1. WHMIS
Workplace Hazardous Materials
Information System
Prepared by Peter-Jean Kennedy

2. Origin of WHMIS
• WHMIS is a creation of three separate groups:
• Federal Government
• Provincial Governments
• Industry (pay attention to this one!)
• The goals of WHMIS are to:
• Prevent injury and death
• Provide information about the health effects of
controlled products
• Inform workers how to safely use controlled products

3. Controlled Products
• Chemical products in the workplace are called
“Controlled Products”
• The term controlled products comes from the
fact that use of these chemicals in the
workplace are controlled by WHMIS
regulations

4. Classes of Controlled Products
• There are six classes, or types, of controlled
products
• Sometimes controlled products can belong to
more than one class
• Note: Copyright for the following definitions belongs to WorkSafeBC.

5. Compressed Gasses
Class A
This class includes compressed gases, dissolved
gases, and gases liquefied by compression or refrigeration. If the
pressure in the container is greater than 40 psi, the gas is a Class A
product. The cylinder may explode if exposed to heat or to physical
shock (i.e. when dropped).
Examples: oxygen and acetylene in cylinders for welding

6. Flammable and Combustive Material
Class B
This class includes solids, liquids, and gases capable of catching
fire in the presence of a spark or open flame under normal working
conditions.
Class B has six divisions
1. Flammable Gasses
2. Flammable Liquids
3. Combustible Liquids
4. Flammable Solids
5. Flammable Aerosols
6. Reactive Flammable Materials

7. Flammable Gasses
Division 1
These are compressed gases (Class A) that form flammable
mixtures in air.
Examples: butane, propane, hydrogen gas
At BUILD: Butane fuel cells for the Paslodes (Cordless Nailers)

8. Flammable Liquids
Division 2
These are liquids that have flash points below 37.8°C. A flash point
is the lowest temperature at which the vapours from these liquids
will catch fire from nearby sparks or open flames.
Examples: acetone, gasoline, isopropyl alcohol
At BUILD: We use gasoline in our vehicles and generators

9. Combustible Liquids
Division 3
These are liquids that have flash points of 37.8°C or more but less
than 93.3°C.
Examples: kerosene, mineral spirits, butyl cellosolve
At BUILD: We sometimes use mineral spirits to clean tools

10. Flammable Solids
Division 4
This is a special group of solids (usually metals) that meet very
specific technical criteria such as the ability to cause fire through
friction or to ignite and burn so vigorously and persistently that they
create a hazard.
Examples: various magnesium alloys, beryllium powder
None at BUILD

11. Flammable Aerosols
Division 5
These products are packaged in aerosol containers. Either the
aerosolised product itself or the propellant may catch fire.
Examples of flammable propellants: propane, butane, isobutane
At BUILD:`WD-40 and many others

12. Reactive Flammable Materials
Division 6
These products react dangerously in one of two ways: either (1) they
spontaneously create heat or catch fire under normal conditions of use
or they create heat when in contact with air to the point where they
begin to burn, or (2) they emit a flammable gas or spontaneously catch
fire when in contact with water or water vapour.
Examples: aluminum alkyl compounds, metallic sodium, white
phosphorous
None at BUILD

13. Oxidising Material
Class C
These materials increase the risk of fire if they come in contact with
flammable or combustible materials.
Examples: perchloric acid, hydrogen peroxide
At BUILD: Peroxide in our first-aid kits

14. Poisonous and Infectious Material
Class D
Class D products are often overlooked by people but, because of the
serious harm they can cause, workers should pay very close attention to
them.
Class D has three divisions:
1. Materials causing immediate and serious toxic effects
2. Materials causing other toxic effects
3. Biohazardous infectious material

15. Materials Causing Immediate and
Serious Toxic Effects
Division 1
These materials can cause death or immediate injury when a
person is exposed to small amounts.
Examples: sodium cyanide, hydrogen sulphide
At BUILD: Degreaser

16. Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects
Division 2
These materials can cause life-threatening and serious long-term
health problems as well as less severe but immediate reactions in a
person who is repeatedly exposed to small amounts. Health
problems include immediate skin or eye irritation, allergic
sensitization, cancer, serious impairment of specific body organs
and systems, and reproductive problems.
Examples: xylene, asbestos, isocyanates
At BUILD: Spray foam insulation

17. Biohazardous Infectious Materials
Division 3
These materials contain harmful micro-organisms that have been
classified into Risk Groups 2, 3, and 4 as determined by the World
Health Organisation (WHO) or the Medical Research Council of
Canada.
Examples: cultures or diagnostic specimens containing salmonella
bacteria or the hepatitis B virus
At BUILD: Syringes

18. Corrosive Material
Class E
This class includes caustic and acid materials that can destroy the
skin or eat through metals.
Examples: sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid
At BUILD: Perchloric Acid, Concrete

19. Dangerously Reactive Material
Class F
These products may self-react dangerously (for example, they may
explode) upon standing or when exposed to physical shock or to
increased pressure or temperature, or they emit toxic gases when
exposed to water.
Examples: plastic monomers such as butadiene; some cyanides
None at BUILD

20. Exceptions
• Some common products are not controlled by
WHMIS regulations
• wood or wood products;
• tobacco or tobacco products;
• manufactured articles;
• products being transported if handled in accordance with TDG
requirements;
• hazardous waste;
• explosives;
• food and drugs;
• pest control products,
• consumer products (in small quantities and for home use only)

21. Break

22. Routes of Entry
• There are only four ways chemicals can enter
your body:
1. Ingestion
2. Inhalation
3. Absorption
4. Injection
• Chemicals cannot harm you unless they can
get inside your body!

23. So, how do we prevent chemicals
from entering our bodies?

24. So, how do we prevent chemicals
from entering our bodies?
BY FOLLOWING THE
INSTRUCTIONS ON LABELS AND
MSDS.

25. Labels
• There are two types of WHMIS labels
1. Supplier Labels
2. Workplace Labels
• Each label is different and is used in different
situations.

26. Supplier Labels
The easiest way to identify a supplier
label is the special border you see to
the right.
Nothing else in Canada is allowed to
have this border.
So, if you ever see this border, you
know you’re looking at a supplier
label.

27. Supplier Labels
• Supplier Labels must have:
• the name of the product,
• the supplier's name and address,
• a reference to the MSDS,
• WHMIS Hazard Symbols,
• risk phrases (eg. Spontaneously flammable in air),
• precautionary measures (eg. Do not breathe dust),
• first aid measures.
• They must also be in English and French

28. Supplier Label

29. What is this chemical?

30. What is this chemical?
This is why we use Workplace Labels!

31. Workplace Labels
• Workplace labels are used when we take a
product out of its original container
• Workplace labels need four pieces of
information on them:
• the name of the product
• a reference to the MSDS
• precautionary measures
• first aid measures

32. MSDS
• MSDS means Material Safety Data Sheet
• An MSDS will tell you how a product could
hurt you
• An MSDS will also tell you how to protect
yourself

33. MSDS
• MSDS are the most important source of
information on controlled products
• But, MSDS are often confusing and hard to
read.
• If you don’t understand an MSDS, ask your
supervisor to explain it to you!

34. Worker Education
• The most important element of WHMIS is
worker education
• Every worker in Manitoba must be trained in
WHMIS before he uses a controlled product

35. Responsibilities
• Everyone on a job site has responsibilities
• Job site responsibilities are set out in the
Workplace Safety and Health Act

36. Employer Responsibilites
• Employers must
• Ensure all workers are trained in WHMIS
• Provide workers with information (i.e. Supplier Labels
and MSDS)
• Provide supervision

37. Supervisors’ Responsibilities
• Supervisors must
• Inform workers of safety risks
• Ensure workers work safely

38. Workers’ Responsibilities
• Workers must
• Protect their own health and safety
• Read and understand labels
• Read and understand MSDS
• Wear PPE
• Protect the health and safety of other workers
• Inform other workers of risks

39. Quiz