whims Flashcards
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
The goal of GHS is to have a common set of rules for classifying hazardous products, common rules for labels, and a standard format for safety data sheets that is adopted around the world.
Aligning WHMIS with GHS helps to:
Enhance the protection of worker health and safety by having improved and consistent hazard information
Encourage safe transport, handling, and use of hazardous productsImage: A globe encircled by an arrow and the word Rules listed below it.
Promote better emergency response
Promote regulatory efficiency and compliance
Facilitate international trade
What is the purpose of WHMIS?
WHMIS
Establishes rules for classifying hazardous products into hazard classes and categories
Requires suppliers to attach labels to hazardous products that meet one or more of the classification criteria according to the Hazardous Products Act and Hazardous Product Regulations
Requires suppliers to provide SDSs for these hazardous products to their customers
Requires employers to train workers
Requires employers. employees, and students to use WHMIS to:
Interpret supplier labels
Create and maintain workplace labels
Utilize SDS(s) to develop procedures and maintain a safe workplace or laboratory
The hazard class and category are a guide to the:
Type of hazard (indicated by hazard classes and pictograms)
Degree of hazard (indicated by hazard category)
Precautions to follow avoid exposure or injury
Exclusions
WHMIS excludes some types of products from labelling and SDS requirements because these products are regulated by other laws.
Three types of excluded products are:
Consumer products
Explosives
Pesticides such as insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, and other pest control products
Tip icon
Physical hazard classes defined by WHMIS include:
Flammable gases Flammable aerosols Oxidizing gases Gases under pressure Flammable liquids Flammable solids Self-reactive substances and mixtures Pyrophoric liquids Pyrophoric solids Self-heating substances and mixtures Substances and mixtures which, in contact with water, emit flammable gases Oxidizing liquids Oxidizing solids Organic peroxides Corrosive to metals Combustible dusts Simple asphyxiants Pyrophoric gases Physical hazards not otherwise classified
Health hazard classes defined by WHMIS include:
Acute toxicity Skin corrosion/irritation Serious eye damage/eye irritation Respiratory or skin sensitization Germ cell mutagenicity Carcinogenicity Reproductive toxicity Specific target organ toxicity – Single exposure Specific target organ toxicity – Repeated exposure Aspiration hazard Biohazardous infectious materials Health hazards not otherwise classified
Hazard classes consist of categories or subcategories. The category identifies the degree of the hazard.
Category 1 is always more hazardous than Category 2 or 3. Similarly, subcategory 1A is always more hazardous than subcategory 1B or 1C.
or example, flammable liquids is a hazard class. Within this class, there are four divisions or categories, each with different flash point and/or initial boiling point cut-off values:
Category 1: Flash point <23°C and initial boiling point <35°C (most flammable and therefore, most hazardous)
Category 2: Flash point <23°C and initial boiling point >35°C
Category 3: Flash point >23°C and <60°C
Category 4: Flash point >60°C and <93°C
Category 1 is always more hazardous than Category 2 or 3. Similarly, subcategory 1A is always more hazardous than subcategory 1B or 1C.
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Four of the classes are for materials that we commonly encounter at work:
flammable gases
flammable aerosols
flammable liquids
flammable solids
There are 3 types of oxidizing materials:
Oxidizing gases
Oxidizing liquids
Oxidizing solids
Nitric acid is an example of an oxidizer. It is used to manufacture explosives
The main hazards are:
of compressed gases- looks like tampon
The cylinder or container may explode if heated.
Leaking gas can be very cold and may cause frostbite if it touches your skin. In addition, a leaking cylinder can rapidly release extremely large amounts of gas into the workplace.
When a corrosive material eats through a container, the contents may spill out into the workplace resulting in health effects, reactivity, or fire damage.
Common corrosives are nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and sodium hydroxide solutions
Self-reactive substances and mixtures, and organic peroxides are two classes that may be explosive or flammable, or both.
Self-reactive substances and mixtures are unstable materials that can cause or increase the intensity of a fire. Many organic peroxides are unstable, and may be highly reactive or explosive.
These materials require specific storage and handling.
WHMIS also includes these hazards:
Combustible dusts – means a mixture or substance that is in the form of finely divided solid particles that, upon ignition, is liable to catch fire or explode when dispersed in air.
Simple asphyxiants – gases that may displace oxygen in air, and cause rapid suffocation.
Physical hazards not otherwise classified (PHNOC) – hazards that occur by chemical reaction and result in the serious injury or death of a person at the time the reaction occurs. For example, injury or death from a violent chemical reaction like hazardous polymerization. These hazards do not fall into another physical hazard class.
Combustible dusts and simply asphyxiants do not require a pictogram. Physical Hazards Not Otherwise Classified (PHNOC) require(s) a pictogram that is applicable to the hazard.
Health Hazards
Products are classified as a WHMIS Health Hazard when they are known to cause (or are suspected to cause) serious health effects
The Health Hazard Pictogram is used for a number of classes:
Respiratory or skin sensitization
Germ cell mutagenicity
Carcinogenicity
Reproductive toxicity
Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure
Specific target organ toxicity – repeated exposure
Aspiration hazard
Recall that products can belong to one or more classes, depending on their hazards
The Skull and Crossbones Pictogram is representative of the Acute Toxicity (Categories 1 to 3) hazard class, and is used to indicate products that can cause adverse effects following brief exposure
These products can cause severe health effects or even death if:
You breathe them in
They come in contact with your skin
They are swallowed
The hazard statements for this class will help indicate the seriousness of the effects.
Statements with fatal are more serious than toxic.
Toxic is more serious than harmful.
The Exclamation Mark Pictogram is used for a number of classes:
Respiratory or skin sensitization (Cat. 1)
Skin corrosion/irritation (Cat. 2)
Serious eye damage/eye irritation (Cat. 2)
Specific target organ toxicity – Single exposure (Cat. 3)
Acute toxicity (Cat. 4
This pictogram indicates products that have health hazards; however, these hazards may not be as severe as other categories in that class.
When similar hazards are categorically more severe, the Skull and Crossbones or the Health Hazard Pictogram will replace the Exclamation Mark Pictogram.
Remember, Category 1 is always the greatest level of hazard. Categories 2, 3, and 4 represent successively lower levels of hazard.
Exclamation Mark Acute Toxicity (Category 4); Specific target organ toxicity – Single exposure (Category 3)
Scull and Crossbones Acute Toxicity (Categories 1 to 3)
Health Hazard Specific target organ toxicity - Single exposure (Category 1 and 2)
How do you know if the product is classified as fatal, toxic or harmful? Read the label for more information, including the hazard statements.
For example:
Acute toxicity – Inhalation (Categories 1 and 2) is labelled with the Skull and Crossbones Pictogram and the signal word Danger. In this case, you see the hazard statement Fatal if inhaled.
Scull and Crossbones
Danger.
Acute toxicity.
Fatal if inhaled.
Acute toxicity – Inhalation (Category 3) is labelled with the Skull and Crossbones Pictogram and the signal word Danger and the hazard statement Toxic if inhaled.
Scull and Crossbones
Danger.
Acute toxicity.
Toxic if inhaled.
The hazard statement is Acute Toxicity – Inhalation (Category 4) is labelled with the Exclamation Mark Pictogram and the signal word Warning and the hazard statement Harmful if inhaled.
The Corrosion and Exclamation Mark Pictograms are used to indicate the following classes
Skin corrosion/irritation
Serious eye damage/eye irritation
Corrosion Exclamation Mark
These products can cause effects ranging from severe skin burns and eye damage (corrosion) to skin irritation or eye irritation.
Tip icon
The Exclamation Mark Pictogram is also used for products that can cause allergic skin reactions.
This hazard class is known as Skin sensitization:
Exclamation Mark
Warning
Skin sensitizer
May cause an allergic skin reaction.
Methyl methacrylate is an example of a product that causes skin sensitization.
Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure is the hazard class for products that may cause significant, non-lethal damage to organs following a single exposure
In addition, products that may cause respiratory tract irritation and/or drowsiness or dizziness are covered in this class.
These products are labelled with either the Health Hazard or the Exclamation Mark Pictogram.
The Biohazard Pictogram indicates biological substances that can cause an infection or disease in humans through exposure.
Biohazardous Infectious Materials
This hazard class includes biohazardous and infectious substances, such as
Bacteria
Fungi
Viruses
This can also include (but is not limited to) medical waste, animal or human waste, samples of a microorganism, and biologically produced toxins.
To work with biohazardous materials at the U of S, an individual must have:
A biosafety permit from Safety Resources.
Health and safety measures in place to use these materials.
Specific training in biosafety.
You may encounter other materials around campus that are harmful to your health, but are not classified under WHMIS.
These products include, but are not limited to
cosmetics, devices, drugs or food (covered under the Food and Drugs Act)
pest control products (covered under the Pest Control Products Act)
radioactive nuclear substances (covered under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act)
hazardous waste
consumer restricted products
Keep reference materials for these products in your workplace. Exercise diligence in learning the precautions needed when working with these substances.
As well, asbestos can still be found in places on campus (used as insulation - ex: can be found lining fumehood cabinets). Exposure to airborne asbestos can cause lung cancer, and one must exercise due caution in areas with asbestos.
Contact Safety Resources (safetyresources@usask.ca or 306-966-4675) if you have questions about asbestos on campus.
Every product that falls into a WHMIS hazard class must have a label and an SDS.
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