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WHIMS
What is it?
Workplace Hazardous
Materials Information
System
A system of
information delivery
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3 Components of WHMIS:

Labels for hazardous materials which alert

employers and workers.

MSDS (material safety data sheets) which

provide detailed hazard and precautionary
information.

Worker Education which provides information

on hazards and training in work procedures.
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WHMIS
A nationwide system to provide information on hazardous materials
WHMIS was created to keep employees healthy

Business and industry must comply with

Capital Health WHMIS Policy

Capital Health has a WHMIS policy

Capital Health policy includes ALL hazardous materials; not just those covered
under WHMIS legislation, but also covered under the Pest Control Products Act,
the Food and Drug Act, and the Consumer
Products Regulations

In this way, employees have access to ALL hazardous materials that they handle
in the workplace
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WHMIS Classes and Symbols

§There are six classes with one class divided into
three divisions.
§Therefore, there are eight corresponding WHMIS
symbols
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Class A - Compressed Gas

Risk
§danger of explosion
Precaution
§do not drop
§avoid heat
§store in the designated area
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Class B - Combustible/Flammable
Risk
§potential fire hazard

Precautions
§avoid even low heat
§do not smoke
§store in cool, fireproof area approved by
supervisor
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Class C - Oxidizing Material

Risk
§ explosion or fire
Precautions
§ Keep away from combustible
materials such as wood and
fuels
§ keep away from sources of
ignition
§ wear protective equipment &
clothing, including eye, face
and hand protection
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RISK
§ damage with multiple exposures over
time
§ skin or eye irritation
§ chemical allergy
§ cancer
§ birth defects or sterility
PRECAUTIONS
§ wear protective equipment and clothing
including eye, face, hand and breathing
protection
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Infectious Material

Risk
§ may cause a serious disease leading to illness or
death
Precautions
§ extreme caution
§ use proper protective equipment
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§ Exploding Bomb (Explosion or
reactivity hazards)
The symbol of an object exploding is
used to clearly signify that the
material is explosive and risks
combusting when handled
improperly. These materials should
be handled only by professionals
under safe conditions and always
handled with extreme care. Proper
storage of these materials is
paramount as some may be
sensitive to heat or light and their
explosiveness poses a massive risk
for serious injury or death.
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§ Skull & Crossbones (Can cause
death or toxicity with short
exposure to small amounts)
This symbol has long been associated
with death and it is used in materials
labelling to warn you that the relevant
product has potential to be fatal, toxic,
or extremely harmful even with a
limited exposure. This can be
exposure through contact with skin,
inhalation, or swallowing and the
specifics will be specified on the Safety
Data Sheet (SDS). Proper handling
should be taken extremely seriously
with these materials.
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§ Health Hazard (May cause or
suspected of causing serious
health effects)
These materials will cause
chronic health effects from
disease, sickness, cancer,
infertility, and more. While these
materials if contacted may not
cause serious injury or damage
immediately, long term exposure
without proper protection can
lead to very serious chronic
health conditions. Proper PPE to
protect from exposure is required
to safely work in the vicinity of
these materials.
§ Exclamation Mark (May causes SUCCESS STORIES
less serious health effects or
damage the ozone layer)
This symbol signifies less severe
health effects from exposure
including irritation, inflammation,
coughing etc. Effects of exposure to
these materials are generally
treatable and have less of risk for
long term chronic health effects
compared to materials under the
WHMIS 2015 health hazard label.
These materials should still be
treated as dangerous as some
individuals may be more sensitive
to the effects.
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§ Environment (May cause damage
to the aquatic environment)
While this label is not mandatory in
Canada, it still may appear on
imported materials or from
suppliers that choose to highlight
these hazards. These materials
should be kept out of water sources
as they will harm aquatic life and
lead to toxic impacts to the
environment in those settings.
These materials can also make their
way into homes if treatment plants
aren’t equipped to remove them, so
they are important to keep these
materials out of water sources.
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Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS)
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)
An MSDS is a Technical Data Sheet providing
information on:
§ health effects of overexposure
§ health evaluation related to product handling,
storage and use
§ measures to protect workers at risk of
overexposure
§ emergency procedures
§First Aid Measures
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Provides information necessary for the

safe evacuation and immediate
treatment of a person experiencing
acute effects of overexposure to the
controlled product. Information is
meant for use by workers on site,
including first aid personnel, and will
normally expand on and must always
be consistent with first aid measures
on the label.
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LABELS
§ Supplier and Workplace Supplier Label
§ The supplier label must be included on all WHMIS
controlled products before entering Capital Health
facilities.
§ The label acts to alert you to health dangers of the
products, and
§ indicate that an MSDS with additional information is
available.
§ Supplier Label
§ Has a hash mark border
§ Seven pieces of information if the bottle size is 100 ml
or more
§ Four pieces of information if the bottle size is less
than 100 ml
§ If the supplier has been granted Trade Secret Rights,
they can withhold the product name (and use a
generic name) and the Supplier information.
§ Personal Protective Equipment SUCCESS STORIES

PPE does not eliminate the hazard.

If it fails, exposure will occur. Face Shield
Apron

Boots
Gloves

It is only effective if: Lab Coat

Full Facepiece
Dust & Vapour
Respirator

the equipment is properly selected

for the situation Dust Respirator
Dust & Vapour
Respirator

employees are trained in its use Full Face Air-

Goggles Line Respirator

the equipment is maintained

the equipment is used by employees