WHMIS Additional Information

WHMIS 2015 for Workers

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) helps you to know about the hazardous products that you use and store in your workplace. This information is provided by labels and safety data sheets (SDSs), and through education and training programs.

WHMIS has aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals(GHS).

GHS is a worldwide system. Its goal is to have a common set of rules for classifying hazardous products, common rules for labels, and a standard format for SDSs that is adopted around the world.

 

The information is based on the federal Hazardous Products Act and the Hazardous Products Regulations, administered by Health Canada.

 

GHS

Aligning WHMIS with GHS helps to:

  • Enhance the protection of worker health and safety by having improved and consistent hazard information.
  • Encourage safe transport, handling, and use of hazardous products.
  • Promote better emergency response.
  • Promote regulatory efficiency and compliance.
  • Facilitate international trade.

 

Components of WHMIS

WHMIS involves:

  • Classification of hazardous products into hazard classes and categories according to specific rules
  • Communication of hazard and precautionary information using labels and SDS’s.You will likely have had WHMIS training before. With the alignment with GHS, you will notice that there are new pictograms and new requirements for labels and SDSs.GHS does not replace WHMIS. GHS does, however, introduce some important changes to WHMIS. Learning about these changes to WHMIS is part of the knowledge that you need to protect yourself and your co-workers from hazardous products.

    Education and training are still a very important part of WHMIS.

 

Legal Requirements

 

In February 2015, Canada amended the Hazardous Products Act and published the Hazardous Products Regulations in order to incorporate the GHS into WHMIS. The new WHMIS is identified as WHMIS 2015.

To allow time for suppliers, employers and workers to adjust, implementation will take place over a multi-year transition period, where both the original WHMIS (WHMIS 1988) and WHMIS 2015 may be used in the workplace. Suppliers can currently use either WHMIS 2015 labels and SDSs for hazardous products, or they may use WHMIS 1988 labels and MSDSs.

Employers are required to educate and train workers about WHMIS 2015, and the new labels and SDSs as they will appear soon in their workplaces. Consult your local jurisdiction for WHMIS requirements and implementation dates.

 

WHMIS

  • Establishes rules for classifying hazardous products into hazard classes and regulations
  • Requires suppliers to attach labels to hazardous products that meet one or more of the classification criteria according to the Hazardous Products Act and regulations
  • Requires suppliers to provide SDSs for these hazardous products to their customers

 

How hazard classification works…

Based on their properties, hazardous products are assigned to hazard classes such as Corrosive to metals or Serious eye damage/eye irritation.

The hazard class and category are a guide to the:

  • Type of hazard
  • Degree of hazard, and
  • Precautions to follow.For example, a flammable liquid – Category 2, such as gasoline, can easily catch fire.IMPORTANT: Some products present more than one hazard, and therefore belong to more than one hazard class. For example, acetone falls into multiple hazard classes, including Flammable liquids – Category 2, Eye irritation – Category 2A, and Specific target organ toxicity – Single exposure – Category 3. Another example is benzine.

 

Pictograms

 

 

Most hazard classes and categories are assigned a symbol reflecting the type or severity of the hazard.

The symbol is called a pictogram when it is framed by a red square set on a point. The exception is the biohazard pictogram which is in a round black border.

The WHMIS pictograms and their names are shown here.

 

What the pictograms mean

 

As you just saw, each pictogram is an image that will help to immediately show you what type of hazard is present.

These descriptions are examples of the classes and categories that each pictogram represents.

 

Hazard Groups

The pictograms are used to help identify the many classes of specific hazards.

There are two hazard groups used in WHMIS:

  • Physical
  • HealthEach group is made up of a number of classes and categories.

 

 

Physical Hazards

Physical hazard classes defined by WHMIS include:

  • Flammable gases
  • Flammable aerosols
  • Oxidizing gases
  • Gases under pressure
  • Flammable liquids
  • Flammable solids
  • Self-reactive substances and mixtures
  • Pyrophoric liquids
  • Pyrophoric solids

 

 

  • Self-heating substances and mixtures
  • Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases
  • Oxidizing liquids
  • Oxidizing solids
  • Organic peroxides
  • Corrosive to metals
  • Combustible dusts
  • Simple asphyxiants
  • Pyrophoric gases
  • Physical hazards not otherwise classified

 

 

Health Hazards

Health hazard classes defined by WHMIS include:

  • Acute toxicity
  • Skin corrosion/irritation
  • Serious eye damage/eye irritation
  • Respiratory or skin sensitization
  • Germ cell mutagenicity
  • Carcinogenicity
  • Reproductive toxicity
  • Specific target organ toxicity – Single exposure
  • Specific target organ toxicity – Repeated exposure
  • Aspiration hazard
  • Biohazardous infectious materials
  • Health hazards not otherwise classified

 

 

Categories

Hazard classes consist of categories or subcategories. The category identifies the degree of the hazard. Category 1 is always more hazardous than Category 2 or 3. Similarly, subcategory 1A is always more hazardous than subcategory 1B or 1C.

For example, Flammable liquids is a hazard class. Within this class, there are four divisions or categories, each with different flash point and/or initial boiling point cut-off values:

  • Category 1: Flash point <23°C and initial boiling point <35°C (most flammable)
  • Category 2: Flash point <23°C and initial boiling point >35°C
  • Category 3: Flash point >23°C and <60°C
  • Category 4: Flash point >60°C and <93°CAs a worker, it is important to remember that Category 1 is always more hazardous than Category 2. Category 2 is more hazardous than Category 3, and so on if there are multiple categories.

 

Labels

Every product that falls into a hazard class must have a label and an SDS.

 

Why are labels important?

Labels are important because they alert workers that a product is potentially hazardous. They tell you:

  • The major hazards of the product
  • Basic precautions (safety steps) that you should take

Signal Words

Most labels will show a signal word that indicates the severity of the hazard, if assigned.

There are two signal words: Danger and Warning.

  • Danger is used for the more severe hazards
  • Warning is used for the less severe hazards

 

 

 

Hazard Statements

 

The label will also have hazard statements. Hazard statements are brief, standardized sentences that describe the hazards of the product.

The following are examples of hazard statements:

  • Extremely flammable gas
  • Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated
  • Fatal if inhaled
  • Causes eye irritation
  • May cause cancer

 

Precautionary Statements

Precautionary statements provide standardized advice on how to minimize or prevent harmful effects from the product. These statements can include instructions about storage, use, first aid, personal protective equipment, and emergency measures.

There are many precautionary statements, including:

  • Keep container tightly closed.
  • Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection.
  • If exposed or concerned: Get medical advice/attention.
  • Fight fire remotely due to the risk of explosion.
  • Protect from sunlight.


Precautionary statements on labels may not identify all of the control measures that are necessary. Check the SDS for more information.

 

Example of the Label Elements

 

 

Here is a sample label for Product K1.

The skull and crossbones pictogram indicates that the product poses a health hazard of higher concern. While the exclamation mark pictogram indicates that the product poses another health hazard, in this case, skin irritation.

The signal word is Danger.

The hazard statements are: Fatal if swallowed and Causes skin irritation.

This label also shows precautionary statements.

Labels must be in both English and French.

 

 

Flammables

Collage: Flames are superimposed by the Flame pictogram. A red square set on a point outline on a white background, symbolizing danger, is displayed. It contains, inside its perimeter, the image of a flame with a thick black edge and the middle of the image, also in the shape of a flame, is white. This image rests above a horizontal black line of the same width as the black contour of the flame. This pictogram is used to warn about the presence of a flammability hazard.

 

There are many classes of flammable materials. Four of the classes are for materials that we commonly encounter at work:flammable gases, flammable aerosols, flammable liquids and flammable solids. All of these materials will burn if ignited by a spark, static discharge, or a hot surface (like a hot plate).

Other classes that are not common in the workplace and use this pictogram have similar safety concerns.

 

Flammables – Examples Found at Work and at Home

Collage: A metal container of paint thinner, hands pouring gas into a gas tank of a motorcycle and an 18 wheeler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Propane: heating, cooking and car fuels
  • Butane: fuel and aerosol propellant
  • Acetylene: welding (in torches)
  • Acetone: nail polish removers, industrial cleaners, and degreasers
  • Paint thinner: cleaner for paints, varnishes, and equipment
  • Kerosene: home heating fuel, solvent, and rocket fuel
  • Gasoline: fuel and solvent
  • Toluene: industrial solvent

 

Oxidizers

Collage: Flames are superimposed by the Flame over circle pictogram. A red square set on a point outline on a white background, symbolizing danger, is displayed. It contains, inside its perimeter the image of a black flame with, at its base, five little white flames. This image rests along the contour of the upper half of a black ring with a white centre, the bottom of which rests on a horizontal black line of the same width as the ring diameter. This pictogram is used to warn about the presence of an oxidizing hazard.There are 3 classes of oxidizing materials:

  • Oxidizing gases
  • Oxidizing liquids
  • Oxidizing solids

Oxygen is necessary for a fire to burn. Oxidizers do not usually burn by themselves, but they will:

  • Increase the intensity of a fire
  • Cause materials that normally do not burn to suddenly catch on fire, sometimes even without an ignition source

 

 

 

Oxidizers – Example

Collage: A garage and canisters at the foot of a hill is overrun by flames.

 

 

Nitric acid is an example of an oxidizer. It is used to manufacture explosives.


If nitric acid is spilled on cotton fabric, it can spontaneously ignite and burn when the spilled acid dries.

The precautionary statements on the label would include:

  • Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
  • Keep away from clothing and other combustible materials.
  • Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
  • Wear fire resistant or flame retardant clothing.

 

Other Physical Hazards

Self-reactive substances and mixtures, and organic peroxides are two classes that may be explosive or flammable, or both.

Self-reactive substances and mixtures are unstable materials that can cause or increase the intensity of a fire. Many organic peroxides are unstable, and may be highly reactive or explosive.

These materials require specific storage and handling.

 

 

Other Physical Hazards (Continued)

WHMIS also includes these hazards:

  • Combustible dusts– means a mixture or substance that is in the form of finely divided solid particles that, upon ignition, is liable to catch fire or explode when dispersed in air.
  • Simple asphyxiants– gases that may displace oxygen in air, and cause rapid suffocation.
  • Physical hazards not otherwise classified(PHNOC) –hazards that occur by chemical reaction and result in the serious injury or death of a person at the time the reaction occurs.For example, injury or death from a violent chemical reaction like hazardous polymerization. These hazards do not fall into another physical hazard class.

Combustible dusts and simply asphyxiants do not require a pictogram.PHNOC requires a pictogram that is applicable to the hazard.

 

Health Hazards

Recall that the WHMIS health hazard classes are:

  • Acute toxicity
  • Skin corrosion/irritation
  • Serious eye damage/eye irritation
  • Respiratory or skin sensitization
  • Germ cell mutagenicity
  • Carcinogenicity
  • Reproductive toxicity
  • Specific target organ toxicity – Single exposure
  • Specific target organ toxicity – Repeated exposure
  • Aspiration hazard
  • Biohazardous infectious materials
  • Health hazards not otherwise classified

 

 

The Health Hazard Pictogram

The health hazard pictogram is used for a number of classes:

  • Respiratory or skin sensitization
  • Germ cell mutagenicity
  • Reproductive toxicity
  • Specific target organ toxicity
  • Aspiration hazard

Recall that products can belong to one or more classes, depending on their hazards.

 

 

The Exclamation Mark Pictogram

Collage: The Exclamation mark pictogram (described on page 14) and a pair of hands with skin burns are displayed; below them are an eyeball showing signs of redness and irritation, a human silhouette and a labeled jerry can, all of them with arrows in the direction of the pair of hands with skin burns.

 

Like the health hazard pictogram, the exclamation mark pictogram is used for a number of classes:

 

  • Acute Toxicity
  • Skin Irritation
  • Repiratory Sensitization

 

Using the Label

How do you know if the product is classified as fatal, toxic or harmful? Read the label for more information, including the hazard statements. For example:

Acute toxicity – Inhalation (Categories 1 and 2) is labelled with the skull and crossbones pictogram and the signal word Danger. In this case, you see the hazard statement Fatal if inhaled.

Acute toxicity – Inhalation (Category 3) is labelled with the skull and crossbones pictogram and the signal word Danger and the hazard statement Toxic if inhaled.

Acute toxicity – Inhalation (Category 4)is labelled with the exclamation mark and the signal word Warning. The hazard statement is Harmful if inhaled.

 

Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Single Exposure

Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure is the hazard class for products that may cause significant, non-lethal damage to organs following a single exposure. In addition, products that may cause respiratory tract irritation and/or drowsiness or dizziness are covered in this class.

These products are labelled with either the health hazard or the exclamation mark pictogram.

For example, toluene may cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Like the Acute toxicity class, read the label and look for the pictogram, signal word, and hazard statement to determine the severity level of the hazard.

 

Skin and Eye

Collage: A pair of hands with skin burns and below them, an eye showing signs of redness and irritation. Below these images are displayed two WHMIS pictograms: the Corrosion pictogram (described on page 14) and the Exclamation mark pictogram, also described on page 14.These products can cause effects ranging from severe skin burns and eye damage (corrosion) to skin irritation or eye irritation.

The corrosion and exclamation mark pictograms are used to indicate the following classes:

  • Skin corrosion/irritation
  • Serious eye damage/eye irritation

 

 

Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

 

The safety data sheet is a document created or obtained by the supplier of the product. The SDS must be provided to the customer at the time of sale.

It provides more detailed information about the hazardous product than the label does.

Employers and workers use the information on the SDS to protect themselves from hazards, for safe handling, storage, use procedures, and for emergency measures.

 

Why do you need an SDS?

There are 4 basic questions that are answered by the SDS:

  • What are the identities of the product and the supplier?
  • What are the hazards
  • What precautions should I take to work safely with this material?
  • What do I do in the case of an emergency?

 

 

SDSs

They:

  • Have 16 sections
  • Have a variable number of pages
  • Are available for every hazardous product in your workplace that is covered by WHMIS. Your employer must obtain or prepare them, and show you how to access them.

There is a standardized format for the SDS. The information must always be in the same section, regardless of which supplier created the SDS.

 

16 Sections

The 16 sections of information that must be present on an SDS are:

  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


Sections 12, 13, 14 and 15 require the headings to be present, but under WHMIS, the supplier has the option to not provide information in these sections.

 

 

Hazard Control

The information on the SDS should be used along with your knowledge of the specific ways the product is used in your workplace to know what controls you need.

Look for recommendations about precautions. These statements could include safe handling and use, or be about ventilation (general or local exhaust) and personal protective equipment that may be needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Lesson