WORKPLACE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INFORMATION SYSTEM
(WHMIS)
Click on any of the following links for detailed
information.
· GENERAL
· WORKER TRAINING AND
EDUCATION
· LABELS
· MATERIAL SAFETY DATA
SHEETS (MSDSs)
WHMIS applies to any
workplace that has one or more controlled products (more commonly called hazardous
products). WHMIS does not apply to a hazardous material that is covered under
another piece of legislation such as the Food and Drugs Act or Consumer Products Act, or to manufactured articles or
products covered under the Pest Control Products Act. (Occupational Health and
Safety Code, 395)
The employer must provide
general education to workers about WHMIS and ensure that workers have access to
all hazard information received about a controlled product. Workers must be instructed in the following:
·
The contents required
on a supplier label and workplace label, and the purpose and significance of
the information contained on the labels
·
The contents required
on a material safety data sheet and the purpose and significance of the
information contained on a material safety data sheet
·
Procedures for the safe
use, storage, handling and disposal of a controlled product
·
Procedures for the safe
use, storage, handling and disposal of a controlled product when it is
contained or transferred in, a pipe, a piping system including valves, a
process vessel, a reaction vessel, or a tank car, a tank truck, an ore car, a
conveyor belt or a similar conveyance
·
Procedures to be
followed when fugitive emissions are present
·
Procedures to be followed
in case of an emergency involving a controlled product
(Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 397)
WHMIS
requires all containers of controlled products to be labeled. There are two
types of labels: supplier labels and workplace labels.
All containers of
controlled product must be labeled with a supplier label when the containers
are received. The employer is responsible for ensuring that containers are
received with a supplier label attached. If the supplier label becomes illegible,
it must be replaced with a workplace label. (Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 398)
A
workplace label must be applied to any container of controlled product that
does not have a supplier label. For example, a workplace label must be applied
to any tank containing a product made in the workplace (e.g., combine parts A
and B to make a new chemical) and to any container into which a hazardous
product has been decanted. (Occupational Health and
Safety Code, 398)
An employer must use colour coding, labels, placards, etc, to
indicate when a controlled product is in a pipe, piping system, process or
reaction vessel or tank car. (Occupational Health and Safety Code, 402)
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDSs)
The
employer must obtain an MSDS for each controlled product used in the facility.
The MSDS must be less than three years old to be acceptable. If an MSDS less
than three years old is not available, the existing MSDS can be updated with
any new hazard information available. The MSDS provided to employees may be in
a format different from the one provided by the supplier provided that the
supplier MSDS is available to workers and the new MSDS contains all the
information from the supplier MSDS.
MSDSs for controlled
products must be readily accessible to workers in the workplace, and to members
of the joint health and safety committee. (Occupational
Health and Safety Code, 404-405)
Continue by
clicking any item on the menu bar on the left.