WHMIS Review

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WHMIS Review
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What is WHMIS?

• Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
• Provides information on the safe use, storage and
  handling of dangerous materials used in the
  workplace.
• WHMIS sorts chemicals into classes or groups that
  have similar hazards
• Products that have been classified by WHMIS are
  called controlled products.

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3 Parts of WHMIS that Workers need to know

• 1) Warning Labels
• WHMIS labels contain the hazard classes and
  symbols for the product in the container, as well
  as precautions that need to be taken.
• 2) Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• Provide more detailed and specific information
  regarding the product.
• 3) Worker Training
• To ensure that all workers are aware of the safe
  use of hazardous chemicals.

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Classifications

• Class A Compressed Gas
• The gas is under pressure so the container is at
  risk for exploding
• Class B Flammable or Combustible
• This material will burn easily and can burn at
  low temperatures
• Class C Oxidizing Materials
• This contains materials that cause a fire to burn
  more quickly

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Classification

• Class D contains chemicals that pose the greatest
  risk to health.

• Division 1 Materials that contain a fatal
  poison.
• Division 2 Materials causing other toxic effects
  but are usually not as severe as those in
  Division 1.
• Division 3 Biohazardous Infectious Material

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Classification

• Class E Corrosive Material
• Can cause severe eye and skin irritation
• Class F Dangerously Reactive Material
• Materials that are unstable and can react very
  easily
• These materials may react violently with water

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How Do Hazardous Materials Get Into the Body?

• Inhalation
• Fumes or particles are breathed in
• Absorption
• Chemicals can be absorbed by the skin and enter
  the body
• Ingestion
• Chemicals enter the body through the stomach

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Personal Protective Equipment(PPE) Handwashing

• Equipment such as masks gloves, can be used to
  help decrease the danger of using certain
  products.
• The type of PPE used will depend on the specific
  product you are using.
• Proper handwashing is also helpful in hazard
  control
• Workers should not eat or smoke in areas where
  controlled products are kept or used.

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Look for the WHMIS Label

• The WHMIS label should be found on the package of
  the product.
• It contains information such as
• WHMIS symbols
• First aid
• Precautions to stay safe

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Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

• These sheets provide information about correct
  handling hazards of using a product.
• A workplace should have an MSDS sheet for every
  chemical used in their area.
• MSDS sheets can also be found online for easy
  access
• There are 9 common sections that are found on
  MSDS sheets.

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What is on an MSDS Sheet?

• 1) Product Information
• Name of the product
• Its uses
• The suppliers name, address emergency phone
  number
• 2) Hazardous Ingredients
• A list of the dangerous ingredients how much is
  in the product
• 3) Physical Data
• Lists the physical and chemical properties of the
  chemical
• Explains how the product reacts under certain
  conditions
• 4) Fire Explosion Data
• Describes the temperature and conditions that can
  cause the chemical to ignite.

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What is on an MSDS Sheet?

• 5) Reactivity Data
• Explains which products should be stored
  separately
• 6) Toxicological Properties/Health Hazard Data
• Explains how the product can enter the body and
  the symptoms that occur when it does
• 7) Preventative Measures
• Things that you can do to ensure the safe use of
  this material

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What is on an MSDS Sheet?

• 8) First Aid Measures
• What to do if something goes wrong
• 9) Preparation of MSDS
• Describe who made up the MSDS sheet
• Gives contact information if more information is
  needed

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An Example of what an MSDS Sheet looks like.
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Resources

• Presentation compiled by Lea Park, Dietetic
  Intern 2007 from
• Saskatoon Health Region Occupational Health and
  Safety. Workplace Hazardous Materials Information
  System (WHMIS) Self Learning Package.
  http//infonet.sktnhr.ca/OHS/Self-LearningModules.
  htm
• http//www.safetyoffice.uwaterloo.ca/whmis/hazard_
  symbols.html
• Graphics from the following websites
• http//flightphysical.com/images/lungs.jpg
• http//www.lockhartpower.com/images/safety2.gif
• http//www.wellsmfgcorp.com/img/IMG-MSDS_180.jpg
• http//www.safetyworld.com/images/1113poster.gif
• http//www.nist.gov/public_affairs/images/05BFRL00
  2_FireWhirl_HR.jpg
• http//www.kpelpida.gr/images/cartoon.gif
• http//www.fishdoc.co.uk/images/first_aid.gif
• http//www.agisolutions.com/HardHatSafetyImages/Sa
  fetySafeWorker.jpg
• http//www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/826/9000
  8290.JPG
• http//www.creativeartistryfx.com/images/fx/chemic
  alburn.jpg
• http//images.google.ca/imgres?imgurlhttp//www.g
  orillapvc.com/msds2.gifimgrefurlhttp//www.goril
  lapvc.com/msds.htmlh839w536sz22hlenstart
  2um1tbnid0VHUeA5wh5qPwMtbnh144tbnw92prev
  /images3Fq3DMSDS2Bdata2Bsheet26svnum3D1026
  um3D126hl3Den