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
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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)
