&
Workplace
SAFETY
KNOW AND IDENTIFY
Workplace Hazardous
Materials Information System
Symbols for products used
in Workplaces
WHAT INFORMATION DOES
WHMIS PROVIDE?
WHMIS provides information through:
LABELS on containers of controlled products
MSDS for each controlled product
EDUCATION on how WHMIS works and responsibilities
What is WHMIS ?
The Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System (WHMIS) is
Canada's hazard communication
standard.
What are the main parts of
WHMIS?
The main components of WHMIS are:

Labeling - hazard identification and product
classification

material safety data sheets, and

worker training and education.
Workers Legal Rights
Right to Know
Right to Participate
Right to Refuse Unsafe Work
Why was WHMIS created?
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.
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.
What are controlled products?
Controlled products is the name given to
products, materials, and substances that
are regulated by WHMIS legislation.
All controlled products have levels of
danger designated by border shapes
All controlled products fall into one or
more of six WHMIS classes.
The level of danger
 Like street signs have shapes to
indicate the level of threat, so too do
the WHMIS symbols.
A Red Octagon
 This symbol is the
strongest warning level, it
means DANGER.
 Just like a stop sign, its’ purpose is
to provide a strong warning about
the contents.
The Orange Diamond
 This symbol is a moderate
message of the danger level,
it means WARNING.
 While less serious than DANGER, this
can still cause serious injury or harm
depending on the product.
The Yellow Triangle
 This is the lowest of the
three threat levels,
CAUTION.
 However, anything with a WHMIS
label is dangerous or toxic in some
way, and must always be handled
with care.
The 6 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
COMPRESSED GAS
Class A
A compressed gas is a gas at room temperature 20 oC
and pressure, packaged as a pressurized gas by
compression or refrigeration and is usually quite heavy.
The potential hazard of compressed gases occurs when
sudden rupturing of the container causes it to become a
dangerous projectile.
Includes such things such as Propane and Acetylene
bottles, as well as Oxygen tanks.
FLAMMABLE
Class B
Flammable or combustible materials will ignite
and continue to burn if exposed to a flame or
source of ignition.
Flammable materials will burn easily at or about room temperature
(Flash point 38 degrees C or below)
Combustible material will burn when heated
Oil and Gasoline are examples of flammable materials.
Materials are classified as
Flammable Gases: -propane and hydrogen.
Flammable Liquids: - gasoline and BBQ starter fluid
Combustible Liquids: - paint thinner and diesel fuel
Flammable Aerosols: - hair spray, engine starter fluid and
penetrating oil
Reactive Flammable Materials: - celluloid and metallic
sodium
Combustible Solids: - Wood and paper.
OXIDIZING
Oxidizing material may or may not burn itself, but will
release oxygen or another oxidizing substance,
and thereby causes or contributes to the combustion of
another material.
Oxidizing material has to be stored in special containers
and must be transported with extreme care.
Ozone, Chlorine, and Nitrogen Dioxide are oxidizing
materials which support a fire and are highly reactive.
POISONOUS
Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects
Class D-1
This symbol is the most common found symbol in homes
It is found on materials that are toxic when ingested
These materials may be classified as toxic or very toxic
based on information such as LD50
Bleach, Mr. Clean, Tide, Cyanide and rat poisoning are
very toxic. Most household chemicals and cleaners
contain this symbol
TOXIC
Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects
Class D-2
A pure substance or mixture that may be
any one of the following: a carcinogen, a teratogen,
a reproductive toxin, a respiratory tract sensitizer,
an irritant or a chronic toxic hazard.
Chemicals that fit into this category cause slower effects
to the body.
Asbestos, Arsenic and Nicotine are toxic substances.
BIOHAZARDOUS
This classification includes any organisms and the toxins
produced by these organisms that have been shown to
cause disease, or are believed to cause disease in either
humans or animals. These hazards are often found in
hospitals and on products and materials that are harmful,
such as viruses or bacteria
Blood sample containing the Hepatitis B Virus
is a biohazardous infectious material because
it may cause hepatitis in people exposed to it
Ebola and Flesh-eating disease are also biohazardous
CORROSIVE
This symbol is the 2nd most common symbol found in
homes across North America. It is found on products
which corrode (eat away) metals or cause permanent
damage to human tissues such as the skin and eyes on
contact by burning, scarring or blinding.
Corrosive materials may also cause metal containers
or structural materials to become weak, leak or collapse.
Bleach, Battery Acid, Ammonia and Hydrochloric Acid
are examples.
DANGEROUSLY
REACTIVE
Certain chemicals when mixed, undergo vigorous reactions
and can produce harmful side effects.
They may react violently under conditions of shock,
or when there is an increase in pressure or temperature.
They may also react vigorously with water to release
a toxic gas.
Chemicals that should not be mixed are bleach,
drain cleaner, and ammonia because, when combined,
they form a toxic gas.
Labeling controlled products
Under WHMIS regulations most controlled
products must be labeled.
Supplier labels and workplace labels are the only
two types used in WHMIS.
All WHMIS labels have to be clear, easy to read
and prominently displayed on the product
container.
Supplier labels
 Display these seven
pieces of information:
material identification number or
product name - this is a
designation or identification of a
material,
supplier's name and address,
reference to the material safety
data sheet (MSDS) for more
information,
WHMIS hazard symbols for each
of the classes to which the
product belongs,
main hazards of the
product including risk
phrases appropriate to the
class of material,
precautionary measures,
first aid measures.
Both French & English
Workplace labels
This label does not need as much
information as the supplier label:
material identifier or product name,
reference to a material safety data sheet
(MSDS) for further information,
information on how to use the product
safely.
Language of workplace
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
WHMIS MSDSs have nine categories of
information:
Section 1 - Product Information:
including identification and use
Section 2 - Hazardous Ingredients: listing of
ingredients considered hazardous as well as each
ingredient's concentration, etc.
Section 3 - Physical Information: form, odor,
appearance, pH, etc.
Section 4 - Fire or Explosion Hazard: conditions
of flammability, flash point, etc.
MSDS
Section 5 - Reactivity Information: conditions of instability,
reactivity, decomposition, etc.
Section 6 - Health Hazard Information: route of entry, effects of
exposure, exposure limits, etc.
Section 7 - Preventive Measures: personal protective equipment,
waste disposal, storage, etc.
Section 8 - First Aid Measures
Section 9 - Preparation Information and Update: person who
wrote MSDS, date of preparation
NOTE: MSDS sheets must be updated at least every
three years
WHMIS is Law
WHMIS became law effective October 31, 1988.
This applies to all of Canada.
WHMIS legislation includes:
the HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS ACT and
the HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INFORMATION REVIEW ACT.
In Newfoundland:
Occupation Health and Safety Act
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations
What are our duties under
WHMIS?
According to the Hazardous Products Act
the following groups have specified
responsibilities.
Suppliers,
Employers and
Workers
A Suppliers duty...
Canadian suppliers are those who sell or
import products.
When this product is considered a
"controlled product" according to the
WHMIS legislation, a supplier must:
label the product or container,
must provide a material safety data sheet
(MSDS) to their customers.
An Employers duty...
Employers are required to establish education
and training programs for workers exposed to
hazardous products in the workplace.
Employers must:
make sure that the products are labeled,
that an MSDS is present for each product and that
they are readily available to workers,
Workers are trained in WHMIS
A Workers duty...
Workers are required to:
participate in WHMIS training programs and
to use this information to help them work
safely with hazardous materials.
They may also inform employers when
labels on containers have been
accidentally removed or if the label is no
longer readable.
Hazardous Household
Product Symbols (HHPS)
 Designed for use on household products
 Indicates to what degree and why a
product is dangerous
&
Workplace
SAFETY
The END