WHMIS- Chem 20

What does WHMIS stand for?

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

What is WHMIS?

-Canada-wide hazard communication system for transmitting information about hazardous materials used in Canadian workplaces

Three key elements WHMIS

-labels
-SDS
-worker education and instructional programs

Requirements

-requires Canadian suppliers and importers of harmful products to provide hazard info in the form of labels and SDSs to their customers as a condition of sale
-requires employers to ensure that all materials covered by the system are adequately labelled and that the SDS is available
-employers must provide worker education so that they can apply it to protect their health and safety

What problems is WHMIS trying to solve?

-unlabeled chemicals at work sights
-inadequate information provided by suppliers and recognizing that these are harmful materials with precautions that need to be taken
-lack of awareness by employers and workers about the materials they are using which results in injury through improper use nd

What is an SDS?

-SDS stands for safety data sheet
-SDS is a secondary system designed to support the WHMIS program
-SDSs provide detailed info on a chemical, its hazards, preventative measures, physical data, and toxicological properties

Workplace Label

Identify this type of label.

Supplier Label

Identify this type of label.

WHMIS

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.

Product Identifier

The product name exactly as it appears on the container and SDS

Hazard pictogram

Hazard pictograms, determined by the hazard classification of the product

Signal Words

used to emphasize and indicate the severity of the hazard of the product

Hazard Statements

Standardized statement of all hazards based on the classification of the product

Precautionary Statement

Describe recommended measures to minimize or prevent adverse effects from exposure from the product

Supplier Identifier

The company which made, packaged, sold or imported the product. Responsible for label and SDS

Safe Handling Precautions

May include pictograms or other supplier info

Reference to SDS

If available