Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System (WHMIS) 2015
What is WHIMS ?
WHMIS is a Canada wide hazard communication
system developed to provide employers and workers
information about hazardous products used in the
workplace
WHMIS legislation is a combined effort between
industry, and provincial and federal governments
Manitoba WHMIS requirements are set by the
Workplace Safety and Health Regulations (Part 35)
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WHMIS Responsibilities
WHMIS is a shared responsibility amongst:
Suppliers
Employers
Employees
Why was WHMIS
created?
WHMIS was created as a response to a workers right to
know about both the safety and health hazards associated
with the hazardous materials they might use at work
WHMIS was also created to reduce injuries and illnesses
associated with handling hazardous materials in the
workplace
WHMIS 2015
Globally Harmonized System
Hazardous Products Regulation
Internationally recognized system
Comprehensive classification criteria
Hazard severity
Harmonized communication of chemical hazard information
Reduce worker risks
Mitigate hazard communication costs
Promote international trade
WHMIS 2015 vs.
WHMIS 1988
WHMIS 2015 WHMIS 1988
Hazardous Products Regulations Controlled Products Regulations
32 Hazard Classes 6 Hazard Classes
Multiple hazard categories 3 divisions
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Materials Safety Data Sheet
16 sections (MSDS)
No need to review 9 sections
Review every 3 years
Pictograms Symbols
Red square on one of its points Black circle
WHMIS Components
WHMIS is composed of 3 main elements to communicate
the hazards of controlled products:
1. Labels affixed to containers of hazardous materials and provides
information regarding the hazards
2. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) provide supplementary information to
hazards outlined on the labels
3. Education education on how to use the information provided, and
training on how to safely handle hazardous products
WHMIS Responsibilities
WHMIS is a shared responsibility amongst:
Suppliers
Employers
Employees
Employee
Responsibilities
Employee responsibilities include:
Participating in education and training provided by the employer
Following prescribed safe work procedures
Identifying and controlling hazards
Employee
Responsibilities
Employee responsibilities include:
Participating in education and training provided by the employer
Following prescribed safe work procedures
Identifying and controlling hazards
Supplier Responsibilities
Supplier responsibilities include:
Determining which products are hazardous products and
classifying them appropriately under regulatory standards
Establishing health and safety information regarding a product
Labelling products with GHS labels
Preparing and providing SDSs for customers
What is a Hazardous
Product?
Hazardous products are materials, products, or substances
that meet any of the criteria for one or more of the 32 GHS
Hazard Classes as defined in the Federal Hazardous
Products Regulation
Hazard classes grouped into Physical Hazards and Health Hazards
Hazard classes contain categories, subcategories, or types
WHMIS does not provide a comprehensive list of
hazardous products, only a list of hazard criteria
Exclusions from WHMIS
WHMIS may not apply if another act or regulation is in place
The following are exempt from the supplier responsibilities of
WHMIS (no label or SDS required):
Consumer restricted products: products sold in stores that already
have labels in accordance with the Canada Consumer Product
Safety Act
Explosives: covered by the Explosives Act
Cosmetics, drug, food, or devices: covered by the Food and Drugs
Act
Pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides: covered by the Pest Control
Products Act
Exclusions from WHMIS
The following are exempt from the supplier responsibilities of
WHMIS (no label or SDS required):
Radioactive materials: covered by the Nuclear Safety and Control
Act
Wood and wood products
Manufactured articles the will not release chemicals
Tobacco or tobacco products
In-house generated hazardous waste
Hazardous materials transported under the Transportation of
Dangerous Goods act (TDG)
Employer still responsible for for training employees on the safe use,
handling, and storage of these materials
WHMIS and Radioactive
Materials
GHS labels and SDSs are still required when there are
mixtures of radioactive nuclide(s) and non-radioactive
carrier material whereby:
The carrier material is greater than 1 mL / 1 g
The carrier material poses a carcinogenic, toxic, or infectious
hazard
GHS Hazard Categories
All hazard classes have at least one hazard category
Categories are assigned a number (e.g. 1, 2, 3)
Subcategories (e.g. 1A, 1B, 1C)
Categories can also be referred to as types (e.g. A, B, C)
The lower the category number, the higher the hazard
Category 1 Category 2 Category
3
High hazard Low hazard
1A
1B
1C
GHS Pictograms
Pictogram
Graphic image
Fast hazard assessment
Symbol
Labels and SDSs
Red square on one point
Symbol in the middle
Represent hazard classes and categories
Can represent multiple hazard classes/categories
GHS Pictograms
Corrosion Flame over circle
Exclamation mark Gas cylinder
Exploding bomb
Health hazard
Flame
Skull & crossbones
GHS Pictograms
Unique to Canada
Biohazardous infectious materials
Not being implemented in Canada
Environment
May still appear on:
Labels
SDS
Corrosion
Physical hazard classes:
Corrosive to metals Category 1
Health hazard classes:
Skin corrosion/irritation
Skin corrosion Category 1, 1A, 1B, 1C
Serious eye damage/eye irritation
Serious eye damage Category 1
Exclamation Mark
Health hazard classes:
Acute toxicity Category 4
Skin corrosion/irritation
Skin irritation Category 2
Serious eye damage/eye irritation
Eye irritation Category 2 and 2A
Respiratory or skin sensitization
Skin sensitizer Category 1, 1A, 1B
Exploding Bomb
Physical hazard classes
Self-reactive substances and mixtures
Types A and B
Type B must always appear with flame pictogram
Organic peroxides
Types A and B
Type B must always appear with flame pictogram
Flame
Physical hazard classes
Flammable gases Category 1
Flammable aerosols Category 1 and 2
Flammable liquids Category 1, 2, and 3
Flammable solids Category 1 and 2
Pyrophoric liquids Category 1
Pyrophoric solids Category 1
Pyrophoric gases Category 1
Self-heating substances and mixtures Category 1 and 2
Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit
flammable gases Category 1, 2, and 3
Flame Cont.
Physical hazard classes
Self-reactive substances and mixtures
Types B, C, D, E, and F
Type B must always appear with exploding bomb pictogram
Organic peroxides
Types B, C, D, E, and F
Type B must always appear with exploding bomb pictogram
Flame Over Circle
Physical hazard classes
Oxidizing gases Category 1
Oxidizing liquids Category 1, 2, and 3
Oxidizing solids Category 1, 2, and 3
Gas Cylinder
Physical hazard classes
Gases under pressure
Compressed gas, liquefied gas, refrigerated liquefied gas,
dissolved gas
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Health Hazard
Health hazard classes
Respiratory or skin sensitization
Respiratory sensitizer Category 1, 1A, and 1B
Germ cell mutagenicity Category 1, 1A, 1B, and 2
Carcinogenicity Category 1, 1A, 1B, and 2
Specific target organ toxicity
Single exposure Category 1 and 2
Repeated exposure Category 1 and 2
Aspiration hazard Category 1
Skull and Crossbones
Health hazard classes
Acute toxicity
Oral Category 1, 2, and 3
Dermal Category 1, 2, and 3
Inhalation Category 1, 2, and 3
Biohazardous Infectious
Material
Health hazard classes
Biohazardous infectious material Category 1
Hazards Not Otherwise
Classified
Physical hazards not otherwise classified
Health hazards not otherwise classified
Require a pictogram appropriate to the hazards associated
with the hazardous product
Multiple pictograms can be used to account for all hazards
Labels
Labels are required on all hazardous products
Suppliers and employers are both responsible for ensuring labels
are affixed to hazardous products
Two types of labels
Supplier labels
All hazardous products received from a supplier require a label
Workplace labels
Used by employers when supplier labels are not available, have been
damaged, the material has been transferred to a different container, or a
material has been produced and is being used at the workplace
If a controlled product is transferred to a new container and consumed
within one shift, a workplace label is not required
Supplier Labels
Requirements
Product identifier
Initial supplier identifier
Pictogram(s)
Signal word
Indicates level of hazard
Two words: Danger or Warning
Hazard statement
Brief sentences that describe the exact hazard
E.g. Extremely flammable gas; Fatal if inhaled
Supplier Labels
Requirements continued
Precautionary statement
Advisory statements to prevent exposure to and improper
handling/storage of hazardous products
5 types of precautionary statements
General E.g. Read label before use
Prevention E.g. Keep container tightly closed
Response E.g. If inhaled, get medical attention/advice
Storage E.g. Store away from other materials
Disposal E.g. Dispose of contents in accordance with regulatory
requirements
English and French
Supplier Labels
Product identifier
Pictogram(s)
Signal word
Hazard statement English
and
French
Initial supplier identifier
Supplier Labels
Updates are required when:
New and significant data becomes available about the
product, changing the products classification in a category or
subcategory, or results in classification in an additional
hazard class
Updates are to be provided by:
The supplier
Within 180 days of the supplier being aware of the new and
significant data
Small Container Labels
Hazardous products packaged in containers less than 100
mL require the following on their label
Product identifier
Pictogram(s)
Signal word
Initial supplier identifier
Available in English or French
SDS Section Information
1. Identification
Product identifier
Additional methods of identification
Recommended use
Usage restrictions
Canadian supplier identifier
2. Hazard identification
Hazard classification
Class, category, subcategory, type
Label information
Symbol, signal word, hazard statement(s), precautionary statement(s))
Other hazards not classified
SDS Section Information
3. Composition/information on ingredients
For hazardous products that are a material or substance
Chemical name, common name/synonyms, CAS number, other unique
identifiers, chemical names of impurities, stabilizers, or additives
For materials or substances in a mixture that are classified as a health
hazard
Chemical name, common name/synonyms, CAS number, other unique
identifiers, concentration
4. First-aid measures
Measures by exposure type
Inhalation, skin contact, eye contact, ingestion
Vital symptoms and effects
If medical attention or treatment is required
SDS Section Information
5. Fire-fighting measures
Suitable and unsuitable extinguishing media
Hazards associated with the hazardous product in fire conditions
Personal protective equipment and precautions for fire-fighters
6. Accidental release measures
Personal protective equipment, precautions, and emergency
procedures
Containment method, including required materials
Prescribed clean-up
SDS Section Information
7. Handling and storage
Information on safe handling
Prescribed storage methods
Incompatible materials
8. Exposure controls/personal protection
Occupational exposure information for chemical and biological
exposures and appropriate control mechanisms
Engineering controls
Personal protective equipment recommendations
SDS Section Information
9. Physical and chemical properties
Not all may be applicable
Appearance (state of matter, color)
Odour
Odour threshold
pH
Melting/freezing point
Initial boiling point/boiling point range
Flash point
Evaporation rate
Flammability (solid, gas)
Lower flammable/explosive limit