Staying safe and healthy at work.
It’s your most important job.
But when it comes to hazardous products, how do you know what’s in your workplace?
And if you use hazardous products, how do you protect yourself and those around you?
And what do you do if an accident happens?
Well, that’s what the WHMIS 2015 program is all about.
The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
It’s there to make sure you get the answers and information you need to stay safe.
But remember, these questions are the key:
What is the hazard?
How do I protect myself?
What should I do if there’s an accident?
And how do I get more information?
WHMIS 2015 will provide you with the answers to these questions.
The manufacturer, distributor, or supplier of a product is responsible for product labelling and information.
And your employer is responsible for educating you on the safe handling of hazardous products you use.
So what are WHMIS labels?
Each hazardous product must have a label with symbols and hazard statements,
providing information about the type of hazard associated with the product.
There are 10 WHMIS symbols, and you need to look for them and recognize the dangers they represent.
Exploding bomb (for explosive or reactive hazards)
Flame (for flammable products)
Flame over circle (for oxidizing products)
Gas cylinder (for gases under pressure)
Corrosion (for corrosive hazards to metal, skin, and eyes)
Skull and crossbones (can cause death or toxicity with exposure)
Exclamation mark (may cause less serious health effects)
Health hazard (may cause serious health effects such as cancer)
Biohazardous (infectious materials and toxins that cause disease)
Environment (may cause damage to the aquatic environment) This is optional in Canada.
WHMIS labels must also include warnings and precautions for safe use.
Your employer is responsible for making sure WHMIS labels have been applied to all hazardous products in your workplace.
But WHMIS also demands that all suppliers and distributors provide a lot more information about their products
via Safety Data Sheets, or SDS.
These sheets provide all the information you need to know about the product to ensure your safety,
and what to do in the event of an accident or emergency.
These sheets must be readily available on the jobsite to all workers.
Once your employer has made sure both labels and Safety Data Sheets are in place,
you must be trained on how the system works,
including the safe use and handling of all the hazardous products in your workplace.
So, those are the basic facts.
But it all comes back to you asking the four questions:
What is the hazard? How do I protect myself?
What should I do if there is an accident? And how do I get more information?
Because the most important thing is you going home safe at the end of each day.