WHMIS Lecture Notes

How was WHMIS 2015 created?

- In 1992, the UN created an international system for classifying and identifying workplace chemical hazards in a consistent way called GHS = Globally Harmonized System. - As of Feb 2015, Canada has integrated the national WHMIS 1988 with GHS for workplace chemicals.

How must suppliers label their products?

- Labels must be bilingual (French and English) - Easy to read and durable

Training requirements include:

- content required on a supplier label - content required on an SDS - procedures for the safe use, handling and disposal -information on how to handle spillage, emission, and emergency response

What are WHMIS 2015 Employer Responsibilities?

- educate and train workers - ensure hazardous products are properly labelled - prepare workplace labels - ensure SDS's available and up-to-date

Education must include:

- elements of the WHMIS program - major hazards of the hazardous products used - rights and responsibilities of employers and workers - content required on labels and SDS's and the significance of this information -use, storage, and handling information of hazardous products used

What are WHMIS 2015 Supplier Responsibilities?

- ensure the appropriate classification of hazardous products - provide labels - provide SDS's to their customers

In WHMIS 2015, the following changes on SDS format are to be noted:

- it follows a standard 16-section format -it not provides hazard classifications for hazardous products -it will no longer include an expiry date -in BC, employers are required to obtain from the supplier an up-to-date SDS once the product is 3 years old, unless: a. The employer has written confirmation from the supplier that the SDS has not changed. b. It is not practical for the employer to obtain the up-to-date SDS or written confirmation under above (a)

In regards to worker education and training, WorkSafeBC does:

- not validate education or training programs -offer advice and information on preparing WHMIS programs

What are WHMIS 2015 Responsibilities for Workers?

- understand hazards and their characteristics - follow safe work procedures - participate in education and training programs

Describe the timeline for WHMIS transition.

- up to May 31, 2017 - Introduction of new labels and SDS's. - June 1, 2017 - May 31, 2018 - Gradual retirement of old labels and MSDS's -June 1, 2018 - November 30, 2018 - Old labels MSDS's must be eliminated. Completion - Dec. 1, 2018 - All parties must follow WHMIS 2015.

List partially exempted products under WHMIS 1988

-Cosmetics -Explosives -Pesticides -Radioactive substances -Consumer goods packaged for public

What is required and not required for partially exempted items under WHMIS 1988?

-Not required: WHMIS supplier label and MSDS -Required: Education and training, workplace labels

What is an SDS and what does WHMIS 2015 require of it?

-SDS = safety data sheets -a technical bulletin that provides detailed hazards and precautionary information on the product -By law, it must be available for each hazardous material regulated under WHMIS, which is present in the laboratory

List completely exempted products by WHMIS 1988.

-Wood or wood products -Manufactured articles -Tobacco or tobacco products -Hazardous wastes and goods handled under TDG = transport dangerous goods

For worker education and training, employers MUST:

-establish an education program for their workers -ensure that workers understand WHMIS and the hazards of the controlled products they work with or near

WHMIS 2015 Implementation Plan Checklist

1. Assign responsibility 2. Establish inventory of controlled product 3. Meet labeling and SDS requirements 4. Evaluate hazards of controlled products 5. Establish workplace controls 6. Emergency procedures 7. Worker education and training 8. Evaluate WHMIS program

Information required on WHMIS 2015 SDS:

1. Identification 2. Hazard identification 3. Composition / information on ingredients 4. First aid measures 5. Fire-fighting measures 6. Accidental release measures 7. Handling and storage 8. Exposure controls/personal protection 9. Physical and chemical properties 10. Stability and reactivity 11. Toxicological information 12. Ecological information 13. Disposal considerations 14. Transport information 15. Regulatory information 16. Other information

Differences between WHMIS 1988 and WHMIS 2015 supplier labels.

1. Pictograms - circle to diamond 2. Signal words 3. Hazard statements 4. Precautionary statements 5. Hatched border previously used by WHMIS 1988

Under WHMIS 2015, a supplier label must include:

1. Product identifier 2. Initial supplier identifier 3. Pictogram(s) 4. Signal word 5. Hazard statement(s) 6. Precautionary statement(s) 7. Supplemental label information 8. All labels to be bilingual

4 requirements of laboratory workplace based labels:

1. Product identifier 2. Print a hazard statement or warning 3. Precautionary phase(s) 4. Reference to SDS - if available

6 Major Requirements of laboratory supplier labels:

1. Product identifier 2. Risk phrases 3. Precautionary phrase(s) 4. First aid measures 5. Reference to SDS 6. Bilingual

Under WHMIS 1988, supplier label contains:

1. Product identifier 2. Supplier identifier 3. Reference to MSDS 4. Hazard symbol 5. Risk phrase 6. Precautions 7. First aid

Composition of MSDS (WHMIS 1988)

1. Product identifier and use 2. Hazardous ingredient 3. Physical data 4. Fire and explosion 5. Reactivity data 6. Toxicological properties 7. Preventative measures 8. First aid measure 9. Preparation information

What are the requirements for workplace labels?

1. Product name (matching the SDS product name) 2. Safe-handling precautions. 3. Reference to the SDS.

Under the Canadian regulations, the supplier has the option to not provide information in sections:

12-15. But all of the headings are to be listed.

When did WHMIS first become law?

1988

Hazard classes are?

A way of grouping together products that have similar properties.

When does a laboratory produce a supplier label and an SDS? Give an example.

Any laboratory that imports a hazardous product for its own use is considered as a supplier and must produce both a supplier label and an SDS. -Example: Chemicals from a laboratory supply company purchased in less than 10 kg quantities, when used exclusively within the laboratory, require labeling

Skull and crossbones symbol

Can cause death or toxicity with short exposure to small amounts

Education teaches what?

Education teaches workers the principles of WHMIS and the meaning of the information on labels and SDS's

Overall goal of GHS is?

Effectively providing communication of hazards and precautions on labels and SDS's worldwide.

What are the responsibilities of employers for MSDS?

Ensure the MSDS is updated and the MSDS accessible to workers

Most of the hazards are common to ____, but some hazard classes are specific to ____.

GHS, WHMIS 2015

What are the federal laws of controlled products?

HPA = Hazardous Products Act CPR = Controlled Products Regulation under HPA. HMIRA = Hazardous Materials Information Review Act

Define environmental hazards.

Hazardous to the aquatic environment and hazardous to the ozone layer. Have not been adopted by WHMIS 2015.

When are laboratory (workplace) based labels required?

It is required if a material has been transferred to another container or the original label has been defaced.

What are the responsibilities of workers for MSDS?

Know where the MSDS is and how to apply MSDS information

What is the purpose of a label?

Label is to alert workers of the hazards and safe handling instructions given.

What is MSDS (WHMIS 1988)?

Material Safety Data Sheet

Health hazard symbol

May cause or suspected or causing serious health effects.

What are the responsibilities of the supplier in regards to SDS?

Must provided SDS. It should be reviewed and updated.

Did GHS replace WHMIS 1988?

No. Instead, it has been aligned with GHS to produce a coordinated system for identifying hazardous products.

What is the Provincial and Territorial law?

OHS = Occupational Health and Safety

What was the original system called? What is the new system called?

Old system - WHMIS 1988 New system - WHMIS 2015

3 types of hazard classes:

Physical hazard Health hazard Environmental concern

What are responsibilities of suppliers for MSDS?

Provide the updated MSDS

What does WHMIS provide?

Provides health and safety information on the safe use of hazardous products in the work place.

What is HMIRA?

Requests by suppliers and employers for non-disclosure of information on the MSDA

What are SDSs?

SDS = Safety Data Sheet - will replace the current MSDS = Material Safety Data Sheets in WHMIS 2015

What are the responsibilities of the employer in regards to SDS?

Should ensure SDS's are up to date and accessible to workers.

What are the responsibilities of the workers in regards to SDS?

Should know where the SDS's are kept and know how to apply SDS information.

HPA and CPR apply to?

Suppliers

What did WHMIS 2015 affect?

The classification of hazards and all chemical substances and mixturess

Which physical hazards are in the new system?

The new system includes nearly all of the physical hazards that are covered in the CPR with additional of combustible dusts, asphyxiates, pyrophoric gases, and physical hazards that were not previously classified.

What does WHMIS give everyone in the workplace?

The right to know about the hazards of materials being used.

Define physical hazards.

They represent hazards relating to physical properties of substance and chemical properties such as flammability or compressed gases.

Define health hazards.

They represent hazards to health arising from exposure to a substance or mixture, such as acute toxicity or skin sensitization.

How was WHMIS developed?

Through the amendment of the Hazardous Products Act (HPA)

Training teaches what?

Training teaches how to work safely with hazardous products

Under the new system, how are health hazards subdivided?

Under the new system, health hazards classes are subdivided which differ from the CPR. However, these classes address nearly all of the health hazards that are currently covcered in CPR with additional types.

What doesn't apply to completely exempted products by WHMIS 1988?

WHMIS requirements, OHS regulations

What does apply to completely exempted products by WHMIS 1988?

Work-safe still requires: - information be provided to workers on all hazardous items in the workplace - hazardous wastes must be identified at the workplace where they are produced - workers must be trained for handling these hazardous wastes

What does WHMIS stand for?

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

Education programs about WHMIS must:

be followed up with a job-specific training in safe work procedures or handling, storing, and disposing of these controlled products

For worker education and training, workers must:

be trained in emergency procedures in the event of an accident or spill

Corrosion symbol

for corrosive damage to metals, as well as skin, eyes

Exploding bomb symbol

for explosion or reactivity hazards

Flame symbol

for fire hazards

Gas cylinder symbol

for gases under pressure

Biohazardous Infectious Materials symbol

for organisms or toxins that can causes diseases in people or animals

Flame over circle symbol

for oxidizing hazards

The new system of hazard assessment uses:

group designation, followed by class and category

Environment symbol

may cause damage to the aquatic environment

Exclamation mark symbol

may cause less serious health effects or damage the ozone layer

If the employer has products that meet both WHMIS 1988 and WHMIS 2015 in the workplace...

the employer must comply with both systems concurrently until full transition to WHMIS 2015 by Dec 1, 2018.