WHAT IS WHMIS?

WHMIS is a short form for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. It is

a comprehensive plan for providing information on the safe use of hazardous materials used in
Canadian workplaces. Information is provided by means of:

 Product labels
 Material safety data sheets (MSDS)

 Worker education Programs

The supplier of the hazardous material provides the labels and material safety data sheets to the
employer. The employer passes the information on to the worker and provides education
programs.

THE WHMIS LOGO:

The WHMIS logo was developed to be a readily recognizable graphic identification of this pan
Canadian system. The logo is intended to be use widely and as fully as possible by any users or
supporters of WHMIS to identify informational, promotional or educational material related to
this national program.

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 Figure 1: Illustrates the WHMIS Logo

WHAT ARE THE MAIN PARTS OF WHMIS?

The main components of WHMIS are hazard identification and product classification, labeling,
material safety data sheets, and worker training and education.

WHMIS

Applies to

PRODUCER IMPORTER

which are the

SUPPLIER OF CONTROLLED PRODUCT

LABEL MSDS

to the

EMPLOYER

the employer provides

TRAINING

MSDS WORKPLACE
LABELS

Figure 2: Illustrates the WHMIS Components

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 WHY WAS WHMIS CREATED?

It was created in response to the Canadian workers' right to know about the safety and health
hazards that may be associated with the materials or chemicals they use at work. Exposure to
hazardous materials can cause or contribute too many serious health effects such as effects on the
nervous system, kidney or lung damage, sterility, cancer, burns and rashes. Some hazardous
materials are safety hazards and can cause fires or explosions. WHMIS was created to help stop
the injuries, illnesses, deaths, medical costs, and fires caused by hazardous materials.

WHAT ARE THE DUTIES UNDER WHMIS?

Suppliers, employers and workers all have specified responsibilities in the Hazardous Products
Act.

Suppliers: Canadian suppliers are those who sell or import products. When this product is
considered a "controlled product" according to the WHMIS legislation, a supplier must label the
product or container, and they must provide a material safety data sheet (MSDS) to their
customers. The purpose of the labels is to clearly identify the contents of the hazardous material,
and the MSDS is to explain what those hazards are.

Employers: Employers are required to establish education and training programs for workers
exposed to hazardous products in the workplace. Employers must also make sure that the
products are labeled and that an MSDS is present for each product and that they are readily
available to workers.

Workers: Workers are required to participate in the training programs and to use this
information to help them work safely with hazardous materials. They may also inform employers
when labels on containers have been accidentally removed or if the label is no longer readable.

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 LABELLING

A label can be any mark, sign, device, stamp, seal, sticker, ticket, tag or wrapper. There are two
types of labels.
I. The supplier label
II. The workplace label

The Supplier Label

What are the duties of the employer respecting the labelling of a controlled

product purchased from a supplier?

1. The employer must ensure that every container of a controlled product received from a
supplier has a supplier label.
2. The employer must also ensure that until the supplier container is empty, the supplier
label is not deliberately removed, destroyed or changed.

What should the employer do if the supplier has not provided an appropriate label

for the controlled product?

1. The employer is allowed to store a controlled product but not to use it until proper labels
are obtained.
2. The employer should notify the Ministry of Labour in writing, if after making reasonable
efforts such as telephoning and/or writing the supplier, he/she is unable to obtain proper
labels.

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Figure 3: Illustrates the Supplier Label

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The Workplace Label

A workplace label is a label that the employer produces, for use in the employer's workplace
only, and that contains the following information:

1. The identity of the product;

2. Information for the safe handling of the product; and
3. A statement that a material safety data sheet, if supplied or produced, is available.

The workplace label does not require a border, hazard symbols or specific wording unlike the
supplier label. However, in spite of the flexibility given to the employer, there are some
commonly understood expectations as to what makes an acceptable workplace label.

First, in identifying the product, the workplace label must indicate one of the following: the
brand name, chemical name, common name, generic name, trade name, code name or code
number of the controlled product.

Second, "information for the safe handling of the product" means precautions that the worker
must take to minimize the risks of adverse health effects or physical injury. These precautions
can be conveyed by using pictures, words, symbols or any other mode of communication.
Whatever mode of communication is used, it must be combined with worker education to ensure
that the information on the workplace label is understood.

Third, if a material safety data sheet is available for the controlled product, the workplace label
must say so. This material safety data sheet may be one provided by the supplier of the product,
or one prepared by the employer.

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Figure 4: Illustrates the Workplace Label

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 MSDS – MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET

Figure 5: Illustrates a MSDS

A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a technical document or bulletin that summarizes the
health and safety information available about a controlled product. It supplements the warning
information on the label.

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is designed to provide both workers and emergency
personnel with the proper procedures for handling or working with a particular substance.

A supplier MSDS must have at least 9 sections with the following or similar headings:

1. Product Information to identify the product, the supplier/manufacturer, and to

describe the use of the product.
2. Hazardous Ingredients to provide information on the name, concentration and
toxicity of each hazardous ingredient of a controlled product.
3. Physical Data which means information that describes the physical properties of the
product, such as whether the product is a solid, liquid or gas.
4. Fire or Explosion Hazard which includes information on how likely the product is to
ignite or explode under various conditions.
5. Reactivity Data to provide information on the chemical stability of the product, and
how likely it is to react with other chemicals.
6. Toxicological Properties to provide information on how the product enters the body
and what its short- and long-term health effects are.

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7. Preventive Measures to provide information on the measures to protect worker health
and safety during the transportation, storage, use and disposal of the product, as well as
emergency procedures.
8. First Aid Measures to provide information for the safe evacuation and immediate
treatment of anyone overexposed to a controlled product.
9. Preparation Information which means the name and phone number of the person or
group who prepared the MSDS, and the date of preparation.

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Figure 6: Showing the Sample of MSDS for Sodium hydroxide or Caustic Soda

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 CLASSIFICATION

WHMIS divides hazardous materials into six main classes based on their specific hazards. If a
product corresponds to one or more of these classes, it becomes a “controlled” product. A
controlled product is any product that can be included in any of the following 6 classes:
1. Class A Compressed Gases
2. Class B Flammable and Combustible Material
3. Class C Oxidizing Material
4. Class D Poisonous and Infectious Material
5. Class E Corrosive Material
6. Class F Dangerously Reactive Material

Two of the classes, Class B and Class D, are subdivided as follows:

 Class B Flammable and Combustible Material

Division 1 Flammable Gas

Division 2 Flammable Liquid
Division 3 Combustible Liquid
Division 4 Flammable Solid
Division 5 Flammable Aerosol
Division 6 Reactive Flammable Materials

 Class D Poisonous and Infectious Material

Division 1 Material Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effects

Division 2 Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects
Division 3 Biohazardous Infectious Material

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 Definition
Symbol Classes One Hazard
And
Examples

A    Compressed Product, material or substance held could explode if heated

Gases under pressure.
Eg. Oxygen, Propane.

B    Flammable and Products that will burn or catch on fire could cause a fire
Combustible easily.(flammable mixture with air)
Materials Eg. Propane, Acetone, Kerosene,
[Divisions 1 To 6] Magnesium, Sodium.

C    Oxidizing Products that can cause or promote could cause flammable to

Materials spontaneous combustion or ignition burn
when in contact with air or liable to
emit a flammable gas or become
spontaneously combustible when in
contact with water or steam.
Eg. Hydrogen Peroxide, Nitric
Acid,calcium carbide,sodium

D1  Materials Products that can rapidly cause Causes serious illness

Causing harmful health effects, including death.
       Immediate & Eg. Carbon Monoxide, Phenol.
Serious
       Toxic Effects

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 D2  Materials Products whose health effects If ingested,absorbed or
Causing generally appear over time following inhaled in small
amounts,results in
       Other Toxic one or several exposures.
sufficient severity to
Effects Eg. Benzene Diisocyanates, threaten life or causes
Lead. serious permanent
impairment.

D3  Biohazardous Living organisms or their toxins that Illness or death in humans

       Infectious can cause disease in people or animals. or animals

Materials (organisms includes:

bacterial,viral,fungal,protozoal,
rickettsial or helminthic)
Eg. AIDS, Hepatitis, B virus, Rabies
virus.

E    Corrosive Products that can corrode metal cause toxic effects

Materials surfaces or cause burns to skin.
Eg. Caustic soda, Hydrochloric acid,
Bleach.

F    Dangerously Products that can be health or safety biohazardous infectious

Reactive        hazards under certain conditions material transmission of
a disease
Materials (pressure, temperature, impact, violent
reaction with water or air) .
Eg. Fluorine, Hydrogen cyanide,
B-Chloroprene.

Table 1: Showing the Classification of hazardous materials.

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 WORKER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The employer has a general duty to educate and train workers who are exposed or likely to be
exposed to a controlled product on the job.

In addition, the employer is obligated to consult the joint health and safety committee if there is
one, or a worker health and safety representative, about the content and delivery of the education
program.

What specific topics or areas must be covered in a worker education program?

The worker education program must cover the following 6 areas

1. Labels–the information required, the purpose of the information and the significance of
the information;
2. Modes of identification when used at the workplace instead of labels;
3. MSDS – the information required, the purpose of the information and the significance of
the information;
4. Procedures for the safe use, storage, handling and disposal of a controlled product,
including a controlled product in a piping system or vessel;
5. Procedures to be followed where fugitive emissions are present; and
6. Procedures to be followed in case of an emergency involving a controlled product.

What information should the employer provide to workers?

If the controlled product is purchased from a supplier, the employer should inform the worker
about all hazard information received from the supplier. In general, this means the information
provided on supplier labels and data sheets, but it can also include other information such as
letters from the supplier in response to inquiries from the employer. The employer should also
pass on to workers any other hazard information that the employer is or ought to be aware of.

If the controlled product is produced in the workplace, the employer should inform the workers
about all hazard information of which the employer is aware, or ought to be aware.

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 RELEVANCE OF WHMIS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

In Trinidad and Tobago the implementation of WHMIS is crucial because within the
island exists a lot of heavy industrialization. On daily basis employees of Chemical Plants, Oil
companies, Refineries, Agricultural shops, etc are handling controlled Products.
Implementation of WHMIS will not only provide a system of handling and labeling
Controlled products but it will reduce the number of incidents that takes place on a daily basis
due to unsafe handling of controlled products, throughout the nation of Trinidad and Tobago.
Some of which are fire explosion at oil companies, employees dieing on the job site, example at
Mital Steel Company an employee was crushed to death in a compactor.
WHMIS will provide readily available information in the workplace through the MSDS,
which contains specific types of information as required by the legislation for which a lot of
companies in Trinidad have available MSDS. However, many employees are not educated about
it and are unconscious as to what WHMIS or MSDS is about. Therefore Employee training will
fill this gap and reduce the number of incidents, accidents and even fatalities due to the lack of
education regarding the handling of controlled products. With the WHMIS training, employees
will be able to quickly identify a controlled product since they would know about the symbols
pertaining to the six classes [and sub-divisions] of the Classification of Controlled Products.
Also Trinidad has a lot of off and on shore companies that are involved in drilling
therefore pipes will be transported from one site to the next as well as being imported. Along
side a workplace label, specific color coding or marking, along with pipes; vessels, pumps,
reactors, and tanks will also contain these markings thus helping employees to understand the
code or signs. Once this is achieved then all requirements of WHMIS for worksite labels have
been met. A marking system also tells the employee that controlled products are present and is
acceptable for workplace identification. As long as the workers understand the code or signs, all
requirements of WHMIS for worksite labels have been met and employees can practice safety in
handling these equipments.

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 Therefore with the implementation of WHMIS the total number of incidents that occurs
as a result of the lack on information of controlled products will be significantly reduced saving
lives, reducing insurance claims and preventing workers from taking companies to court.
Therefore the WHMIS System will provide a proper illustration of the safety that needs
to be adhered to in these companies for maximum safety.

Thus, WHMIS would serve a remarkably significant purpose in Trinidad and Tobago.

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 SIMILARITY OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT

REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AND WHMIS

Act No. 1 of 2004

The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2004 (OSHA), corresponds with many
regulations among which is the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Regulations
(WHMIS).

WHMIS regulations require employers to ensure that, controlled products used, stored,
handled or disposed of in the workplace are properly labelled, material safety data sheets
(MSDS) are made available to workers and workers receive education and training to ensure the
safe storage, handling and use of controlled products in the workplace. It also requires suppliers
and importers to appropriately label controlled products and to transmit or obtain MSDS’s as a
condition of sale or importation. The legislation also places a “De facto” requirement on
suppliers and importers to assess their products against specified hazard classification criteria
established in Part IV of the Controlled Products Regulations.

OSHA however, takes a broader aspect in that it covers industrial establishments (unless
otherwise stated) and its health, safety and welfare provisions to the employees. OSHA
legislation also require employers to ensure that controlled products are appropriately labeled in
the workplace, that associated MSDS’s are made available to workers, and that workers are
educated and trained to ensure the safe storage, handling, use and disposal of controlled products
in order to protect worker health and safety. This is where WHMIS incorporates itself into
OSHA as a requirement to employers, suppliers, importers, manufacturers and those of the like
that undertake a business in the chemical sector/industry.

The components of WHMIS are:

1. Hazard identification and product classification
2. Labelling
3. Material safety data sheets, and
4. Worker training and education.

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OSHA, on the other hand, consists of:
1. General Duties (employers and employees)
2. Rights of employees to refuse work where safety or health is in danger
3. Safety
4. Fire
5. Health
6. Welfare
7. Notification and investigation of accidents and industrial diseases
8. Employment of young persons

Even though there are no clear overlaps in OSHA and WHMIS, WHMIS is incorporated
throughout the subsections of OSHA and cannot be ignored, since it is the law.

A few to mention includes:

 Sections 2 of WHMIS Regulations firstly apply to employers and employees with respect to
controlled products used, stored or handled at a workplace. This vaguely corresponds to
Section 2 Part B of the General Duties of the OSHA Act and Section 13 such that sufficient
information must be provided from manufacturers and suppliers to any industrial
establishment so that their health and safety shall not be compromised.

OSHA Act Section 13 states that: “A person who designs, manufactures, imports or supplies any
technology, machinery, plant, equipment or material for use in any industrial establishment shall
— ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the technology, machinery, plant, equipment
or material is safe and without risks to health when properly used”.

 Section 4 of WHMIS incorporates employee training concerning their work environment and
this corresponds to Section 2 Part D of the General Duties.

OSHA Act Section 10 states that: “It shall be the duty of every employee while at work— to take
reasonable care for the safety and
health of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at
work.:”

The above indicates some of the few characteristics that WHMIS and OSHA have in common.
Although WHMIS does not apply to Trinidad and Tobago, the OSHA Act ensures that the
standard is met.

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THE END

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