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| Class A-compressed gas
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| Class B-flammable and combustible
material
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| Class C-oxidizing material
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| Class D-poisonous and infectious material | ||
| Immediate & Serious Toxic Effects | Other Toxic Effects | Biohazard |
| Class E-corrosive material
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| Class F-dangerously
reactive material |
The majority of information requirements and exemptions found in
WHMIS legislation are incorporated into both the Hazardous
Products Act (HPA) and Hazardous Materials Information Review
Act (HMIRA).
Requirements of these acts apply to all of Canada and may
include:
Labels
Labeling of controlled products is a basic requirement of the WHMIS Right-to-Know System. Labeling requirements differ depending on the container's origin, size, use and level of handling. Typically, labeling requirements vary if a container originates from a manufacturer/supplier or from the workplace. Laboratory products, non-laboratory products and laboratory samples also have specific labeling requirements.
Supplier Labels
Legislation requires labels on containers from suppliers holding 10kg or more of a controlled product. Each label must contain ver detailed information on the controlled product and requires the following:
Workplace Labels
There are no WHMIS requirements for the design of a workplace label. However, the label must be easy to read and identify. It must be placed where it can easily be seen by workers and in the language chosen for use in the workplace. Hazard symbols and hatch mark WHMIS border are optional for workplace labels. Labels must be attached to the containers of controlled products that are:
A workplace label must contain the following information:
Where the use of labels may not be practical, WHMIS will allow the use of placards, color codes, signs, labels or other means of clear identification. An example would be bulk storage, or conveyor belts used to transfer product in house.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are an important source
of information for the worker and a vital portion of the WHMIS
Right-to-Know System.
The MSDS will include relevant technical information and must be
listed in the following order:
The MSDS in each workplace may or may not look the same but should contain this same basic information. Each section of an MSDS must be filled in even if nothing in that section pertains to that chemical.
Worker Education Programs
The final piece of the WHMIS Right-to-Know System,
is the Wroker Education Program. The program is the responsibility of
the employer. Workers must be trained to know how to safely handle
hazardous materials and what to do if exposed to these substances in
the workplace. This includes knowledge of the labeling system and use
of MSDS to provide beneficial, and possible life saving information.
It is the employer's responsibility to fully understand the system to
ensure everyone's safety.
WHMIS is enforced by the Labour Branch of Human Resources
Development Canada for federal workplaces and by the provincial or
territorial ministry responsible for occupational health and safety
for most other workplaces. If you are seeking more information on WHMIS,
you should contact your local jurisdiction or e-mail our Technical
Representatives at techsvc@labsafety.com.
Commonly asked Questions
| Q. | Is WHMIS a Law? |
| A. | Yes. WHMIS became law through federal, provincial, and territorial legislation on October 31, 1988. |
| Q. | Do WHMIS Labels have to be in both English and French? |
| A. | According to WHMIS, only the Supplier label is required to have both languages present on each label. Workplace labels can be in either English or French and will usually appear in the language choice of the workplace. |
| Q. | What is WHMIS phase II? |
| A. | WHMIS II, or WHMIS phase II, is the term used for proposed modifications to current WHMIS laws. There have been no official changes to WHMIS laws to date and there are no indications that any changes will take place in the near future. |
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