2014 County of Simcoe WHMIS presentation

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


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


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


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


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

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 documentprepared by the supplier or manufacturer of the materialthat contains information on the potential hazards(health, fire, reactivity and environmental) and how towork safely with the chemical product.

What is a MSDS?

A MSDS also containsinformation on the use,storage, handling andemergency procedures allrelated to the hazards ofthe material.

MSDS

A MSDS should be consulted before using a controlledproduct and occasionally to review hazard andprecautionary 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, and

9. 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.


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.


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.


Refer to the appropriate MSDS to find out what

personal protective equipment is required to handle the

chemical safely.


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.


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Government & Nonprofit

2014 County of Simcoe WHMIS presentation