WHMISAll you need to know. Every. Little. Thing.

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WHAT IS WHMIS?

WHMIS stands for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. The system mainly revolves around the following: “hazard classification, cautionary labelling of containers, the provision of (material) safety data sheets ((M)SDSs) and worker education and training programs” (Health Canada, 2015).

IN OTHER WORDS, WHMIS IS A SYSTEM THAT HANDLES THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL PRODUCTS WORKERS MAY COME INTO CONTACT WITH. WHMIS DEALS WITH THE SAFE HANDLING AND USAGE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. IT IS CRUCIAL FOR WORKER SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE.

WHMIS FOR DUMMIES SAYS WHMIS IS IMPORTANT TO WORKERS BECAUSE: “PROVIDES STEPS AND PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW IN CASE OF EMERGENCY…

GIVES WORKERS THE RIGHT TO BE AWARE OF THE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS THEY ARE ASSOCIATING WITH…

[AND] CREATES A SAFE WORKPLACE”

WHMIS could not function properly without the Hazardous Products Act. The HPA works alongside the principles of WHMIS, and outlines which materials are regulated by WHMIS (WHMIS for Dummies).

IT USED TO BE ONLY THE WHMIS SYSTEM WHICH CAME INTO EFFECT ON OCTOBER 31ST, 1988.

BUT NOW…

WHMIS INCLUDES GHS, IMPLEMENTED 2015

WHMIS exists mainly as a system for properly and safely handling and storing concentrated products across the country. So what is GHS? GHS is the acronym for Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. The GHS is implementing a system much the same as WHMIS, where it defines/classifies chemical products and the safe handling of, however, the GHS was created by an international team and the system being put in place is hoped to be adopted and used throughout the world (Globally Harmonized System, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety).

SO, NOW THAT WE KNOW ALL THAT, HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND

AND APPLY WHMIS TO THE WORKPLACE? SIMPLE.

FIRST

Know what products you are dealing with, so there are no surprises. Know what risks are at stake, how to prevent them, and how to handle each incident from

corrosive materials to drinking toxins.

LET’S LEARN!

THE HPA AND WHMIS DEEM WHICH PRODUCTS ARE “POTENTIALLY HARMFUL.”THESE PRODUCTS BECOME “CONTROLLED PRODUCTS” (WHMIS FOR DUMMIES).

EVERY CONTROLLED PRODUCT YOU USE WILL HAVE A SUPPLIER LABEL AND AN MSDS SHEET.

HERE WE EXAMINE THE SUPPLIER LABEL OF METHANOL.

Although the information does not tell you everything you may need to know, in the case of an emergency, they tell you the most pertinent information that you need to know for immediate health and safety.

EXAMPLE OF AN MSDS SHEET

This sheet is examining bleach. The MSDS sheet includes all information needed about the product.

It goes further than precautionary measures. A MSDS sheet goes into physical description, Ingredients of the product, and all usage/handling/disposal Information.

SOME SHEETS MAY SEEM “OVER THE TOP,” BUT THEY ARE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY. ALWAYS ADHERE TO THE DIRECTION GIVEN. A “BURNING SENSATION” MAY NOT SEEM ALTOGETHER AWFUL, BUT ONCE IT HAPPENS, YOU YOURSELF HAVE AN AMAZING DESIRE TO SUDDENLY THROW ON THOSE GLOVES AND OVERALLS.

WHMIS CLASSIFICATION

THERE ARE 6 CATEGORIES (1 CATEGORY HAS 3 DIVISIONS) UNDER WHMIS WHICH CLASSIFIES HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, AND THEY RANGE FROM A-F. CAUTIONARY SYMBOLS ARE USED TO CLASSIFY.

CLASS A IS NORMALLY CLASSIFIED AS A COMPRESSED GAS IF: THE MATERIAL IS NORMALLY OF GAS SUBSTANCE, THE MATERIAL

IS “UNDER PRESSURE OR BEING CHILLED,” OR “THE GAS IS USUALLY CONTAINED IN A CYLINDER.” (WHMIS FOR DUMMIES)

Class A—Compressed Gas

CLASS B—FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL

A material/ substance is labeled flammable or combustible when: The substance burns or catches fire at normal temperatures, will create flammable gas upon contact with air or water, and if it is a gas, liquid or solid. (WHMIS for Dummies)

OXIDIZING MATERIALS: THOSE MATERIALS WHICH DO NOT “BURN THEMSELVES, BUT CAUSE OTHER MATERIALS TO COMBUST BY

PROVIDING OXYGEN.” SECONDLY, IF OXIDIZING MATERIALS COME INTO CONTACT WITH FLAMMABLE/COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS, THE RISK OF FIRE INCREASES.

(WHMIS FOR DUMMIES)CLASS C

Class D is the notorious poisonous and infectious materials. These products cause lethal and immediate harm to your body, and the effects are further divided

into 3 divisions.

Division 1— Causes Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects

Division 2—Materials That Cause Other Toxic Effects

Division 3—Biohazardous Infectous Materials

Class E—Liquids that “possess a

corroding property which can burn through clothes, human tissue or

even metal” (WHMIS for Dummies).

Class F—Reacts with water to make toxic gas, will react

with itself when “Agitated” (Dropped, Bumped,

Temperature/Pressure Increase) and can join to itself,

lose extra water or break down. (WHMIS for Dummies)

Class E—Corrosive Material

Class F—Dangerously Reactive Material

IN A NUTSHELL

If you see these symbols, know what they mean, and use caution.

NOW, LET US LOOK AT EXPOSURE, SHALL WE? WE ALMOST KNOW EVERY

LITTLE THING!

Acute—Short TermEffects are seen within 24 hours of exposure

Chronic—Long TermSerious and harmful effects if exposed for long

periods of time

www.aixsafety.comPlease enter the above link into your web browser to be redirected to a WHMIS module. Once you enter the website, click on “Free WHMIS training and Free WHMIS Test and Certification.” Once there, scroll down to the bottom of the page and begin your free WHMIS training. At the end of the third module, there is a quiz to complete. A certificate will be given. Ensure you Print this right away, as the site does not keep copies of certificates.

YOU

MADE IT!

BIBLIOGRAPHY

"About WHMIS." Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). N.p., 11 Feb. 2015. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. <http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/occup-travail/whmis-simdut/about-a_propos-eng.php>.

Dai, David. Danielson, Ashely. Levy, Will. Lucht, Julia. Wong, Hector. “WHMIS for Dummies.” 2013. PowerPoint Presentation.

"OSH Answers Fact Sheets." Government of Canada, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2015. <http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/ghs.html>.