In Canada, people have an understanding,
certainly an expectation, that the foods we eat,
the places we work, and the various products
we come in contact with are safe,
that there are laws to ensure the products have passed a test
or meet certain information standards for safe use or consumption.
In this module, we're going to look at classification,
the tests and standards used to determine which products are covered by WHMIS.
We'll discuss the hazards associated with different classes of WHMIS products
and review information requirements for products outside WHMIS.
Classification is important to suppliers
who have the basic responsibility for classifying products sold in Canada
and to employers who must classify products produced in their workplaces.
Classification is equally important to workers
who must understand the hazards of products they use.
Many hazardous products in Canada
are governed by the Federal Hazardous Products Act,
which deals with three types of products:
prohibited, restricted and controlled.
A prohibited product cannot be imported,
advertised or sold in Canada.
Examples include a variety of toys and equipment
that are hazardous to children,
spackling compounds that contain asbestos
and highly flammable paint removers.
Restricted products are those which must conform
to Consumer Labelling Legislation
in order to be imported, advertised or sold in Canada.
Examples include certain bleaches, cleansers and adhesives
that are sold to the public.
WHMIS applies to controlled products for use in the workplace.
A controlled product is a product, material or substance
which falls into any of six WHMIS hazard classes.
Classification is the process of determining
whether a product falls within any of the six classes
and is subject to WHMIS information requirements.
The basic responsibility for classifying controlled products
sold or imported into Canada rests with the supplier.
To determine whether a product is included in any of the WHMIS classes,
suppliers must apply information such as test results
and other criteria as required by the Controlled Products Regulations.
If the product falls within WHMIS,
the supplier must provide appropriate labels and MSDSs.
Employers must classify any controlled products
they produce in their workplace.
In addition, the employer must ensure
that when a product arrives in the workplace,
it's provided with proper labels and data sheets.
The more employers know about classification,
the more effectively they can carry out their responsibilities.
While workers don't have specific responsibilities for classification,
if they become aware that a product isn't properly classified,
the employer should be informed immediately.
By understanding the nature of the WHMIS classes,
workers will have a greater awareness of the hazards of controlled products
and how to work safely with them.
Classification represents the foundation of WHMIS.
The information established while classifying a hazardous material
helps determine the contents of labels and Material Safety Data Sheets.
This, in turn, helps determine the instruction
employers must provide in worker education.
There are six classes of hazardous materials
subject to WHMIS information requirements.
Class A: Compressed gas,
Class B: Flammable and Combustible material,
Class C: Oxidizing material,
Class D: Poisonous and Infectious material,
Class E: Corrosive material,
and Class F: Dangerously reactive material.
An example of Class A, compressed gas,
is chlorine contained in a pressurized cylinder
and used as a disinfectant at swimming pools,
or oxygen, used in oxyacetylene welding.
If the pressurized container is punctured
because it's dropped or exposed to excessive heat,
the exploding fragments or rocket-like projectile
present a serious physical hazard.
Class B, flammable and combustible material,
includes the flammable product acetone, used as a solvent,
and the combustible material kerosene, used as a fuel.
Flammables are more dangerous than combustibles
because they ignite more easily.
Both can be hazardous in the workplace,
posing a danger of fire and explosion.
During use, they must be kept well away
from ignition sources such as sparks or welding flames.
When not in use, they must be stored in fire-resistant cabinets
or other specified storage areas.
Class C, oxidizing materials,
are materials which provide oxygen or a similar substance.
They increase the risk of fire if they come in contact
with materials that can burn.
For example, perchloric acid, used in laboratories,
is a strong oxidizing agent.
If a perchloric acid container would break
while stored on a wooden shelf
or beside a container of flammable material,
a dangerous reaction that leads to ignition could occur.
Class D, poisonous and infectious materials,
is separated into three divisions:
Division 1 includes materials causing immediate and serious toxic effects.
An example is the very toxic sodium cyanide used in the electroplating industry.
It can be absorbed through the skin.
Or the toxic gas hydrogen sulphide, which maybe used in laboratories
and is present in the petroleum and pulp and paper industries.
When inhaled at high concentrations, hydrogen sulphide can cause death.
Division 2 includes materials causing other toxic effects
that are more long-term, as opposed to immediate.
Asbestos, for example,
is a poisonous material which can cause cancer.
Other examples include isocyanates used in automobile painting,
which can cause sensitization of the skin or lungs,
and some solvents which can cause chronic effects
on the nervous system or liver.
Division 2 also applies to products such as acetone,
which can cause immediate but less severe effects
such as skin and eye irritation.
Division 3 covers Biohazardous materials.
It includes cultures and diagnostic specimens
of microorganisms such as salmonella bacteria
and the Hepatitis B or AIDS virus.
Depending on the microorganism, exposure through skin contact,
oral intake or inhaling aerosols can be hazardous.
Class E, corrosive material,
covers products that are corrosive to the skin or metals.
It includes caustics and various acids.
An example is hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid.
It's used in construction for cleaning masonry
or by maintenance and janitorial people
also as a cleaning ingredient.
Exposure to muriatic acid directly or through inhalation of acid mist
will burn or corrode the body's skin or lung tissue.
Class F, dangerously reactive material,
includes products that can undergo
vigorous polymerization reaction on their own,
become self-reactive under conditions of shock
or increase in pressure or temperature,
or products that react vigorously with water to release a toxic gas.
For example, butadiene, used in manufacturing of ABS pipe,
undergoes vigorous self-reaction unless inhibitors are added
to prevent the process from occurring.
Some metal cyanides will liberate the highly-toxic gas hydrogen cyanide
when they come in contact with water.
Products in your workplace that are within these WHMIS classes
require appropriate labels, MSDSs and worker education.
Some products, however, are exempt from part
or all of WHMIS requirements.
Partially exempted products are those already covered
by other labelling legislation, and therefore,
exempted from federal WHMIS requirements for labels and MSDSs.
This includes restricted products packaged for consumer use,
cosmetics and drugs, explosives, pesticides and radioactive substances.
However, provincial and territorial WHMIS regulations
require employers to educate and train workers
in the safe handling of these products
on the basis of the available information
and to use workplace labelling when, for example,
contents are transferred to new containers.
The partial exemption for consumer goods
applies to restricted products such as bleaches or cleansers
containing chlorine, turpentine and various paints
when packaged for sale to consumers through the retail system.
In order for a cosmetic to qualify for an exemption under WHMIS,
it must be represented for use as a cosmetic.
If sold for another use, it falls within WHMIS.
For example, the chemical acetone
is excluded from WHMIS when sold in a nail polish remover
but included when sold as an industrial solvent.
Pesticides are also defined in terms of intended use.
For example, Stoddard solvent is a herbicide
that is also used as an industrial solvent.
When sold as the solvent, WHMIS information requirements apply.
In addition to what we've discussed,
some products are exempted from both federal and provincial WHMIS requirements.
Examples are wood and products made of wood,
manufactured articles, tobacco and products made of tobacco,
and goods handled, offered for transport
or transported pursuant to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act.
Examples of wood products are lumber, plywood, particle board, sawdust
and wood products coated with additives such as paints or preservatives.
However, these additives may be subject to WHMIS
before they are included in the finished product.
A manufactured article is any article formed to a specific shape or design
with an intended use that depends on that shape or design
and would not expose people to a controlled product
under normal conditions of use.
Examples include various kinds of equipment and preformed products.
Welding rods, on the other hand, are not manufactured articles because,
although they conform to a specific design,
during use, they release controlled products.
Sheets of friction material containing asbestos
and produced to be cut later
or shaped to make specific friction products,
are also not manufactured articles.
To protect workers from any hazards resulting from use of products
which are completely exempt from WHMIS,
other occupational safety and health information requirements will apply.
Controlled products being handled, offered for transport or transported
are subject to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act or TDG.
The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act
and WHMIS are complementary information systems.
TDG covers information on product shipments to or from workplaces,
whereas WHMIS applies to products within workplaces.
No overlap is intended.
Workers are most likely to be exposed to dangerous goods in transit
during emergency short-term circumstances
such as vehicle accidents and spills.
TDG requirements deal with acute exposure information
and require containers and transport vehicles
to be provided with labels and placards.
Exposure to controlled products in the workplace
can occur in a wider variety of circumstances
and over longer periods of time.
WHMIS requirements are more extensive than TDG
and include the use of explicit labels and Material Safety Data Sheets.
That pretty much covers the WHMIS Classification
and exemptions overview.
Detailed questions about the program contents can be addressed by your instructor
or with information found in the WHMIS Core Material Manual Classification section.
Be sure you understand the topics presented.
Controlled products, the six WHMIS classes
and the hazards associated with them,
the various types of partially and completely exempted products,
and the information requirements which apply to
WHMIS, for a safer and healthier workplace.