What is WHMIS and what does it stand for?
WHMIS (The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) is Canada's national hazard communication standard designed to provide both employers and workers with information about many hazardous materials used in the workplace. The goal of WHMIS is to reduce accidents and prevent health hazards. This system helps to identify chemical and biological hazards in the workplace. These are the three ways WHMIS is provided:
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 can provide education programs.
If you are employed, it is your employer's responsibility to identify these materials and show you how to work with them.
What are the four components of WHMIS?
-Classification and symbols
-Warning Labels
-Training
-Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Classification and Symbols
This is the first and one of the most important components of WHMIS. These are the eight official WHMIS symbols workers, employers and supervisors must be aware of. Before working with these materials with these signs labeled on them, you must know what these symbols mean and what they stand for.
- labels on the containers of hazardous materials;
- material safety data sheets to supplement the label with detailed hazard and precautionary information;
- 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 can provide education programs.
If you are employed, it is your employer's responsibility to identify these materials and show you how to work with them.
What are the four components of WHMIS?
-Classification and symbols
-Warning Labels
-Training
-Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Classification and Symbols
This is the first and one of the most important components of WHMIS. These are the eight official WHMIS symbols workers, employers and supervisors must be aware of. Before working with these materials with these signs labeled on them, you must know what these symbols mean and what they stand for.
Warning Labels
This is the second component of WHMIS. All hazardous materials have a warning label from the supplier. You can recognize this label by its distinctive border and the WHMIS symbols.
The label includes information such as: what hazardous material is in the container, what the dangers are and how to use the hazardous material in a safe manner.
The label includes information such as: what hazardous material is in the container, what the dangers are and how to use the hazardous material in a safe manner.
Workplace Labels
These are different from supplier labels and they are required on all WHMIS controlled products. Also if hazardous materials are being put into a new container, it must be labelled as well. The workplace label must show what the product is, what the dangers are, and that a Material Safety Data Sheet is available.
What do Material Safety Data Sheets tell you?
This is the third component of WHMIS. MSDS tells you about the material, its hazards, how to use it safely, how to store it safely, and what to do in an emergency. Your workplace must have an MSDS for each hazardous material. MSDS give detailed information about the materials you are using, its hazards, the right way of using it, how to store it safely and what to do if anything goes wrong. If you are handling an item for the first time, it is important to look over MSDS so you will be aware of its dangers and how to handle it properly.
Training
This is the fourth and final component of WHMIS. If you work with or near hazardous materials, you must be shown how to handle them safely. In every workplace, WHMIS training must address particular hazards of that workplace.
Your training should include:
Your training should include:
- The 8 WHMIS symbols
- How to read and understand labels and MSDS
- How to use the materials safely
- What to do in an emergency