Teratogenicity• Mutagenicity

MSDS - SectionsMSDS - Sections8) Preventive Measures

This section provides information to the worker that protect the health and safety of the worker during transportation, storage, use and disposal.

• Personal Protective Equipment– Gloves– Respiratory– Eye– Footwear

• Engineering controls– Ventilation controls

• Leak and spill procedure• Waste disposal• Storage requirement• Handling procedures

Fume HoodFume Hood

MSDS - SectionsMSDS - Sections

9) First Aid Measures

Provides the necessary information for the immediate treatment of a person experiencing acute effects from inhalation, ingestion, eye contact or skin contact with a hazardous substance.

Exempted MaterialsExempted MaterialsThere are materials that are not covered by WHMIS because they are covered by other legislation.

These materials are:• Manufactured Materials• Tobacco Products• Wood Products• Consumer Products- Consumer Products Act• Explosives – Explosives Act• Food & Drugs – Food and Drug Act• Pesticides – Pesticide Control Act• Radioactive Materials – CNSC Act• Hazardous Wastes

Trade SecretsTrade Secrets

The Hazardous Materials Information Review Act• Allows companies to protect valuable

information regarding their products. • A company must file a claim and receive a

registry number. • This information is only given to a health

professional.

TrainingTrainingAn employer shall ensure that a worker who works with or in the proximity to a controlled product is informed about all the hazard information and other information concerning the safe use, storage and handling of hazardous materials.

This training can come in 2 forms, generic and specific.

– Generic Training• WHMIS training includes:

– Labels– MSDS

– Specific Training• Site specific

– Supervisor