WHMIS — Information for Wor kers
Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Supplier labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Work site labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) . . . . 7
Preventive Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
First Aid Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
. . . . . . . . 14
Worker education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
1
Introduction
The letters W-H-M-I-S stand for “Workplace
! " # (1)
(2)
(3)
$
Labels
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
Worker Education
% # &
WHMIS hazard classes.
' & * + % ,
/0 45
* + of its divisions.
2
WHMIS HAZARD CLASSES
A
COMPRESSED GAS
B
FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE
MATERIAL
C
OXIDIZING MATERIAL
D
POISONOUS AND INFECTIOUS
MATERIAL
1. MATERIALS CAUSING IMMEDIATE
AND SERIOUS TOXIC EFFECTS
2. MATERIALS CAUSING OTHER TOXIC EFFECTS
3. BIOHAZARDOUS INFECTIOUS MATERIAL
E
CORROSIVE MATERIAL
F
DANGEROUSLY REACTIVE
MATERIAL
0 9 :
# 3
Labels
# ! " !" Supplier labels
Supplier labels appear on controlled products
/
0 9 <; $ ! safely. Supplier labels have distinctive
9 = " Supplier labels contain 7 pieces of
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9 $ 9
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" + ] !" $ 9 !" Work site labels
Work site labels appear on controlled products
$ @
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/ 0 9 ?; " used to replace supplier labels that have been
9
Work site labels are less detailed than supplier
labels and only require three pieces of
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/<; ! > (3) reference to the MSDS for further
6
TOLU-SOLV
All Purpose Cleaner
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` ! " g j 9 $ 999 9 $ , 0 9 ? +* !" ! 9 !" # &
^ in pipes, reaction vessels, ore cars
^ on conveyor belts
^
= $ ^ !" !" 9 ! ! Material Safety Data sheets (MSDSs)
"! 9 @
7
, # $ @ ! $ $*
, $ 9 ! ! ,
$ 9 $ #
" , ! 0 9 J
! 9 9
% , ! $ , $ ,
for each controlled product it produces.
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" ! !" $
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"! ! @ " " $ , , # " !" ! ! 9 8
, $ " " 9 ! # ] , ] 9 $
9
# , 9 ! , , ! # ! 9 the product if you need it. The preparation date
, $ years old.
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(1) the most hazardous controlled product
ingredients " \: (2) other less hazardous controlled product
ingredients "
: (3) ingredients that are included on the
Ingredient Disclosure List (IDL) and that are
9
:\
11
present in the product at concentrations
9 = ,w # ,w , + has a special cut-off concentration. The
@
MSDS if it is present in the product at a
9 =
(4) ingredients that have not been tested for
their toxic properties.
(5) ingredients that the author of the MSDS
considers to be hazardous even if the
9 conditions.
Preventive Measures
The MSDS section of the WHMIS MSDS,
x$ $ $ !" ! 9 $ the Preventive Measures section of all MSDSs.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) the
9 ] !" 9
! $
* xx+ 12
] $ 999 9 $ #
* 9 $ * '$ 9 $ '9 $ 9 Engineering controls 9 9 ! !" * +* enclosure of processes to prevent the release of
* $ $ /; 9 Spill/leak procedures these procedures describe
the steps to be taken in the event of a spill or leak
of the controlled product.
Waste disposal describes effective and
$ ! ! that contains the controlled product.
Handling procedures/equipment describes the
! ! 9
] 9 9
Storage requirements $ 9 $ ' 13
g 9
$ 9
Shipping information $ 9 $ ' g $ 9
9
First Aid Measures
The MSDS section about First Aid Measures
9 $ " &
^ 9 !"@ " ^
!" $* 9 9 9 , =
* % , * g
in the Glossary of this Safety Bulletin.
$ , 14
! &
^ 9 ^ * 9 ! 9 { ! ! # !
, &
^
9 |$ ! (HMIRC)
^ ! | ! ! #
| $ ! , " included.
$ ! Worker education
WHMIS requires controlled products to be
, $ # 15
" + !" !" ! # * 9 $ !" 9
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! $ $ 9
+ ] $ !"
education for WHMIS.
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and disposal of the controlled products that
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controlled products.
16
The information taught in a WHMIS worker
education program is important because it helps
workers protect their health and safety at work.
If you’re a worker, don’t be surprised if you’re
given some kind of test after the training is over.
understood all the things you were taught or if you
need further training.
For more information:
http:\\industry.alberta.ca/documents/whs/whs-pubch008
WHMIS Information for Employers*
http:\\industry.alberta.ca/documents/whs/whs-pubch006
Check the Signs (poster)*
*Paper copies are available by calling the
Occupational Health and Safety Contact Centre at
Edmonton: (780) 415-8690
Other locations: 1-866-415-8690
17
Glossary
Acute exposure 9 * *
$ Autoignition temperature !
! 9 !
" g Boiling point $ ! „ 9 $ $ $ 9 Carcinogenicity
cancer.
@
CAS Registry Number % $ |9 # ]
! 9 Chronic exposure * !
$ *
Corrosivity % $ $ 9 18
/ ; " % $ * 9 9 : ! $ 9 ! 9 @ ! ! % $ 9 : $ ! # Values less than 1 indicate that the product is
# absorbed by the skin.
Evaporation rate ! ] " $ ! /†
acetate has an evaporation rate of 1.)
! 9 $ 9 the air very quickly.
Explosion data (sensitivity to impact) describes
" ! * !
} Explosion data (sensitivity to static discharge)
" !
19
* ! ! electricity.
Exposure limits are the concentrations of
* !" +* $ $ $ } % ƒ +* w (OELs).
Flammability conditions are the situations in
! Flash point ! ! 9 $ 9 $ ! * 9 g " # ! g 9 #
g = $ ! Freezing point ! ! ] Hazardous combustion products !
<\
Hazardous decomposition products 9
9 9 ! *9 Incompatible substances those substances
! ! ! * $ * $
* Instability conditions ! = $ # 9 $ } 9
9 Irritancy ability of a product to cause local
! such as the throat, eyes or skin. Effects could
9 ! 9
LC50 (Lethal Concentration, sub 50) refers to the
airborne concentration of a substance that kills
K\ @
9 ! is inhaled. These tests are usually conducted
over a 4-hour period. The LCK\ is usually
* 21
/; 9 9 /93) for
LD50 (Lethal Dose, sub 50) 9 " K\ @
9 ! ! !
9 " # w,K\ for a
$ 9 ! w,K\ value. The LDK\ is
* 9 " 9 = ! 9 /9"9;
limit (LFL) ! !
* ! 9 % ! w+w * ' * Means of extinction includes both the type of
* 9 $ $ 9 9 9
9 9 9 }
22
Melting point $ ! ] Mutagenicity @
9 9 *
$ /
$ 9 ; * @ / ; ! ! *
Odour threshold ! pH @ " % [ ! 9 [ " / ;
% " ! [ % Physical state ! ] 9 PIN x 23
! " 9 9 x # , 9 ‡ /#,‡;
" ! ! 9 9
Reactivity conditions ! ! ! contact. Reactivity conditions include the
9 $ 9 9 of a substance that prevents a reaction (an
inhibitor).
Reproductive toxicity @
* # 9 $ 9
Route of entry ! # !" 9 / ; 9 " ! " 9 # burn or rash on the surface of the skin or eye and
never enter the body.
24
Sensitization @
@ * #
" =
" $ $
severe.
! @
! 9 ! 9 ] $ ! ! 9 $ 9 : $ ! " ! * ! 9 $ : 9 ! g ! Synergistic product ! 9 9 $ ! Teratogenicity @
9 $ ! $ 9 9 ! " " " limit (UFL) 9 !
* 9 % 25
9 j+w * ' * Vapour density ! 9 $ ! 9 ] $ ! $ 9 :
' " != 9 g " * * !" 9 ! / @ ; * 9 $ * Vapour pressure indicates the likelihood of a
$ ! 9 $ $ $ # $ be a hazard, especially if the vapours are
g * !
space.
26
27
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29
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Getting copies of OHS Act,
Regulation and Code:
Queen’s Printer
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Occupational Health and Safety
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Contact us:
Province-Wide Contact Centre
Other locations
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Web Site
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