Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is Canada's hazard communication standard.

WHMIS is conveyed in 3 ways: -product labeling, -material safety data sheets MSDS -worker training and education

WHMIS Product Labels

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

MSDS (right half)

MSDS

It was created in response to the Canadian workers' right to know about the safety and health hazards that may be associated with the materials or chemicals they use at work.

Hazardous Products and Workplace Safety While going about her normal cleaning duties one day, a school custodian unintentionally mixed two cleaning solvents. Soon, irritating fumes of toxic chlorine gas filled the room, making it difficult for her to breathe. She was rushed to hospital, where she died later that evening. This tragic accident prompted an investigation. School board officials asked whether any other products used in schools were hazardous. One of the first places they looked for this information was the WHMIS information for each product.

Exposure to hazardous materials can cause or contribute to many serious health effects such as effects on the nervous system, kidney or lung damage, sterility, cancer, burns and rashes.

Some hazardous materials are safety hazards and can cause fires or explosions. WHMIS was created to help stop the injuries, illnesses, deaths, medical costs, and fires caused by hazardous materials.

Controlled products is the name given to products, materials, and substances that are regulated by WHMIS legislation. All controlled products fall into one or more of six WHMIS classes.

1.Class A: Compressed gas 2. Class B: Flammable and Combustible material 3.Class C: Oxidizing material

4. Class D: Poisonous and Infectious materials * Division 1 (D1) - Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects * Division 2 (D2) - Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects * Division 3 (D3) - Biohazardous Infectious Material

5. Class E: Corrosive material 6.Class F: Dangerously reactive material

Household Hazardous Safety

* WHMIS Video WHMIS Video

Which bleach is best? * Accidents like the one mentioned cause science teachers to question whether it is safe to use chlorine bleach in the science lab. * Storing chlorine bleach in your school’s chemical storage room is dangerous because the room also contains many chemicals that could react with it. * Is an oxygen-based bleach, such as hydrogen peroxide, a safer alternative?

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