Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Chapter 3.1

Objective of Program An increased awareness of the hazards associated with workplace materials An understanding of the meaning of WHMIS symbols The ability to identify controlled products by reading WHMIS Supplier Labels and Workplace Labels The ability to read & understand MSDS’s (Material Safety Data Sheets)

Objective of Program An increased awareness of the proper handling and storage of workplace materials An increased understanding of how to handle emergencies connected with workplace materials.

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

Who Has a Role? Suppliers; for disclosure of contents and proper labeling of materials Employers; to provide safe handling of hazardous materials Workers; to use the system to ensure their own safety and the safety of others on the job.

Three Main Parts 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? The dangers of hazardous materials can come from;  Explosion  Fire  Skin contact  Breathing-in  Swallowing  Ingesting

How Bad are the Hazards? How bad the hazards are usually depend 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? 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 Requirements Employers are required to provide workers 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 Responsibility List all hazardous materials on site Make sure all materials are labeled Provide information (easy access to info. On each hazardous material on site) Develop procedures (for handling, storage & disposal) Train workers (WHMIS, MSDS’s …)

Workers Responsibility While each worker has a right to know, 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 Responsibility To provide labels & hazard information on the MSDS”s

Overall Responsibilities

Two Main Types of Labels Two main types of labels included in 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 Label The following information must be contained on a Supplier Label: (label can be identified by its distinctive 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 Label

The Workplace Label These labels are provided by your 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

The Workplace Label

Controlled Product The WHMIS process begins with the classification of products by their manufacturers or importers to find out if they are controlled or not. A controlled product is one that meets the criteria of one or more of the six hazard classes, divisions, or subdivisions.

Hazard Symbols Class A: Compressed Gas This class includes compressed gases, dissolved gases and gases liquefied by compression or refrigeration (ex. Acetylene & oxygen) Heat may cause explosion, do not drop, handle with care

Hazard Symbols Class B Flammable & Combustible Solids, liquids & gases capable of catching fire May burst into flames spontaneously, keep away from heat sources, sparks, never smoke around, store in cool, fire- proof area

Hazard Symbols Class C: Oxidizing Material Materials which provide oxygen or similar substances and which increase the risk of fire if they come into contact with flammable or combustible materials May burn skin or eyes, protective equipment required, eyes, hands, clothing Examples include sodium hypochlorite

Hazard Symbols Class D Division 1 Poisonous & Infectious Material: Immediate & serious toxic effects This division covers material that can cause death with exposures to small amounts (ex. Sodium cyanide, hydrogen sulphide) May burn skin or eyes, handle with extreme caution, avoid inhaling, wash & shower after using Potentially fatal poisonous substance

Hazard Symbols Class D, Division 2 Poisonous & Infectious Material: Other toxic effects Poisonous but not immediately dangerous to health. May cause immediate eye or skin irritation as well as long term affects to prolonged exposure (ex. acetone, asbestos..) May cause cancer, avoid inhaling, eye/skin contact, & store in designated areas.

Hazard Symbols Class D, Division 3 Poisonous & Infectious Material: Bio-Hazardous Infectious Material Applies to materials which contain harmful micro organisms (ex. Salmonella bacteria, hepatitis B virus May cause illness or death. Take every measure to avoid contamination. Handle material only when fully protected. Store in designated areas.

Hazard Symbols Class E Corrosive Material Acid or caustic materials which can destroy the skin or eat through metals (ex. lye, hydrocholoric acid) May be harmful if inhaled, keep containers tightly closed Avoid skin & eye contact May require respiratory equipment

Hazard Symbols Class F: Dangerously Reactive Material Product can undergo dangerous reaction if subjected to heat, pressure, shock or allowed to come into contact with water (ex. Butadiene, & some cyanide) Material is very unstable, open container carefully, do not drop.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) The MSDS is an important technical document containing detailed information about the potential hazards of a product, safe handling instructions, and emergency procedures There must be one MSDS for every hazardous material on site. Must be made available by the supplier to the employer/employee who are exposed to the product

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) 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

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Product Information: 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.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Physical 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

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Reactivity Data: 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

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Preventive 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

Material Safety Data Sheets (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 Body Most chemical substances are only harmful if taken into 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

Routes of Entry Into the Body Respiratory System: 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

Routes of Entry Into the Body Digestive System: 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

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Chapter 3.1