Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems
Canadian Legislation Ensures ready access to information on how
to work safely with chemical Workshops, offices, laboratories, clinical
setting Concerned with “controlled products” Criteria of both health and safety risks
Consumer products-Why? Cosmetics Explosives Food & Drugs Hazardous waste Pesticides Radioactive materials
Supplier◦ Provide a label for products that
Classify products Label products with a WHMIS label Prepare and provide customer’s Material Safety Data
Sheet Update the MSDS at least every three years
Train employees who work with chemical in WHMIS
Ensure safe work practices Ensure a workplace label is on all containers Ensure access to MSDS’s
Participate in training Follow prescribed work practices Wear required protective equipment
1. Compressed Gas◦ Stored under pressure◦ Oxygen
2. Flammable & Combustible Materials3. Oxidizing Materials-laboratories4. Poisonous & Infectious Materials
◦ Immediate and serious toxic effects◦ Other toxic effects
Compressed Gas• Gas at normal temperature and pressure• Packaged under pressure• Compressed air, O2, hydrogen, nitrogen
Flammable and Combustible Materials• Ignite and continue to burn in air• Gases, aerosols, liquids and solids• Solvents, cleaning material
Oxidizing Materials• Materials that release O2 or other oxidizing
substances and contribute to the combustion of other flammable materials
• Chlorine, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen peroxide
Materials causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects
• Extremely toxic• Cause severe damage in single overexposure• cyanide
Materials causing other Toxic effects• Poses threat to our health through long term
exposure• Suspected carcinogen, mutagenicity, sensitization,
embryotoxicity, reproductive toxicity
Biohazardous Infectious Material• Presents the risk of biological or viral infection on contact• Biomedical waste containers for syringes, needles and
sharps• Linen and material contaminated with bodily fluids
Corrosive Material• Attacks metals and other substances• Fumes can cause permanent damage to human tissues
& organs• Strong acids, ammonia, fluorine
Dangerously Reactive Material• React violently under certain conditions• React violently with water
Bilingual
Name of product
Suppliers name and number
Symbols as indicated by the product classification
Risk phrases which give a concise statement of the hazard
Precautionary measures
First aid measures
Statement indicating that an MSDS is available
Name of the chemical
Safe handling information
Reference to MSDS
Chemical Product and Company information◦ Supplier name & number
◦ Name of the product
◦ Validation/preparation date (no older than 3 years)
◦ Product uses
◦ Product Classification: which WHMIS class(es)
Percent make-up of all hazardous ingredients will be listed here
Overview of known health effects
Concentrations
LD50 (Lethal Dose kills 50% of test animals)
Appearance including odor, colour Melting and freezing point Flammability Evaporation Rate
Describes First Aid or medical treatment if exposure occurs
Details fire fighting measures Extinguishing media Hazardous of combustion Flammability such as flash point
Provides information on how to clean up spills or accidental releases of hazardous materials
Safe handling procedures to minimize exposure to hazardous material
Identifies incompatible storage
Recommendations for working environment Proper ventilation PPE Exposure limits
Unique properties of hazardous materials for safe handling procedures
Information on reactivity with other materials and changes that can occur during storage
Information about the toxicity of the material and various routes of entry
Effect the material may have on the environment and assist in determining proper disposal procedures
Information regarding treatment, recycling and disposal methods
Information regarding transport regulations such as TDG class, packing group, PIN numbers and other special considerations when transporting the material
Additional information regarding the material
Applicable to governmental regulations that pertain to the product
Various international regulations may also be found here
Fire & Explosion Data◦ How do you put it out◦ Ignition temperature◦ Sensitivity to static electric ignition
Reactivity Data◦ Stability◦ Incompatibility◦ decomposition
Toxicological Properties◦ Route of entry◦ Acute effects◦ Long term effects◦ Legal limit of exposure
Preventive Measures
First Aid