Overview of the
Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System (WHMIS)
Catherine Drum, BASc (OHS), CRSP
Environmental Health & Safety Officer
Ryerson University -- Wisdom Applied
2010
www.ryerson.ca/cehsm
1
Topics
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Overview
Responsibilities under WHMIS (slide 11)
WHMIS Classes & Symbols (slide 16)
Supplier Label (slide 33)
Workplace Label (slide 39)
Material Safety Data Sheets (slide 48)
2
Topics continued…
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WHMIS and the Transportation of Dangerous
Goods (TDG) – A Comparison (slide 68)
Chemical Hazards (slide 77)
Health Effects of Toxic Substances (slide 82)
Protective Measures (slide 106)
WHMIS in Laboratories (slide 134)
WHMIS at Ryerson (slide 144)
Summary (slide 151)
3
Overview
What is WHMIS?
Purpose of WHMIS
What’s NOT Covered?
Main Parts of WHMIS
4
Introduction -- Workplace Hazards
What is an occupational health hazard?
 What is a risk and how is it different from
hazard?
 How should workplace health and safety
hazards be dealt with?
 Are there Ontario laws requiring the control
of exposure to specific workplace hazards?

5
Introduction

What is WHMIS?
 Workplace Hazardous Materials Information
System
 Canada-wide legislation
 Information system designed to protect
Canadian workers from hazardous materials
used in the workplace
 Right to know about workplace hazards
6
Introduction

Purpose of WHMIS?
 To provide information about 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
7
Introduction

What’s NOT covered by WHMIS?
 Consumer restricted products (those products
sold to people in regular stores that are already
labeled following the rules of the Hazardous
Products Act)
 Explosives (as defined by the Explosives Act)
 Cosmetics, drugs, food or devices (as defined
by the Food and Drug Act)
8
Introduction
Pest control products (pesticides, herbicides,
insecticides, etc) (as defined by the Pest Control
Products Act)
 Radioactive materials (as defined by the
Atomic Energy Control Act)
 Wood and products made of wood
 A manufactured article
 Tobacco or products made of tobacco
 Hazardous wastes

9
Introduction

What are the Main Parts of WHMIS?
 Labels
 Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
 Worker Training & Education
10
Responsibilities
Under WHMIS
Supplier
Employer
Employee
11
Responsibilities under WHMIS

Supplier Duties
 A supplier of a chemical product must compare
the product's physical, chemical and toxic
properties with a detailed set of WHMIS
criteria
 If the product meets one or more of the criteria,
the product becomes subject to WHMIS
requirements
12
Responsibilities under WHMIS
Classify products
 Label products with a WHMIS label
 Prepare and provide customers with MSDS's
 Update MSDS's at least every three years

13
Responsibilities under WHMIS

Employer Duties
 Train employees in WHMIS
 Train employees in safe work practices
 Ensure products are labeled with supplier or
workplace labels
 Provide employees with ready access to
MSDS's
14
Responsibilities under WHMIS

Employee Duties
 Participate in training
 Follow prescribed work practices
 Wear required protective equipment
15
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
Compressed Gas
Flammable & Combustible Materials
Oxidizing Materials
Poisonous and Infectious Materials
Corrosive Materials
Dangerously Reactive Materials
16
WHMIS Classes and Symbols

What is the Classification System?
 Classifications are used to group chemicals
with similar properties or hazards
 The Controlled Products Regulations specifies
the criteria used to place materials within each
classification
 There are six (6) classes with some having
divisions and subdivisions
 Each class has a specific symbol to help people
identify the hazard quickly
17
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class A - Compressed Gas
Materials which are normally gaseous kept in a
pressurized container
Risks:
could explode due to pressure
could explode if heated or dropped
hazard from both the force of explosion and the
release of contents
Eg. Acetylene, Oxygen, Nitrogen
18
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class B - Flammable & Combustible Material
Materials which will continue to burn after being
exposed to a flame or other ignition source
Risks:
may ignite spontaneously
may be a material which will release flammable
products if allowed to degrade or when exposed
to water
19
WHMIS Classes & Symbols

Class B - Flammable & Combustible Material
Division 1: Flammable Gas
Division 2: Flammable Liquid
Division 3: Combustible Liquid
Division 4: Flammable Solid
Division 5: Flammable Aerosol
Division 6: Reactive Flammable Material
20
WHMIS Classes & Symbols

Class B - Flammable & Combustible Material
Flammable Gas: Hydrogen, Butane
Flammable Liquid: Gasoline
Combustible Liquid: Diesel Fuel, Organic solvents
Flammable Solid: White Phosphorus, Magnesium
21
WHMIS Classes & Symbols

Class B - Flammable & Combustible Material
Flammable Aerosol: flammable propellants such as
propane, butane and dimethyl ether
Reactive Flammable Material: aluminum alkyls,
metallic sodium and lithium aluminum hydride
22
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class C – Oxidizing Material
Materials which can cause other materials to burn
or support combustion
Risks:
can cause skin or eye burns
increase fire and explosion hazard
may cause combustibles to explode or react
violently
Eg. Ozone, chlorine, & nitrogen dioxide
23
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class D – Poisonous and Infectious Material
Division 1: Materials Causing Immediate and
Serious Toxic Effects
Subdivision A: Very Toxic Material
Subdivision B: Toxic Material
Poisons/potentially fatal materials which cause
immediate and severe harm
24
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class D – Division 1 continued…
Risks
May be fatal if ingested or inhaled
May be absorbed through the skin
Small volumes have a toxic effect
Eg. Styrene, hydrogen cyanide
25
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class D – Poisonous and Infectious Material
continued…
Division 2: Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects
Subdivision A: Very toxic material
Subdivision B: Toxic material
Materials which have harmful effects after
repeated exposures or over long periods of time
26
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class D – Division 2 continued…
Risks:
May cause death or permanent injury
May cause birth defects or sterility
May cause cancer
May be sensitizer causing allergies
Eg. Asbestos causes cancer, ammonia is an irritant
27
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class D – Poisonous and Infectious Material
continued…
Division 3: Biohazardous Infection Material
Infectious agents or a biological toxin causing a
serious disease or death
28
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class D – Division 3 continued…
Risks:
May cause anaphylactic shock
Includes viruses, yeasts, moulds, bacteria and
parasites which affect humans
Includes fluids containing toxic products
Includes cellular components
Eg. Blood sample containing Hepatitis B virus
29
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class E – Corrosive Material
Materials which react with metals and living
tissue
Risks:
Eye and skin irritation on exposure
Severe burns/tissue damage on longer exposure
Lung damage if inhaled
May cause blindness if eyes contacted
Environmental damage from fumes
Eg. Ammonia, fluorine, & hydrochloric acid
30
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
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Class F – Dangerously Reactive Material
Materials which may have unexpected reactions
Risks:
May react with water
May be chemically unstable
May explode if exposed to shock or heat
May release toxic or flammable vapours
31
WHMIS Classes & Symbols
May vigorously polymerize
May burn unexpectedly
Eg. Ozone, hydrazine, and benzoyl peroxide


32
Supplier Labels
Requirements
Examples
33
Supplier Labels

Requirements
 Containers of controlled products that are sold
for use in Canadian workplaces must carry a
supplier label that contains 7 required items of
information:
34
Supplier Labels
Name of the product
 Supplier’s name
 Hazard Symbol(s)
 Risk phrases
 Precautionary measures
 First aid measures
 Reference to a Material Safety Data Sheet

35
36
37
Labels -- Rules for Labeling
38
Workplace Labels
Requirements
Examples
39
Workplace Labels

Requirements
 If the supplier label is destroyed or chemicals
are transferred from the supplier container to
another, a workplace label is required
 Because it assumes that people in the
workplace are familiar with the chemicals they
are using, WHMIS sets less stringent
requirements for an acceptable workplace label
40
Workplace Labels
Name of the chemical
 Safe handling information
 Reference to the MSDS

41
Workplace Labels
In some cases, the container size makes it
impossible to affix a label that meets all the
requirements for a workplace label
 In such cases, a system must be created that
ensures that everyone who works in the
laboratory can identify the contents and knows
what precautions are needed to prevent injury
or over-exposure, and how to respond to an
accident

42
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45
46
Labels -- Rules for Labeling
47
Material Safety Data Sheet
(MSDS)
Requirements
Examples
48
Material Safety Data Sheets

Requirements
 Product/Material Information
 Hazardous Ingredients
 Physical Data
 Fire and Explosion Data
 Reactivity Data
 Health Hazard Data
49
Material Safety Data Sheets
First Aid Measures
 Preventative Measures
 Storage and Handling
 Spill Clean-up and Waste Disposal
 Preparation Date

50
Material Safety Data Sheets

Product/Material Information
 This section provides the basic information
about the product and the supplier.
 Product name
 Supplier's name and address
 Emergency phone number
 Intended use
51
Material Safety Data Sheets
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Hazardous Ingredients
 The MSDS must identify all the ingredients that
meet WHMIS criteria and provide some data on
the short term toxicity of either the product or
the ingredients.
52
Material Safety Data Sheets

For Each Hazardous Ingredient :
 Name
 Concentration or concentration range
 Chemical Abstracts Registry Numbers
 LD50 (Lethal Dose 50% - the dose which
kills half of the animals in a toxicity test)
53
Material Safety Data Sheets

Physical Data
 The MSDS provides a range of technical data
which allows people to assess how the chemical
behaves under differing situations and plan safe
work procedures.
 Physical state
 Appearance and odour
54
Material Safety Data Sheets
Vapour density, per cent volatile and
evaporation rate for products with volatile
components
 Boiling and freezing points and PH (if
appropriate) for liquids
 Specific gravity
 Coefficient of oil/water separation
 Water solubility

55
Material Safety Data Sheets
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Fire and Explosion Data
 The MSDS provides information on which the
workplace can plan fire prevention and which
emergency responders may need in the event
that a fire occurs
56
Material Safety Data Sheets

Fire Data:
 Indication of whether the product is
flammable and the conditions under which a
fire might occur
 Means of extinction
 Flash point (the temperature at which
enough of the material evaporates to form an
ignitable mixture with air)
57
Material Safety Data Sheets
Flammable limits (concentration range over
which the vapour/air mixture will burn)
 Auto ignition temperature
 Hazardous combustion products
 Explosion data
 Sensitivity to impact
 Sensitivity to static electric ignition

58
Material Safety Data Sheets
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Reactivity Data
 WHMIS requires that the supplier provide
information about the possible hazardous
chemical reactions that might occur
 Many laboratory chemicals are highly reactive
 Even some of the trades or custodial chemicals
can react with other chemicals or can react if
exposed to heat or mixed with catalysts or
activators
59
Material Safety Data Sheets
Stability
 Sensitivity to shock or temperature or pressure
changes
 Reactivity
 Incompatibility - chemicals which, if allowed to
contact the product, could create a reaction
hazard
 Hazardous decomposition products

60
Material Safety Data Sheets

Toxicological Properties
 WHMIS requires the supplier to describe how
people might come into contact with the
product and what the short and long term
effects would be if someone was over-exposed
 Route of entry into the body
 Effects of acute (short term) exposure
 Effects of chronic (long term) exposure
 Legal exposure limit
61
Material Safety Data Sheets

Preventive Measures
 One of the most useful sections of the MSDS
 Supplier lists suggestions for the precautions
which should be taken in storing, handling,
using and disposing of the product
 These suggestions need to be considered
carefully
62
Material Safety Data Sheets
The supplier cannot always know in detail how
we are going to use the chemical
 You should review the information in this
section with your supervisor and assess how
appropriate the supplier's suggestions are in
your particular work situation
 Engineering controls - equipment needed to
prevent over-exposure

63
Material Safety Data Sheets
Personal protective equipment - gloves,
respirators, impervious clothing, etc.
 Use and handling procedures
 Storage requirements
 Leak and spill procedures
 Shipping information
 Disposal practices

64
Material Safety Data Sheets

First Aid Measures
 The MSDS provides first aid information
similar to that presented on the product label
 This information will allow people to help
someone who has been made unwell by a
chemical
 In all but the most minor cases, the affected
person should be treated at the Ryerson Health
Centre or the nearest hospital
65
Material Safety Data Sheets

The medical personnel will need a copy of the
MSDS, or at least label information, to
effectively treat the victim
66
Material Safety Data Sheets

Preparation
 The regulations require the supplier to indicate
 who prepared the MSDS
 when it was prepared
 a phone number to contact the person who
prepared the document
67
WHMIS and the Transportation
of Dangerous Goods
A Comparison
68
WHMIS & TDG – A Comparison
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The requirements under WHMIS and under the
TDG legislation are complementary information
systems
TDG legislation sets out information requirements
for products being shipped to and from
workplaces
WHMIS applies to products inside workplaces
No overlap is intended --- One system takes over
where the other leaves off
69
WHMIS & TDG – A Comparison


Worker exposure to dangerous goods that are IN
TRANSIT is most likely to occur during an emergency
such as a vehicle accident or spill. Therefore, information
provided under TDG requirements addresses short-term
exposures and uses symbols on labels and placards.
Worker exposure to controlled products in the workplace
can occur in a wider variety of circumstances and over
longer periods of time. WHMIS requirements are more
extensive than TDG and include the use of explicit labels
and material safety data sheets.
70
WHMIS & TDG – A Comparison

WHMIS and TDG Classification Systems
 The classification of products under WHMIS
and TDG is similar but not identical
 WHMIS has 6 Classes, designated A to F and
TDG has 9 Classes, designated 1 to 9
 WHMIS Classes A to E have comparable
Classes in TDG, but Class F has no equivalent
in TDG
 TDG has 2 Classes that have no equivalent in
WHMIS --- Class 1, Explosives and Class 7,
Radioactive Materials
71
WHMIS & TDG – A Comparison
WHMIS
No Equivalent
No Equivalent
Class A
Compressed Gases
TDG
Class 1
Explosives
Class 7
Radioactive Materials
Class 2
Compressed Gases
72
WHMIS & TDG – A Comparison
WHMIS
Class B
Flammable and
Combustible Material
TDG
Class 3
Flammable Liquids
Class 4
Flammable Solids,
Spontaneously
Combustible,
Dangerous When Wet
73
WHMIS & TDG – A Comparison
WHMIS
TDG
Class C
Oxidizing Material
Class 5
Oxidizing Substances and
Organic Peroxides
Class D
Class 6
Poisonous and Infectious Poisonous and Infectious
Material
Substances
74
WHMIS & TDG – A Comparison
WHMIS
Class E
Corrosive Material
Class F
Dangerously Reactive
Material
TDG
Class 8
Corrosives
No Equivalent
75
WHMIS & TDG – A Comparison
WHMIS
No Equivalent
TDG
Class 9
Miscellaneous Products
or Substances
76
Chemical Hazards
Flammability
Reactivity
Health
77
Chemical Hazards

Flammability
 readily catches fire and burns in air
 liquid does not burn - the vapours burn
 flash point, auto-ignition temperature, explosive
limits, vapour density and ability to accumulate
an electrostatic charge are important factors in
determining the degree of fire hazard
78
Chemical Hazards

Reactivity
 Involves the release of energy (heat) in
relatively high quantities or at a rapid rate
 If the heat evolved in a reaction is not
dissipated, the reaction rate can increase until
an explosion results
 Some chemicals decompose rapidly when
heated
79
Chemical Hazards
Light or mechanical shock can also initiate
explosive reactions
 Some compounds are inherently unstable and
can detonate under certain conditions of
pressure and temperature, while others react
violently with water or when exposed to air

80
Chemical Hazards

Health
 Contact with many chemicals can result in
adverse health effects
 The nature and magnitude of toxic effects will
depend on many factors including the nature of
the substance, route of exposure, magnitude of
the dose, duration of exposure, and individual
susceptibility
81
Health Effects of
Toxic Substances
Toxicity vs. Hazard
Routes of Entry
Health Effects – Chronic vs. Acute
Exposure – Chronic vs. Acute
Physiological Classification of Materials
82
Health Effects of Toxic Substances
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

Many materials used in the workplace can be
hazardous
In order for them to affect your health, they must
contact the body or be absorbed into the body
In order to assess the potential health effects from
working with a particular material, it is necessary
to understand the difference between “toxicity”
and “hazard”
83
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

TOXICITY is the ability of a substance to produce
an unwanted effect when the chemical has reached
a sufficient concentration at a certain site in the
body
 The greater the toxicity = smaller absorption
amount required to cause harmful effects
 The toxicity of a chemical is generally
measured by experiments on animals (quite
often rats)
84
Health Effects of Toxic Substances
If it is measured in terms of the amounts of
material necessary to cause death in 50% of the
test animals
 These values are called LD50 (lethal dose) or
LC50 (lethal concentration), and are usually
given in weight of material per kg of body
weight or airborne concentration of material per
set time period respectively

85
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

HAZARD is the probability that this concentration
in the body will occur
 Toxicity is an inherent property of the material
 A material may be very toxic, but not
hazardous, if it is handled properly and is not
absorbed into the body
 On the other hand, a material may have a very
low toxicity, but be very hazardous
86
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Examples:
 An open container of an acid is much more
hazardous than a closed container of the
same material
87
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Two liquids may possess the same degree of
toxicity but present different degrees of hazard:
 One material may be non-irritating to the
eyes and nose and odourless
 The other may be irritating to the eyes or
respiratory system and possess a pungent
odour
88
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Routes of Entry
 There are three primary routes of entry into the
body:
 Ingestion
 Skin or eye absorption
 Inhalation
89
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Ingestion:
 Taking a material into the body by mouth
(swallowing)
 Ingestion of toxic materials may occur as a
result of eating in a contaminated work area
90
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Absorption
 Substances that contact the eye and the skin
may be either absorbed into the body or
cause local effects
 For the majority of organic compounds, the
contribution from skin absorption to the total
exposure should not be neglected
91
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Inhalation
 Taking a material into the body by breathing
it in
 In the lungs, very tiny blood vessels are in
constant contact with the air we breath in
 Airborne contaminants can be easily
absorbed through this tissue
 Generally the most important route of entry
92
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Health Effects – Chronic vs. Acute
 Once a toxic substance has contacted the body
it may have either acute (immediate) or chronic
(long term) effects. Example: Spilling acid on
your hand will cause immediate harm, i.e. a
burn to the skin.
 Exposure to asbestos or tobacco smoke may
result in lung cancer after as much as twenty
years (this is a long term effect).
93
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Exposure - Chronic vs. Acute
 Exposure can be classified as chronic or acute
 In chronic exposures, the dose is delivered at
some frequency (daily or weekly usually) over
a period of time
 In acute exposures, the dose is delivered in a
single event and absorption is rapid
94
Health Effects of Toxic Substances
Usually, a chronic exposure occurs at low
concentration and acute exposure at high
concentration
 Some materials may only cause harm if given
acutely, not having any effect in the long term
 Other materials may not exhibit an effect in the
short term, but may cause problems after
prolonged exposure

95
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Physiological Classification of Materials
 This classification identifies toxic materials on
the basis of biologic action
96
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Irritants
 refers to some sort of aggravation of
whatever tissue the material comes in contact
with
 E.g. ammonia, nitrogen dioxide
97
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Asphyxiants
 exert their effects through a depletion of
oxygen to the tissues
 E.g. simple asphyxiants - carbon dioxide,
nitrogen, methane, hydrogen
 E.g. chemical asphyxiants - carbon
monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen
sulphide
98
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Narcotics or Anaesthetics
 the main toxic action is the depressant effect
upon the Central Nervous System
 E.g. - many organics, chloroform, xylene.
99
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Systemic Poisons
 the main toxic action includes the production
of internal damage
 E.g. Hepatotoxic agents - toxic effects
produce liver damage. eg. carbon
tetrachloride
 E.g. Nephrotoxic agents - toxic effects
produce kidney damage eg. some
halogenated hydrocarbons
100
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Carcinogens
 agents/compounds that will induce cancer in
humans
 E.g. benzene, arsenic, inorganic salts of
chromium, nickel, beryllium
101
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Mutagens
 agents that affect the cells of the exposed
people in such a way that it may cause
cancer in the exposed individual or an
undesirable mutation to occur in some later
generation
 E.g. radiation, variety of chemical agents
that alter the genetic message
102
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Teratogens
 Agents or compounds that a pregnant
woman takes into her body that generate
defects in the fetus
 E.g. Thalidomide, possibly steroids
103
Health Effects of Toxic Substances

Sensitizers
 Agents that may cause allergic or allergiclike responses to occur
 After an initial exposure to a substance an
individual may become sensitized to that
substance
 Subsequent exposures to the same substance,
often at a much lower concentration than
before, produce an allergic response
104
Health Effects of Toxic Substances
This response may be a skin rash (dermatitis)
or an asthmatic-like attack, depending on the
route of exposure
 E.g. cutting oils, isocyanates in polyurethane
foam operations and paint spraying
operations, some laboratory solvents

105
Protective Measures
Elimination/Substitution
Engineering Controls
Work Practices
Personal Protective Devices
Other Safe Practices
Emergency Provisions
106
Protective Measures

Elimination/Substitution
 Ideally, the toxic substance used or generated
should be eliminated
 Since this is not always possible, substituting a
less hazardous substance can often be effective
in reducing work exposure to toxic substances
 Eg. Is it necessary to use benzene for cleaning;
usually, 1,1,1-trichloroethane will do the job
just as well
107
Protective Measures

Engineering Controls
 Isolation
 Design or Change of Process
 Local Suppression
 Ventilation
108
Protective Measures

Isolation
 Hazardous processes or equipment can be
segregated into separate rooms or areas or put
in enclosures so as not to contaminate the
whole workplace
 Eg. Operator booths are common in crusher
operations (extremely dusty environments),
crane cabs in hazardous areas, etc.
109
Protective Measures

Design or Change of Process
 Often simple considerations can significantly
improve conditions.
 Eg. packaging of exact amounts of material to
add to a process rather than pouring, pumping,
scooping, etc. from a bulk supply
 Eg. grouping of hazardous operations for better
control.
110
Protective Measures

Local Suppression
 Wetting or pelletizing of dusty materials or
blanketing of toxic liquids.
 eg. Use of damp mopping in contaminated,
dusty areas
 eg. Use of plastic balls or surface active agents
in liquid tanks such as plating tanks.
111
Protective Measures

Ventilation
 Ventilation is used to control airborne hazards
in the form of dusts, fibres, mists, fumes, gases,
and vapours
 The two methods of applying ventilation to
provide contaminant control are
 general dilution ventilation
 local exhaust
112
Protective Measures

Dilution Ventilation
 dilution of contaminated air with
uncontaminated air in a general area, room,
or building for the purpose of health hazard,
nuisance control, and/or heating and cooling.
113
Protective Measures

Local exhaust
 involves the capture of pollutants at the
source
 Air movement is achieved by either natural
or mechanical methods such as fans
114
Protective Measures

the choice or type of ventilation depends on
such factors as:
• Toxicity or nuisance of the contaminant
• Method and rate of generation
• Physical state of the contaminant
• Relative costs of different types of
ventilation
115
Protective Measures

Work and Hygiene Practices
 Work practices, procedures and hygiene
practices supplement engineering controls
 These practices represent on the job activities
that reduce the potential for exposure to toxic
substances and include:
116
Protective Measures
Posting warning signs and labeling
hazardous materials
 Preventive maintenance of equipment
 Keeping records of employee exposure and
making them available to employees
 Providing emergency facilities, such as
eyewash fountains and deluge showers,
where appropriate

117
Protective Measures
Prohibiting eating, drinking or smoking in
areas where materials in use are toxic by
ingestion or may be inhaled through
smoking
 Maintaining Good Housekeeping

• good housekeeping provides for the removal of
hazardous materials that might otherwise
become airborne
• a clean workplace tends to foster good work
habits that probably reduce accumulations
118
Protective Measures

Maintaining Personal Cleanliness
• clean work clothes, regular showers and frequent
washing will reduce skin contamination that may
lead to skin absorption, dermatitis or ingestion
• A further consideration for personal cleanliness
is the possibility of an individual carrying toxic
material home on work clothes or on the person
and in turn placing the family at risk
119
Protective Measures

Training
• Individuals should be well aware of the hazards
of the materials being used and the precautions
to be observed
• An informed worker can make a rational
decision to accept such work and to wisely use
the equipment provided for his/her protection
120
Protective Measures

Personal Protective Devices
 These include protective glasses and goggles,
face shields, protective clothing (laboratory
coats and gloves), skin creams, and respirators
 It should be noted that respirators in particular,
are not intended to be used as a primary means
of control in lieu of other methods
121
Protective Measures

Two essential elements of protective equipment
use are:
 The choice of the proper type
• For example, when choosing respirators
and hearing protectors, the factors to be
considered include:
122
Protective Measures
type of hazard
 extent of exposure
 individual preference
 individual fit
 ease of supervision
 legislative requirements

123
Protective Measures

The provision of an adequate maintenance
program for the equipment
• A maintenance program for the
equipment must be in the care of a
qualified person and will include, at
regular intervals:
– Inspection and Repair
– Cleaning
– Storage
124
Protective Measures

Other Safe Practices and Emergency Provisions
 Leak and Chemical Spill Procedure
 Prompt action is necessary to reduce and
eliminate hazards created by a chemical spill
• Wear proper personal protective
equipment (e.g. gloves, respirators) as
specified in the MSDS
• Absorb or neutralize liquids
• Sweep solids into a container
125
Protective Measures
• Ventilate area to dispel vapours if
required
• Wash affected area with soap and water
or detergent
• All materials used in cleanup, including
absorbed liquids are to be disposed as
hazardous waste - Label waste
appropriately
126
Protective Measures

If proper equipment is not available to safely
contain and decontaminate a spill - evacuate
the area and contact the appropriate
personnel (a list of emergency contacts
should be provided in each lab/work area)
127
Protective Measures

Waste Disposal
 The disposal of hazardous chemicals is
regulated by Ontario environmental
legislation
 NOTHING GOES DOWN THE DRAIN in a
laboratory (ask if you are not sure)
 Generators of hazardous wastes are
responsible for properly packaging and
labeling such wastes
128
Protective Measures

Storage Requirements
 The hazard potential presented by
flammable, reactive and toxic substances can
also be reduced by adherence to safe storage
procedures
 Quantities of these substances should be kept
to a minimum
129
Protective Measures
All containers must be labeled with the
names of the contents and appropriate hazard
warnings
 In laboratories or stockrooms, care should be
taken to avoid exposure of chemicals to heat
or direct sunlight

130
Protective Measures
Always observe precautions regarding the
proximity of incompatible substances (e.g.
do not store alphabetically - store in
compatible groups)
 Highly toxic chemicals should be stored in
ventilated storage areas in unbreakable
chemically resistant secondary containers

131
Protective Measures
Properly labeled portable safety cans should
be used for handling small quantities of
flammable liquids
 When not in use these portable cans should
be kept in enclosed fire-resistant cabinets

132
Protective Measures
Larger quantities of solvents should be
stored in correctly designed ventilated
storage areas
 Flammable liquids should not be stored in
laboratory refrigerators unless the unit is an
approved, explosion-proof, or laboratorysafe type

133
WHMIS in Laboratories

Topics
Acute/Chronic Health Effects
 Symptoms
 Laboratory Equipment
 Personal Protective Equipment
 Storage Guidelines
 Chemical Spill/Fire
 Special Hazards

134
WHMIS in Laboratories -Acute Health Effects

Acute
 Immediate Effect



Powdered and liquid chemicals that contact the skin,
the face or the eyes may be an ACUTE hazard
Clothing that has become saturated may also present
an ACUTE hazard for that part of the body
Mists or fumes from some chemicals in high
concentrations may be inhaled and may present an
ACUTE hazard
135
WHMIS in Laboratories –
Chronic Health Effects

Chronic
 Delayed Effect




Occasional moderate contact with liquid and
powdered chemicals, over a period of time, may
result in CHRONIC skin problems
Rashes, blisters, cracking skin are known as
“dermatitis”
Excessive exposure to mists or vapours over a
period of time may result in CHRONIC respiratory
problems or in irritation of the eyes
Some chemicals may also be SENSITIZERS
136
WHMIS in Laboratories –
Symptoms

If not used properly, the following health effects
may be encountered, on the skin, in the eyes or in
the lungs:
 Burning
 Irritation
 Permanent Damage
137
WHMIS in Laboratories –
Laboratory Equipment
Fumehoods
 Glassware, Syringes, Pipettes
 Machines
 Refrigerators & Freezers
 Heat sources
 Pumps
 Equipment for working at temperature extremes

138
WHMIS in Laboratories –
Personal Protective Equipment

Typical examples include:

Goggles, face shields, respirators, gloves, boots,
aprons, suits
Refer to the Material Safety Data Sheet for a
given chemical for the specific PPE that is
required
 Such items MUST be worn during the entire
process even if you are not doing anything!

139
WHMIS in Laboratories –
Storage Guidelines
Segregate chemical combinations that may be
reactive
 Flammable chemicals (such as solvents) should be
stored in approved cabinets
 Observe precautions regarding ignition sources
 Store pressurized containers according to the
precautionary statements on the label
 General ventilation should be provided

140
WHMIS in Laboratories –
Chemical Fire/Spill
For a minor spill, contain, control and clean-up
using proper equipment and safe procedures
 For a major spill, assess the situation




Refer to the MSDS and container labels
Evacuate if necessary
In the event of fire, evacuate
141
WHMIS in Laboratories –
Information YOU Need to Know

YOU must be able to answer the following
questions regarding the controlled products you
are exposed to:




What are the hazards of the controlled product?
How do I protect myself and those I work with from
these hazards?
What do I do if a spill occurs?
Where do I get more information about this
controlled product?
142
WHMIS in Laboratories –
Special Hazards
Hazards of Compressed Gases
 Biological Hazards
 Radiation
 Non-ionizing Radiation
 Laboratory Waste
 Electrical Safety
 Ergonomics

143
WHMIS at Ryerson
Training
Material Safety Data Sheets
WHMIS in Your Workplace
144
WHMIS at Ryerson - Training

Employer Responsibilities
 The employer must provide a training program
which includes instruction about:
 Labels and MSDS’s – their purpose and
contents and the significance of each
 Procedures for safe handling, use, storage
and disposal of hazardous materials specific
to the workplace (Supervisor)
 Emergency procedures (Supervisor)
145
WHMIS at Ryerson - Training

Worker Responsibilities
 The worker is required under the legislation to
participate in the education program provided
by the employer
146
WHMIS at Ryerson - Training

Who Receives the Training?
 Anyone who WORKS with, or is in CLOSE
proximity to hazardous products
 Anyone who USES, HANDLES, STORES or
DISPOSES of the hazardous material
 Anyone who SUPERVISES the performance of
the above duties
147
WHMIS at Ryerson - MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheets
 Order them each time you purchase a chemical
for the first time…reorder if there is not one
available or find the closest one using the CAS#
 Read them PRIOR to using the product
 Everyone using hazardous materials must have
easy access to the Material Safety Data Sheets
 Have a binder with MSDS’s for easy reference
and in case of emergency
148
WHMIS at Ryerson – In Your Workplace

How to Establish WHMIS at your Workplace
(For Supervisors)
 Assign responsibility for the program
implementation
 Establish an inventory of controlled products
 Ensure that WHMIS labeling and Material
Safety Data Sheets are in place by a predetermined date
 Determine the hazards of the controlled
products
149
WHMIS at Ryerson – In Your Workplace
Establish protective precautions, e.g. what
personal protective equipment needs to be used,
work procedures
 Establish emergency procedures in case of spill
or worker exposure
 Provide worker education
 Review the WHMIS program every year

150
Summary
Perform a Risk Assessment on the work that
you are doing
 Be familiar with the work that is going on in
the same lab as you
 YOU must know the hazards, the associated
risks and control measures in order to protect
yourself, your colleagues and Ryerson

151