Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

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Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
WHMIS Update
Safety Is No Accident
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Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
(WHMIS)

• Developed jointly by labour, industry, federal,
  provincial and territorial governments
• A Canada-wide system designed to give employers
  and workers information about hazardous materials
  in the workplace
• In effect October 31, 1988
• Applies to hazardous materials known as
  controlled products (Class A, B, C, D, E and F)

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WHMIS Regulation, Ontario Reg. 644/88

• Sets out in detail employer duties respecting
• labels,
• material safety data sheets and,
• worker education
• (all other provinces and territories based their
  WHMIS on same model to promote consistency across
  Canada)

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Exemptions from WHMIS

• The provincial WHMIS legislation does not apply
  to federal workplaces such as banks, post offices
  and airports. Canada Labour Code and Canada
  Occupational Safety and Health Regulations
  implement WHMIS in federal workplaces
• Products under the Federal Acts
• Pest Control Products Act
• Food and Drugs Act
• Canadian Nuclear Safety Commissions Act
• Explosives Act

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Other Exemptions

• Wood or wood products
• Tobacco or tobacco products
• A manufactured article
• Restricted products when packaged as consumer
  products
• Hazardous wastes transported under TDG Act

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Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
(WHMIS) O.Reg. 860

• Purpose
• To provide information on hazardous materials
  used in the workplace
• To facilitate the process of hazard
  identification in the workplace
• To ensure consistency of hazard information in
  all Canadian workplaces

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Responsibilities Hazardous, or Controlled
Materials

• Employer
• Workplace inventory (in consultation with JHSC)
• Assessment on Designated Substances
• Workplace labels
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• Worker education (in consultation with JHSC)

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Responsibilities Hazardous Materials (contd)

• Worker
• Participate in Training
• Apply knowledge
• Recognize and report hazards to the supervisor

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3 Main Components of WHMIS

• Labeling Requirements
• Supplier WHMIS label
• Workplace Label
• MSDS
• Material Safety Data Sheets
• Training
• Employer
• Worker

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Symbols

• Class A
• Compressed Gas
• Any material which is a gas at normal temperature
  (20 degrees) and pressure, but is packaged as
  pressurized gas, dissolved gas or gas liquified
  by compression or refrigeration. E.g. oxygen,
  chlorine, acetylene, etc

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Symbols

• Class B
• Flammable Combustible Material
• Will ignite and continued to burn in air if
  exposed to a source of ignition.
• Gas, aerosol, liquid, solid
• E.g. methane, acetone, etc.

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Symbols

• Class C
• Oxidizing Material
• May or may not burn but will release oxygen
  contributing to the combustion of other material
• E.g. ozone, chlorine, nitrogen dioxide, etc.

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Symbols

• Class D Poisonous Infectious Material
• Materials Causing Immediate
• Serious Toxic Effects
• E.g. styrene, hydrogen cyanide
• Materials Causing Other Toxic
• Effects (carcinogen, irritant,
• sensitizer) E.g. ammonia, asbestos
• Bio-hazardous Infectious Material a
  biohazard can be either a living organism
  or the chemical toxin that it produces
  that
• cause disease in humans
• E.g. Hepatits B

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Symbols

• Class E
• Corrosive Material
• Can attack metals or cause permanent damage to
  human tissues
• May weaken structural containers
• E.g. ammonia, fluorine
• Class F
• Dangerously Reactive Material
• May react violently under conditions of shock or
  increases in temperature or pressure
• May react with water to create toxic gas
• E.g. ozone, benzoyl peroxide

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Supplier Labels

• Eight (8) pieces of information in English
  French
• a. Product Identifier (common/chemical name)
• b. Hazard Symbol(s)
• c. Risk Phrase(s)
• d. First Aid Measures
• e. Supplier Identifier (name, address, etc.)
• f. Reference to MSDS
• g. Precautionary Measures
• h. Border must be distinctive different from
  background of container

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Supplier Label
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Workplace LabelsAvailable in Scientific Store in
ABB No Charge

• Date received/Produced _________________
• Material ______________________________
• _____________________________________
• Use Safety Glasses ___ Use Gloves __ Use only in
  fumehood __
• Additional Precautions ___________________________
  ______
• __________________________________________________
  __
• First Aid ________________________________________
  ____
• See MSDS before use
• Researcher/Producer ____________________
• ______________________________________

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MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS)

• Nine or more categories of information (MSDS
  handout)
• Product Identification and Use
• The product identifier, use, manufacturers
  name, address, and the PIN number (product
  identification number).
• Hazardous Ingredients
• CAS or chemical abstract services, LD50 is
  lethal dosage which is commonly used for solids
  and liquids and is the weight of a substance
  which, if given all at once, is expected to cause
  the death of 50 of a test animal population,
  LC50 is lethal concentration, refers to the
  quantity of gases or vapours and is the
  concentration of a substance in air which
  administered over a specified period, is expected
  to cause the death of 50 of a test animal
  population.

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MSDS (contd)

• Physical Data
• State of the product - gas, solid, liquid,
  indicates how the substance may enter the body
  (inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion), the
  appearance, colour, odour threshold, vapour
  pressure, vapour density, evaporation rate,
  boiling point, freezing point pH, specific
  gravity, coefficient of water/oil distribution.
• Fire and Explosion Data
• Conditions under which material may be flammable
  (ignite and burn readily), means of extinction,
  explosion data (explode as a result of being
  dropped or subjected to impact), sensitivity to
  static discharge, safe handling methods, flash
  point, auto ignition temperature, Upper Explosive
  Limit/Lower Explosive Limit.

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MSDS (contd)

• Reactivity Data
• Conditions under which the product is chemically
  unstable such as heat, burning sunlight name of
  any substance or class of substance with which
  the product is incompatible decomposition.

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MSDS (contd)

• Toxic Properties
• Explains the health effects which may result
  from over exposure, route of entry into the body,
  inhalation, absorption, ingestion,
  puncture/injection, acute or chronic, TLV or
  TWAEV Time Weighted Average Exposure Value, Short
  Term Exposure Value, Ceiling, evidence of
  carcinogen, sensitizing capabilities.
• Preventative Measures
• How to avoid potential hazards associated with
  exposure to the material, - controls, equipment
  and procedures (i.e. type of eye
  protection/hand/face), waste disposal, handling
  and storage procedures, shipping information.

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MSDS (contd.)

• First Aid Measures
• Provides information on safe evacuation
  procedures and the immediate treatment of persons
  overexposed to the material.
• Preparation Data of MSDS
• Who prepared the MSDS, telephone number and date
  of MSDS. MSDS remain valid for 3 years from the
  date shown, unless new information becomes
  available before then, at which point the
  supplier must update the MSDS within 90 days.

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MSDS Availability

• Legally the supplier must provide label and MSDS
• Binders in your work area (must be updated every
  three years or prior if new MSDS available)
• EOHSS, WH-115, ext. 24352
• Faculty of Health Science Safety Office HSC-3N1C
  ext 24956
• Websites
• www.workingatmcmaster.ca/eohss
• http//ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca
• MSDS must be readily accessible by law
• Ask how your lab/studio/work area complies

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Training Requirements

• Safety orientation
• Refer to safety training matrix found at
• www.workingatmcmaster.ca/workwell
• Additional training courses may be required as
  directed by your Dean
• Specific training on the hazards in your work
  area conducted by your supervisor

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Risk Management Manual

• Our policy and programs
• www.workingatmcmaster.ca/eohss
• Health Safety Program, Persons Working Alone
  Program, Lab Safety Program, Machine Shop
  Program, Ergonomic Program, Hazardous Waste
  Management Program, Bio Safety Program, Laser
  Safety Program, Field Trips Electives Planning
  and Approval Program, Fire Safety Program, etc.
• Approved by Senior Management

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Questions?

• Contact us on campus at ext. 24352 or in the
  Faculty of Health Sciences at ext 24956
• Visit us at Wentworth House room 115 or in the
  Faculty of Health Sciences at 3N1C
• www.workingatmcmaster.ca/eohss
• Safety Is No Accident