WHMIS

Question 1

WHMIS

Answer 1

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System is Canada’s national hazard communication standard

Question 2

WHMIS Key elements

Answer 2

labelling containers of “controlled products”, material safety data sheets, worker education and training programs

Question 3

Who coordinates and operates WHMIS

Answer 3

is implemented through federal, provincial and territorial legislation.
-Supplier labelling and MSDS are under the federal Hazardous Products Acts and associated Controlled Products Regulations

Question 4

What workplaces does WHMIS applies?

Answer 4

In Ontario, WHMIS applies to all workplaces covered by OSHA, and to all federal government workplaces

Question 5

To what hazardous materials does WHMIS apply?

Answer 5

controlled products

Question 6

5 Pieces of federal legislation that implement WHMIS

Answer 6

1. Hazardous Products Act, places duties on suppliers to provide labels and MSDS to their customers.
2. The Controlled Products Regulation
3. The Ingredients Disclosure List,
4. Hazardous Materials Information Review Act
5. Hazardous Materials Information Review Regulations; this regulation sets criteria that the Commission will use when assessing the validity of a claim for exemption, also sets the fees to be paid when filing a claim for exemption, or appealing a decision of the Commission

Question 7

Who is a supplier

Answer 7

-a person who manufactures, processes, packages, sells or imports hazardous material intended for use in the workplace

Question 8

What are the duties of a supplier?

Answer 8

3 duties:

1. aka “classification step”–to determine which hazardous materials intended for use in the workplace are controlled products.
2. To label all controlled products as a condition of sale.
3. To provide material safety data sheets for controlled products as a condition of sale.

Question 9

What is a controlled product?

Answer 9

-any product that can be included in the following 6 classes:
-Class A compressed Gas
-Class B flammable and combustible material
-Class C oxidizing material
Class D poisonous and infectious material
-Class E Corrosive Material
-Class F Dangerously Reactive Material

Question 10

How are Classes B of classifying controlled products, further subdivided?

Answer 10

Class B Flammable and Combustible Material
Division 1 Flammable Gases
Division 2 Flammable liquids
Division 3 Combustible Liquids
Division 4 Flammable Solids
Division 5 Flammable Aerosols
Division 6 Reactive Flammable Materials

Question 11

How are Classes D of classifying controlled products, further subdivided?

Answer 11

Class D Poisonous and Infectious Material
-Division 1 Material causing immediate and serous toxic effects:
Subdivision A very toxic material,
subdivision B toxic material

-Division 2 Materials causing other toxic effects:
subdivision A very toxic material, subdivision B toxic material

-Division 3 Biohazardous Infectious material

Question 12

What is a label?

Answer 12

any mark, sign, device, stamp, seal, sticker, ticket, tag or wrapper

Question 13

7 items of information that the supplier must put on the label of a controlled product

Answer 13

1. Name of the product- can be chemical name, common name, generic name, if name is a trade secret the supplier can use a code name or number
2. The name of the supplier
3. reference to a MSDS-a statement alerting user that more info is available
4. Hazard symbol-each WHMIS class has a corresponding hazard symbol, except for Class D that has 3 symbols, 1 for each division
5. Risk Phrases- short statements describing hazardous properties
6. precautionary measures
7. first aid measures

Question 14

What are design requirements of the supplier label??

Answer 14

• language: supplier label must be in English and French
• border
• layout: all required information must be present, and within the border
• color: must contrast with the background.
• Hazard symbols must be in a color that doesn’t cause confusion with a safety mark required by transportation of dangerous goods legislation

Question 15

What are the duties of the supplier when labelling a controlled product that is packaged in outer and inner containers?

Answer 15

As a general rule, every container must have a WHMIS supplier label; however there are 4 exceptions. The supplier does not have to label:
1. An inner container, if the container has a supplier label, and the supplier has a written agreement with the employer that the employer will label the inner container;

2. an inner container that is actually a package liner, ie. a plastic bag used to contain powder in a box
3. an outer container, if the label on the inner container can be seen and read through the outer container. ie. inner containers shrink wrapped in clear plastic
4. an outer container, if the outer container is labelled according to transportation of dangerous goods legislation and all inner containers have WHMIS labels

Question 16

What is a bulk shipment?

Answer 16

a shipment of a controlled product that is contained without intermediate packaging in:

1. a vessel with a water capacity of more than 454 liters
2. a freight container, a road vehicle, a portable tank, a freight container carried on a road vehicle, railway vehicle, ship or aircraft, or portable tank carried on a road vehicle, railway vehicle, ship or aircraft
3. the hold of a ship
4. a pipeline

Question 17

How should the supplier label a bulk shipment?

Answer 17

When a controlled product is shipped in bulk it is usually transported to a worksite and then transferred to a storage container at the worksite.

1. the supplier can send a label with the shipping documents
2. the supplier can send the labeling information in the form of a written statement.
3. The supplier can add the labelling information to the MSDS for the controlled product

Question 18

What is a MSDS?

Answer 18

a technical document or bulletin that summarizes the health and safety information available about a controlled product. It supplements the warning information on the label.

Question 19

What information is required on the MSDS?

Answer 19

1. Product information: product name, supplier name and use of the product
2. hazardous ingredients, concentration and toxicity of each hazardous ingredient of a controlled product.
3. physical data which means information that describes the physical properties of the product, such as solid, liquid or gas.
4. Fire or hazard product-how likely is the product to ignite or explode under various conditions
5. reactivity data to provide info on the chemical stability, how likely it is to react with other chemicals.
6. toxicological properties- how the product enters the body and what its short and long term effects are.
7. Preventative measures on how to protect worker health and safety during the transportation, storage, use and disposal of the product as well as emergency procedures.
8. First aid measures for the safe evacuation and immediate treatment of anyone overexposed to a controlled product.
9. Preparation information-the name and phone number of the person or group who prepared the MSDS and the date of preparation.

Question 20

What is the required format of the supplier MSDS?

Answer 20

The supplier may adopt and format or design for the MSDS as long as the 9 required sections are included. The following are exceptions:

1. Each of the 9 sections must have a heading.
2. Headings cannot be combined to form one heading. There must be 9 separate headings.
3. information items in appendix 3 can be shown under other sections or headings if it makes sense to do so.
4. The name and concentration of hazardous ingredients must always appear in the Hazardous ingredients section.
5. the name and phone number of the person or group who prepared the MSDS and the date of the MSDS must always appear in the Preparation Information section
6. It is not acceptable to replace a required heading with a variety of other headings.
7. If required information is not available or not applicant the MSDS must have the words “not available” or “not applicable” as the case may be under the section heading.

Question 21

A hazardous ingredient in the MSDS is any one of the following:

Answer 21

1. an ingredient that can be classified as a controlled product,
2. an ingredient that is on the Ingredient Disclosure list,
3. an ingredient for which the toxicological properties are unknown or,
4. an ingredient that the supplier has reasonable grounds to believe may be harmful.

Question 22

The exemptions for a hazardous ingredient:

Answer 22

1. concentration cut-off, below concentration of 0.1%
2. complex mixtures
3. research and development
4. confidential business information

Question 23

Does the MSDS have to be updated??

Answer 23

yes every 3 years after the MSDS was prepared or when new information becomes available

Question 24

What are the language requirements of the supplier?

Answer 24

The supplier MSDS must be available in English and French at the time of sale or importation. There can be one bilingual document or separate French and English data sheets.

Question 25

What are the duties of the supplier respecting imported controlled products?

Answer 25

the supplier must either prepare, or if possible obtain from the off-shore source a supplier label ands MSDS on importation.

Question 26

What are the exemptions for the supplier to not have to provide a label or MSDS on importation?

Answer 26

1. the controlled product is to be labelled or repackaged in Canada 2. the supplier provides certain information about the product and where requested a sample of the product, to an inspector in each province into which the product is imported.

Question 27

What information must the supplier provide to an inspector?

Answer 27

a written statement with the following information: - the intention to important the controlled product - the name and type ie. biological hazard, flammable gas - the address of the workplace where the imported controlled product is to be labelled or repackaged and - the names of all provinces into which the controlled product is to be imported This written statement is valid for 3 years.

Question 28

What are the duties of an employer in charge of a worksite where controlled products are used?

Answer 28

1. to ensure that controlled products are labelled or identified 2. To obtain MSDS for controlled products 3. to educate workers

Question 29

What is a workplace label?

Answer 29

a label that the employer produces, for use in the employer's workplace only, that contains: 1. product identity 2. safe handling information 3. a statement that a MSDS is available The workplace label does not require a border, hazard symbols or specific wording

Question 30

What are the duties of the employer regarding MSDSs for controlled products purchased from a supplier?

Answer 30

an employer who buys a controlled product is required to obtain an unexpired MSDS from the supplier on or before the first shipment.

Question 31

What should the employer do if they are unable to obtain a supplier MSDS?

Answer 31

the employer is allowed to store the controlled product but not use it until an MSDS is obtained. -The employer should notify the Ministry of Labour in writing, after making reasonable efforts, that they are unable to obtain MSDS on or before the first shipment.

Question 32

What should the employer do when the supplier MSDS has expired?

Answer 32

The employer is obligated to try and obtain a current data sheet from the supplier

Question 33

Can the employer provide workers with an MSDS other than the supplier's MSDS?

Answer 33

Yes, on 2 conditions: 1. that except for trade secret information, the MSDS provided does not contain less info than the supplier's MSDS 2. that the supplier's MSDS is available at the workplace and the data sheet provided by the employer states the fact

Question 34

What are the employer's duties respecting availability or distribution of MSDSs at the workplace?

Answer 34

The employer is required to make copies of MSDSs readily available to workers. Readily available means located close to workers in a physical copy form, or available thru a computer terminal and accessible to workers during each shift.

Question 35

What information should the employer provide to workers?

Answer 35

all hazard information received from supplier, including supplier labels, data sheets, and supplier's responses to inquiries from employer.

Question 36

What is an "exposed worker"?

Answer 36

-any worker who could be at risk during: storage, handling, using or disposing of a controlled product, or a worker who supervises another worker performing these duties.

Question 37

After the education program has been developed, is any follow-up of the program required?

Answer 37

yes, the employer must review the program at least once a year or more if: - conditions at the workplace change - new information of a controlled program becomes available

Question 38

What are the worker's rights in relation to WHMIS?

Answer 38

- workers have the right to know about the hazardous materials they are exposed to on the job, including: the right to review labels, MSDSs, and to receive instruction and training. - workers also have the right to be consulted regarding the development and implementation of the instruction and training.

Question 39

TDG

Answer 39

Transportation of Dangerous Goods sets out information requirements for products being shipped to and from workplaces.

Question 40

WHMIS exemption for products covered by TDG

Answer 40

- WHMIS does not apply to products in temporary storage, where products are being assembled, packaged, stored, loaded/unloaded for transport - WHMIS does not apply when products are stored and will not be further handled other than to load them directly onto a transport vehicle for the purposes of removal from the workplace. WHMIS does not apply to products being transported to and from workplaces

Question 41

Color restrictions for WHMIS Hazard Symbols

Answer 41

Hazard symbols on the WHMIS supplier label must be in a colour that is not likely to create confusion with a safety mark required by TDG legislation. 1. the colour orange must not be used for any WHMIS symbol; orange is reserved for TSG Class 1, explosives 2. the WHMIS symbol may be in the same colours required under TDG for that product. 3. Except for the color orange, the WHMIS symbol may be in any colour not required under TDG for that pictogram. 4. WHMIS symbol must not be in a colour combination that is possible under TDG for that pictogram but not permitted by TDG for that product

Question 42

What is dry ice?

Answer 42

-is a hazardous material, used to ship lab specimen requiring refrigeration and normally shipped by air to reach their destination rapidly.

Question 43

Hazardous identification of Dry Ice

Answer 43

classified by TDG and IATA as a "miscellaneous" hazard, class 9 -It is also an explosion hazard, suffocation hazard and contact hazard

Question 44

Why is dry ice considered hazardous during transportation?

Answer 44

- Explosion hazard: releases a large volume of CO2 as it sublimates, if CO2 not released it may explode - Suffocation hazard: a large volume of CO2 emitted in a confined space may create an oxygen deficient atmosphere - Contact hazard: cryogenic material that causes severe frostbite upon contact with skin

Question 45

5 basic requirements for shipments of dry ice:

Answer 45

- Gas venting: packages must allow for release of CO2 with an airtight seal - package integrity: package must be strong enough to withstand the loading and unloading normally encountered in transport - package materials: do not use plastics that can be rendered brittle or permeable by the temperature of dry ice - waybill: must include the statement "Dry ice, 9, UN1845, number of packages X net weight in kgs - labelling: the outermost container must be labeled with a hazard class 9 label, UN1845, and net weight of dry ice in kgs. The label must be affixed to a vertical side of the box, not top or bottom. The maximum allowable net quantity of dry ice allowed per package is 200 kgs.