OHS & WHMIS Flashcards
What are the 3 rights of workers
The right to know about hazards in their work and get information, supervision and instruction to protect their health and safety on the job.
The right to participate in identifying and solving workplace health and safety problems either through a health and safety representative or a worker member of a joint health and safety committee.
The right to refuse work that they believe is dangerous to their health and safety or that of any other worker in the workplace.
What are the functions/powers of JHSC
All matters related to OH&S act
Identifying and evaluating workplace hazards
Conduct inspections of workplace (once/month)
Obtain information from the employer (work practices and standards, workplace testing for OH&S purposes, information about actual or potential hazards)
Encourage education and training programs
Reviewing accident reports
Make recommendations to improve H&S
(Employer must respond within 21 days to any written recommendations )
Be consulted about workplace testing related to OH&S (JHSC presence can ensure valid testing procedures are used or ensure valid results)
Investigate work refusals
Investigate critical injuries or fatalities
What are the duties of a worker under OH&S
work in compliance with the Act and regulations
use or wear any equipment, protective devices or clothing required by the employer
report to the employer or supervisor any known missing or defective equipment or protective device that may endanger the worker or another worker
report any hazard or contravention of the Act or regulations to the employer or supervisor
not remove or make ineffective any protective device required by the employer or by the regulations other than in circumstances specified below. The only circumstance in which a worker may remove a protective device is where an adequate temporary protective device is provided in its place. Once there is no longer a need to remove the required protective device or to make it ineffective, it must be replaced immediately.
not use or operate any equipment or work in a way that may endanger any worker, and
not engage in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct
What is the procedure for a work refusal?
First stage
Worker:
-considers work unsafe.
-reports refusal to his/her supervisor or employer.
-may also advise the worker safety representative and/or management representative.
-stay in safe place.
Employer or supervisor investigates in the presence of the worker and the worker safety representative.
Either:
Issue resolved. Worker goes back to work.
Issue not resolved. Proceed to the second stage
Second stage
With reasonable grounds to believe work is still unsafe, worker continues to refuse and remains in safe place. Worker or employer or someone representing worker or employer calls MOL.
MOL Inspector investigates in company of worker, safety representative and supervisor or management representative. Pending MOL investigation:
Inspector gives decision to worker, management representative/supervisor and safety representative in writing.
Changes are made if required or ordered. Worker returns to work.
The refusing worker may be offered other work if it doesn’t conflict with a collective agreement
Refused work may be offered to another worker, but management must inform the new worker that the offered work is the subject of work refusal. This must be done in the presence of:
a JHSC member; or
a health and safety representative, or
a worker who because of his or her knowledge, experience and training is selected by the trade union that represents the worker or, if there is not trade union, by the workers to represent them.
When can a worker refuse work?
if he or she has reason to believe that:
any machine, equipment or tool that the worker is using or is told to use..
physical condition of the workplace or workstation..
workplace violence..
any machine, equipment or tool that the worker is using, or the physical condition of the workplace, contravenes the Act or regulations and..
…is likely to endanger himself or herself or another worker
What happens when a worker refuses unsafe work? (first stage of work refusal procedure)
Worker must immediately tell the supervisor that the work is being refused and explain the circumstances for the refusal.
Supervisor must investigate the situation immediately, in the presence of the worker and JHSC member, certified member if possible
The refusing worker must remain in a safe place near workstation, and remain available for the purposes of the investigation, until completed. If the situation is resolved at this point, the worker will return to work.
What if the refusing worker is not satisfied with the result of the first stage investigation?
Continue to refuse the work if he or she has reasonable grounds for believing that the circumstances that caused the worker to initially refuse work continue. At this point, the “second stage” of a work refusal begins
What is the role of the JHSC?
The committee is an advisory body that:
- helps to stimulate or raise awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace,
- recognizes and identifies workplace risks and develops recommendations for the employer to address these risks.
- holds regular meetings (at least once/3 months)
- conducts regular workplace inspections
- makes written recommendations to the employer for the improvement of the health and safety of workers.
Why do we need WHMIS?
Prevents injuries from chemicals
Need to know about the chemicals you work with
3x more deaths every year from exposure to chemicals than from traumatic injuries
Many people cannot work (or play) due to work related diseases e.g. asthma, dermatitis
How can you control hazards?
Eliminate Substitute less hazardous Engineer the hazard out Institute administrative procedures and awareness training Use PPE
How can you protect yourself from chemicals?
Recognize hazards
Assess
Control
Evaluate that the controls are working
What are 4 routes of entry
Inhalation
Ingestion
Absorption
Injection
What are the 4 key elements of WHMIS?
Classification Hazardous products divided into 2 major groups Physical Hazards (e.g. combustible, flammable) Health Hazards (skin irritation, acute toxicity) Groups then split into classes, depicted by pictograms
WHMIS labels
Identifies products, their hazards, precautions to be taken
Must display some elements in a certain order
Hazard statements and precautionary statements have been standardized
SDS
Detailed hazard and precautionary information
16 section format, information in each section has been standardized
WHMIS education and training programs Workers need to know: How WHMIS works Hazards of products in the workplace Safe work procedures that must be followed
How does WHMIS work?
Everyone has the right to know about chemicals they work with through:
Labels - on hazardous products to help recognize hazards
SDS - more information for recognition and assessment of hazards
Training - how to read labels and SDS
What are the 6 requirements of supplier label?
In French and English:
Product identifier
Initial supplier identifier (name, address, phone)
Pictogram (with red diamond shaped border)
Signal word (danger or warning)
Hazard statements (fatal if swallowed or inhaled)
Precautionary statements (wear gloves)
