WHMIS Apr 30 2024

[Audio] Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.

[Audio] What is WHMIS? The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System is the national hazard communication standard and is legislated under the Hazardous Product Act. WHMIS is founded on the principal that workers have the right to receive information about each controlled product they use—its identity, hazards and safety precautions..

[Audio] What are employer responsibilities? As per WHMIS regulations and standards, employers are responsible for protecting their workers from health and safety hazards. Employers need to ensure their workers understand the hazards of the products in the workplace and understand how to protect themselves from those hazards. All hazardous products need labels and an up to date SDS. Employers need to provide education and training programs to their workers..

[Audio] What are the workers responsibilities? Workers need to participate in WHMIS and chemical safety training. Workers should recognize hazards in the workplace and take steps to protect themselves. They are required to follow instructions and workplace procedures. Workers need to tell employers if they observe problems with labels and SDSs. They should understand how to work with the hazardous products at their workplace..

[Audio] The key elements of the WHMIS system are: Hazard classification Cautionary labelling of containers Safety Data Sheets (SDS) Education and training programs..

[Audio] WHMIS Labels You should see labels on every container you use on the job. There are two types of labels: supplier labels and workplace labels. WHMIS 2015 regulations require a label on every product that is classified as hazardous product. Labels are used to communicate essential information about a product including: • The name of the product. • The physical and health hazards associated with the product. • Precautions you need to take to work safely with the product. • What to do in case of an emergency..

[Audio] WHMIS supplier labels alert you to the name of the product, the hazards of the product, what precautions you need to take to work safely with the product, and what to do in an emergency. Suppliers ship their product with a supplier label..

[Audio] a workplace label may be required when: a hazardous product is made at the workplace and used at the same workplace a hazardous product is transferred to a secondary container a supplier label becomes damaged or unreadable.

[Audio] Safety Data Sheet or SDS is a document that helps you to identify hazardous materials and gives you full details on what the hazards are. SDSs provide more detailed hazard information about the product than the label. It provides instruction on how to work safely with the hazardous product. It spells out the steps you need to take if there ever is an emergency. The SDS is where you find the facts on hazardous products you work with. Its where you go for more information..

[Audio] 4 fundamental questions answered on an SDS, You should be familiar with the hazards of a product before you start to use it. Ensure the product name on the container is an exact match with the SDS. Here are some basic questions you need to be able to answer before you work safely with a product: 1. What is this product? (section 1: Product Identification) 2. What are the hazards? (section 2: Hazard Identification) 3. What do I do in an emergency? (section 4, 5, and 6: First Aid, Fire Fighting Measures, and Accidental Release Measures) 4. How do I work with this safely? (section 7: Handling and Storage).

[Audio] Pictograms are graphic images that immediately show the user of a hazardous product what type of hazard is present. With a quick glance, you can see, for example, that the product is flammable or that it might be a health hazard. Most pictograms have a distinctive red "square set on one of its points" border. Inside this border is a symbol that represents the potential hazard (e.g., fire, health hazard, corrosive, etc.). Together, the symbol and the border are referred to as a pictogram. Pictograms are assigned to specific hazard classes or categories..

[Audio] There are 10 Pictograms as of WHMIS 2015. WHMIS only had eight pictograms upon its debut in 1988. The Exploding Bomb pictogram is a warning that the materials in question are reactive and may explode under the right circumstances. This pictogram is a new addition care of the 2015 WHMIS update. The Flame pictogram warns you of anything flammable, be it gases, aerosols, liquids, or solids. Products with this pictogram can ignite by a spark, static discharge, or even a hot surface. The Flame Over Circle pictogram is for materials that oxidize. Oxidizing gases, solids, or liquids will intensify an existing fire or cause non-flammable materials to catch fire. The gas cylinder pictogram is used for Cylinders storing compressed gas, liquefied gas, refrigerated liquefied gas, or dissolved gas can be dangerous. The cylinders will explode under heat. A rupture can cause these pressurized cylinders to rocket away in any direction. The corrosion pictogram is the possibility of corrosive damage. Not only can this affect the skin and eyes, but also your workspace. Some corrosive products can damage aluminum and steel, creating an unsafe environment. The skull and crossbones pictogram is used for toxicity, which is the level of a substance that can damage a life form. Toxicity or even death can result from exposure to products affixed with this pictogram. Acute toxicity can be the result of oral exposure, dermal exposure, and inhalation. The health hazard pictogram is an addition to the updated 2015 WHMIS. It appears on any product that may cause serious health effects. The hazards fall into these categories: Respiratory or skin sensitization, Germ cell mutagenicity, Carcinogenicity, Reproductive Toxicity, Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Single exposure, Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Repeated exposure, and Aspiration hazard The exclamation mark pictogram is an addition from the 2015 WHMIS update. The exclamation mark pictogram refers to products that can damage the ozone layer. the environment pictogram is another addition from the WHMIS 2015 update. Specifically, this pictogram regards a product that could cause damage to the aquatic environment. Use is optional in Canada. The biohazardous pictogram warns of infectious biological materials. Think bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These infectious materials can cause disease or long-term harm to people or animals..