WHMIS
Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System
Independent Study
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Thank you
This course has been adapted from the WHMIS course provided by
St. Michael's Hospital.
Bridgepoint Health would like to graciously acknowledge the
contribution of St. Michael’s Hospital.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
1. Understand the purpose of WHMIS in your
workplace.
2. Recognize controlled products in your
workplace.
3. Know where to obtain more information on
how to work safely with controlled products.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
What is WHMIS?
WHMIS is an acronym that stands for
Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System.
Workplace
Hazardous
Materials
Information
System
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Origins of WHMIS
It is an initiative that was developed in the late
1980s to protect the health and safety of people
working with controlled products in the
workplace. This initiative called for suppliers to
provide consistent information on use and
handling of controlled products distributed to
workplaces
There are all sorts of Controlled products in a
workplace that are potentially hazardous if not
used or handled in a safe manner. This is what
today’s learning will be on – showing you how
to identify controlled products and know where
to obtain more information.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
What is a controlled product?
Because controlled products are potentially hazardous to health,
suppliers who make the controlled products must alert users and
provide information on how to use and handle the product safely.
•
Controlled products are potentially dangerous to your health if used or
handled in an unsafe manner.
•
In order to protect users, suppliers compare their product with properties
of hazardous material of the Controlled Products Regulation.
•
If the product meets the criteria of one or more of the six classes or eight
categories then the supplier must provide safe handling instructions.
•
This is done in accordance with federal legislation.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Occupational Health and Safety Law
Everyone has a shared
responsibility to ensure the
workplace is free from hazards –
this is known as the Internal
Responsibility System.
Under health and safety law,
workplace parties, such as the
employer, supervisor and worker
have specific responsibilities
related to maintaining a safe
and healthy work environment.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
Hazardous
Products
Act
Canada
Labour
Code
Controlled
Products
Regulation
Bill C-70
Ingredient
Disclosure
List
Regulation
Hazardous
Materials
Information
Review Act
Hazardous
Materials
Information
Review
Regulation
‹#›
Employer and Supervisor Responsibilities
The provincial legislations outlines roles and responsibilities for all
workplace parties including the employer and worker. Please be sure to
check out all the hospital policies on occupational health on the intranet.
Here are some responsibilities the Employer and Supervisor share under
health and safety law.
•
To ensure all precautions necessary to protect the health and safety of workers.
•
To provide worker education that ensures workers can apply information for their own
safety and health.
•
Maintain documentation of staff training.
•
To ensure all controlled products received from supplier are properly labeled.
•
To obtain and provide accessible and up-to-date Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for
all controlled products in the workplace.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Worker Responsibilities
Workers have the responsibility to inform
supervisors/managers about unsafe working
conditions or practices, such as damaged or
missing label
Participate in training offered and follow
policies and procedures outlined by the
employer
Use and handle controlled products in a safe
manner to protect yourself and co-workers
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
WHMIS in the workplace
Every year hundreds of workers are
injured from needless expose to
chemicals.
Learning about WHMIS provides you
with information on how to protect
yourself in the workplace and at home.
Even if you are not working with
chemicals directly, you are expected to
learn about WHMIS under health and
safety law, since you work in close
proximity to them.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
WHMIS Labels
WHMIS labels provide you with a quick
at a glance warning and instruction on
how to safely use the controlled product.
The information is brief and concise but
notifies you that there are more
technical information stored elsewhere.
There are various types of labels:
supplier, workplace, laboratory and
other. For this training purpose we will
only cover the first two. For the other
labels your supervisor/manager will
provide you with additional
training/orientation.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Other Labels
Other means of identification include:
•
Placard form
•
Codes: colour coding or alpha/numeric
•
Warning signs
Types of situations allowed:
•
Product transferred to a new container to be used
in laboratory only
•
Hazardous waste produced
•
Substances undergoing tests and analyses
•
Product in transfer (e.g. pipes and conveyor
belts)
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Class
Division
Class A:
Compressed Gas
Class B:
Flammable &
Combustible
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
B6
Flammable Gas
Flammable Liquids
Combustible Liquids
Flammable Solids
Flammable Aerosols
Reactive Flammable Material
Class C:
Oxidizing
Class D:
Poisonous &
Infectious
Class E:
Corrosive
Class F:
Dangerously
Reactive
D1 Immediate/Serious Toxic Effects
D2 Toxic Materials Causing Other
Effects
D3 Biohazardous Infectious
Symbol
Accessing WHMIS Information
The department WHMIS binder is
located in each work area/unit and
contains a MSDS for products used
in your area.
WHMIS Binder
Master copies of all binders are
located at Security, Stores,
Occupational Health and the
Engineering Office. The Master copy
contains all the MSDS used
throughout the hospital.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
How do Hazardous Materials enter the body?
Absorption
Inhalation
Ingestion
Injection
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
absorbed through the skin,
eyes and any mucus
membranes
inhaled through the nose or
mouth
ingested when using
contaminated hands to eat or
smoke
injected through a skin
puncture and the substance
enters the bloodstream
‹#›
Personal Protective Equipment
Here are some examples of personal protective equipment:
Gloves
Mask
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
Respirator
Goggles
Respirator
Face Shield
‹#›
MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet
For all controlled products there needs to be an accompanying material
safety data sheet.
A MSDS gives you more detailed information regarding the controlled
product since labels only have so much space. It gives you specific
information on how it may impact your health – such as potential short
term and long term health effects.
•
Potential health effects related to exposure.
•
How to protect workers.
•
Hazard evaluation related to use, storage and handling.
•
Emergency procedures for accidental release.
•
Needs to be readily available and accessible to workers.
•
Needs to be up-dated every 3 years.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Updating MSDS
• Up-dating MSDS
• MSDS must be up-dated every 3 years
because:
•
•
•
There may be new information on health
effects
Change in composition
Updated information on how to dispose
• New MSDS can be obtained by going to
the manufacturer’s website or calling
them directly.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Section 1: Product Identification and Use
Section 1 on product identification will tell give you the product name and
manufacturer. The manufacturer’s contact information may be listed here so
that you may contact the to obtain updated material safety data sheets.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Section 2: Hazardous Ingredients
Under this section you will find the hazardous ingredient make up of the
controlled product.
However, with some products there may not be any information listed due to the
fact that the manufacturer has applied for confidential business information.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Confidential Business Information
• Hazardous ingredients are not always listed.
• Also known as “Proprietary” and “trade secret”
•
• Manufacturers may apply for CBI if revealing
the ingredient list could put them at a
disadvantage with their competitors
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Mandatory Disclosure
However, there is mandatory disclosure of
proprietary information under the following
conditions:
•
Medical emergency for diagnosis or treatment.
•
As required for enforcement of occupational
health and safety (OH&S) legislation by an
OH&S official.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Section 3: Physical Data
Section 3 is your double check to see what you have in your hand
matches the physical description as described on the MSDS.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Section 4: Fire and Explosions Data
This section will alert you of situations that may lead to a fire or explosion.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Section 5: Reactivity Data
For those who have a chemical storage area, this section is important
since it outlines any incompatibilities.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Section 6: Toxicological Properties
For all healthcare workers this section is extremely important. It is paramount
that you read the MSDS prior to handling the controlled product to understand
the potential health hazards associated with exposure.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Section 7: Preventative Measures
For those who have a chemical storage area, this section is important
since it outlines any incompatibilities.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Section 8: First Aid Measures
This is another reason why you need to be familiar with the hazards
you are working with. By reading this section you will know how to
provide immediate first-aid measures if you or a coworker accidentally
gets the product on you.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Section 9: Preparation Date
Here you will find when the MSDS was written.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Response to Chemical Exposure
• Immediately follow first-aid treatment
as described in the MSDS.
• If medical attention is required, notify a
supervisor/manager and proceed to
the Emergency with the MSDS.
• Complete on-line event tracker.
• Report to the Corporate Health &
Safety Services (2-Shuter).
• Sometimes it could be too late to read
what is on the MSDS. Knowing
beforehand how to react is important
for your safety.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Response to Accidental Release
1. Immediately alert others and secure
the area.
2. If safe to do so, attend to people
who may be contaminated.
3. Don personal protective equipment
(PPE) as appropriate/needed to
respond to the spill
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
WHMIS Exemptions Part 1
There are many other products that can be
dangerous to our health or the environment but do
not require a WHMIS label or symbol. The
following products are completely exempt from
federal and provincial WHMIS requirements:
•
Wood or wood products
•
Tobacco or tobacco products
•
Manufactured articles
•
Hazardous waste
•
Products being transported or handled in accordance
with the Dangerous Goods Transportation Act (Ontario)
or Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act (Canada)
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
WHMIS Exemptions Part 2
Although certain classes of products are partially exempt from
WHMIS they are regulated under other legislation with respect to
labeling. In some instances, such as household cleaners, when
they are brought into the hospital the supervisor is still required to
provide training on safe handling. These categories of partially
exempt goods include:
• Explosives (Explosives Act)
• Cosmetics, drugs, devices, or foods (Food and Drug Act)
• Pesticides (Pest Control Products Act)
• Radioactive products (Atomic Energy
• Control Act)
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Emergency Situations Incident Reporting
If you are exposed to a hazardous
substance or material, an
Employee Incident Report
must be completed immediately and
brought/sent to the Occupational
Health and Wellness department.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Emergency Situations Leak/Spill
of Hazardous Materials
In the event a significant hazardous material spill occurs which:
 CANNOT be handled by individuals on site
 is immediately dangerous to the health, or
 is of unknown hazardous potential
The person in charge of spill area should:
 Initiate the Emergency spill response “CODE BROWN”
by calling extension 5555
 Initiate the evacuation of the spill area
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Summary
• Internal Responsibility System – keeping the workplace safe is
a shared responsibility.
• Learning about WHMIS and how to recognize labels and
symbols are key to prevention.
• MSDS are up-dated every 3 years in order to obtain the most
accurate information on the controlled product.
• Know where to obtain MSDS for the controlled products you
use.
• Know the location of the WHMIS binder on your unit.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›
Conclusion
• We have come to the conclusion of
this training session.
• Thank you for your participation.
© B R I D G E P O I N T H E A L T H 2012
‹#›