The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is a Canadian protection program set to ensure the safety of Canadian workers. The main point of WHMIS is to make workers more aware of the products they are using, which in turn will ensure their safety at work and the longevity of their health. This program provides rules and regulations in regards to hazardous materials within the workplace. There are three main areas of WHMIS that are used to provide this information to workers:
1.Labeling of the hazardous material containers
2.Production and release of material safety data sheets (MSDSs); and
3.Worker awareness programs
The most important part of this program is educating the workers who handle the hazardous materials. Because of this the employers are the ones who have the large responsibility of training their employees, as required by law. Every employee must be familiar with hazardous product classification, and be able to read and understand the corresponding product labels and MSDSs. In order for the products to be properly classified, they are split into 6 different WHMIS classes according to their properties, which are depicted by classes A through F. Several of these have multiple sections and subsections. They are as follows:
1.Class A. Compressed Gas
2.Class B. Flammable/Combustible Material
B1. Flammable Gases
B2. Flammable Liquids
B3. Combustible Liquids
B4. Flammable Solids
B5. Flammable Aerosols
B6. Reactive Flammable Materials
3.Class C. Oxidizing Material
4.Class D. Poisonous and Infectious Material
Class D1. Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects
D1A. Very Toxic Material
D1B. Toxic Material
Class D2. Materials Causing other Toxic Effects
D2A. Very Toxic Material
D2B. Toxic Material
Class D3. Biohazardous Infectious Material
5.Class E. Corrosive Material
6.Class F. Dangerously Reactive Material
The labels on a WHMIS controlled product are extremely important as they declare the hazard classification of the product, as well as precautions that must be taken when being used. The label will also state if there is an available MSDS for the product, which will have further information about the material.
For further information on WHMIS and MSDS please visit http://www.nexreg.com/
Tags: WHMIS