WHMIS Your right to know!! Unit 2: WHMIS and Your Health

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System “An Information System designed to advise you on the Hazardous Materials you may encounter in your Workplace” WHMIS and your Health

Workplace Hazards What and Why? Knowledge of Health Risks and possible Health Related Outcomes of Exposure to Hazardous Material

Occupational (Workplace) Health SOLID LIQUID GASGAS Properties of Hazardous Materials Fume DustDust SmokeSmoke MistMist Vapour

Tiny particles of solids suspended in the air Tiny particles of liquid suspended in the air Gaseous material that is normally a liquid at room temperature SOLID LIQUID GASGAS MistMist Vapour Definitions of Hazardous Materials Fume Dust SmokeSmoke

Routes of Entry... Inhalation : Most common route of entry (i.e. Organic vapours causing central nervous system damage) Ingestio n : Swallowed (i.e. lead dust) Injection: Accidental cut or force (compressed air…) (i.e. Blood/ Body Fluids - HIV, Hepatitis C) Absorption: Through skin or open wounds (i.e. Formaldehyde- contact dermatitis

Target organs along the routes of exit... Complex chemical reactions in body organs can severely damage these organs and their functions!

Target organs along the routes of exit... Liver: Complex chemical reactions in the liver break down unwanted and often harmful substances Kidneys: Kidneys act as a filter for blood, separating and removing unwanted and harmful substances from the blood Bladder: harmful and unwanted substances filtered out by the kidneys flow into the bladder for excretion from the body. Harmful substances may damage the bladder as well as the kidneys.

Toxicity: The ability of a substance to produce an undesired, harmful effect to the body Hazard: A potential danger Glossary of Important Terms

The Body and Health Affects….. Acute Effect: Chronic Effect: Latency Period: Immediate harmful effect Harmful effect happening over a longer period of time The period of time between exposure and onset of harmful effect

Definitions... Carcinogen: A substance or physical agent that can cause cancer in humans. e.g. - Asbestos Mutagen: A substance or physical agent that can cause changes in one or more heredity features by modifying genes. e.g. - Ionizing radiation Teratogen: A substance capable of causing changes to the developing fetus. e.g. Thalidomide

Controlling Hazards... The preferred method of control is: At the source elimination substitution isolation

Controlling Hazards... Along the path ventilation barriers housekeeping

Controlling Hazards... The least desired method of control is: at the Worker Personal Protective Equipment Work Practices Training

Controlling Hazards.... At the source... Along the path … At the worker… * Least Desirable Option … substitute … personal protection engineering control … …..ventilation

Controlling Hazards... Examples of some Personal Protective Equipment symbols