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That concludes the content for our WHMIS course.
Before taking your final exam let's review what we have covered today.
WHMIS
WHMIS
WHMIS is a standardized plan for providing information on the safe use of hazardous materials used in Canadian workplace. Employees, Employers, and Chemical suppliers all have responsibilities.
Supplier Labels
Supplier Labels
Your first alert to the hazards of a product and precautions that can be taken to be safe. They must be placed on every container that a supplier provides into the workplace and there are a number of pieces of information that must always be present.
Supplier labels must have the following 6 elements
Product Identifier
Product Identifier
The brand name, chemical name, or common name of a hazardous product.
Supplier Identifier
Supplier Identifier
The details of the company that made, packaged, sold, or imported the product. As a minimum the name, address, and telephone number must be made available
Pictograms
Pictograms
These are simple symbols that will convey the type of hazard present. It is extremely important that you are able to understand what these symbols mean. We will be doing into much greater detail for all the symbols after we discuss the labels.
Signal Word
Signal Word
This is a single word that is used to show the level of risk. There are only two different signal words
Danger = High Risk
Warning = Less Severe Hazard
Hazard Statement
Hazard Statement
These are short standardized sentences that tell you more about the exact hazards. Here you will also understand how serious the risk is. For example "May cause cancer" is more hazardous than "Suspected of causing cancer"
Precautionary Statements
Precautionary Statements
These are short standardized sentences that tell you more about the exact hazards. Here you will also understand how serious the risk is. For example "May cause cancer" is more hazardous than "Suspected of causing cancer"
Workplace Labels
Workplace Labels
Workplace labels are required whenever you transfer hazardous materials into a different container, the supplier label is no longer useful, or a hazardous product is made in your workplace.
Workplace labels must have the following elements
Product Identifier
Product Identifier
The brand name, chemical name, or common name of a hazardous product. The name put on here MUST match the SDS
Precautionary Statement
Precautionary Statement
Short statement to explain how to reduce or prevent harmful effects.
It is also acceptable to just use the pictogram instead of words.
Reference to SDS
Reference to SDS
It must reference that an SDS is available.
Pictograms
Pictograms
These are graphic images that immediately show you what sort of hazard is present when using a chemical.
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
A more in depth source of information about a hazardous material
Has 16 different elements of information. Most relevant to you are: First Aid measures and Hazard Identification
Must be available in the workplace to all workers
Those likely to be exposed must have readily available access
Handling Chemicals
Handling Chemicals
Before handling any chemicals always do the following
LOOK - Always check to see if there is a label on a product before you use it
READ - Read, understand, and follow the instructions on the label and SDS
ASK - Ask your supervisor if you are not sure about how to use or store the product
FOLLOW - Use any education, instruction, and training that your employer has provided
LABEL - Ask for or make a new label when you can't see or read the old one properly. If you are moving the chemical into a separate container create a workplace label
AVOID - Do not use a product that is not labelled or if the label is unreadable.
Emergency Situations
Emergency Situations
The primary concern is the safety of everyone in the workplace. Immediately prevent any further exposure and then provide First Aid. If any further information is needed or a hospital visit is required consult the SDS.
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