WHMIS

1
WHMIS 2015
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System

Canada’s Hazard Communication Standard

2
Background

• 1988 WHMIS adopted in Canada

• Right-to-know legislation
• Labels, SDS, training
• WHMIS 2015 modified to meet GHS requirements
• GHS = Globally Harmonized System

3
Objective & Legal Requirement

Objective
• Protection of workers from the effects of hazardous products

QUEBEC Act respecting occupational health & safety

R.S.Q., S-2.1
• No employer may allow a hazardous product to be used,
stored or disposed of in a workplace unless it has a label
and a safety data sheet (SDS)
• Workers/students must receive safety training

4
Key Elements

Classification
Training
• Core
• Job Specific
Labels
• Supplier
• Workplace
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

5
Outline

Classification
• Physical Hazards
• Health Hazards
Chemical Storage
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Labels
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

6
Classification

7
Classification

Hazard Hazard Classes

Groups (nature of hazard –
specific properties)

Physical
19 Classes
Hazard
Health
12 Classes
Hazard

8
Hazard Ratings

1 more hazardous than 2, 3, etc.

A more hazardous than B, C, etc.

9
Physical Hazards – 19 Classes

• Oxidizing Liquids • Self-Heating Substances

• Oxidizing Solids • Self-Reactive Substances
• Oxidizing Gases • Organic Peroxides
• Flammable Gases • Substances which, in contact with
• Flammable Aerosols water emit flammable gases
• Flammable Liquids • Simple Asphyxiants
• Flammable Solids • Corrosive to Metals
• Combustible Dusts • Gases under Pressure
• Pyrophoric Liquids • Physical Hazards Not Otherwise
• Pyrophoric Solids Classified
• Pyrophoric Gases

10
Health Hazards – 12 Classes

• Acute (short term) Toxicity • Specific Target Organ Toxicity -

• Skin Corrosion/Irritation Single Exposure
• Serious Eye Damage/ Eye • Specific Target Organ Toxicity -
Irritation Repeated Exposure
• Respiratory or Skin • Aspiration Toxicity
Sensitization • Biohazardous Infectious
• Germ Cell Mutagenicity Materials
• Carcinogenicity • Health Hazards Not Otherwise
Classified (NOC)
• Reproductive Toxicology

11
Environmental Hazards – 2 Classes

Hazardous to the aquatic environment

• Short-term (acute)
• Long-term (chronic)
Hazardous to the ozone layer

12
Pictograms – Physical Hazards

Flammables Oxidizers Self Reactive Corrosives Gas Under Pressure

(Type A & B)
Self Reactives
Pyrophorics Organic Peroxides
(Type A & B)
Self-Heating
Emits Flammable Gas
Organic Peroxides

13
Pictograms – Health Hazards

Acute Toxicity Carcinogen Irritant Corrosives Biohazardous

(severe) Respiratory Sensitizer Dermal Sensitizer Infectious
Reproductive Toxicity Acute Toxicity Materials
Target Organ Toxicity Narcotic Effects
Mutagenicity
Aspiration Toxicity

14
Quiz

Which of these is both a physical and a health hazard?

15
Physical Hazards

16
Flame Pictogram
Hazard Classes

Most used Rarely used

• Flammable gases • Pyrophoric Liquids
• Flammable aerosols • Pyrophoric Solids
• Flammable liquids • Pyrophoric Gases
• Flammable solids • *Self-Reactive Substances
• Self-Heating Substances
• Substances which, in contact with
water emit flammable gases
• *Organic Peroxides

* Type A and B products use explosion bomb pictogram

17
Flammables

Hazards
• Fire and explosion
• Health hazards (toxic, irritant, etc.)
• Asphyxiation
• Hot work (open flame, heat, sparks)

18
Flammables - Demonstration

1-litre Ethyl Ether

19
Flash Point

The lowest temperature at which a liquid produces

enough vapour to ignite in the presence of a
source of ignition.

The lower the flash point,

the greater is the risk of fire.

20
Flash Point

acetone - 18°C
ether (diethyl) - 45°C
natural gas - 88°C
Which
ethyl alcohol 13°C
presents the
methyl alcohol 11°C
greatest risk gasoline - 43°C
of fire? varsol 40°C

21
Flammables

Precautions
• Away from heat sources
• Flammable Storage Cabinets
• Separate from Oxidizers
• Use fume hood
• Use proper protective equipment
• Store in explosion proof freezers or
refrigerators
• Never leave experiments unattended

22
Flammables

Glass bottles on
floor

Acetone

Liquids stored
above eye level

Heavy items
stored too high

No flammable liquid
storage cabinet
Methanol

23
Pyrophoric substances

Ignite instantly when exposed to air

Examples
• t-butyl lithium
• Lithium Aluminum Hydride

24
Case Study

• UCLA lab fire – 29/12/08

• Molecular Sciences Bldg, Chemistry Lab
• Sheri Sangji – new employee
• t-butyl lithium
• What happened:
• Transfer 5 mL from a sealed container to flask
• Plastic syringe used multiple times came apart
• Compound ignited, synthetic clothing caught fire
• She died 18 days after accident

25
Case Study

• No safety training, as a new employee

• No lab coat worn by her… and others
• Higher volume used in procedure
• SDS specified glass syringe
• PI did not respond to EHS lab safety inspection

26
Oxidizers
Hazard Classes
• Oxidizing Gases
• Oxidizing Liquids
• Oxidizing Solids
Causes other materials to burn or explode by
providing oxygen
Examples
• Ammonium nitrate
• Nitric acid
• Perchloric Acid
• Oxygen

27
Oxidizers

Health Hazards
• May be toxic or corrosive

Safety Precautions
• Keep away from heat sources
• Separate from fuels (Flammable Materials)
• Use fume hood to capture emissions
• Protect eyes and skin
Oxidizers

Other Warnings
• Very reactive
• DO NOT return unused product to original
container
• Avoid buying large containers
Exploding Bomb Pictogram

Hazard classes
• Self reactive substances and
mixtures (Type A and B)
• Organic Peroxides (Type A and B)

30
Self-Reactive Substances

Hazards
• Sensitive to temperature changes
• Heating may occur when handled
or stored incorrectly
• Can cause fire / explosion

Safety Precautions
• Use only in fume hood
• Use small amounts
• Keep away from incompatibilities

31
Case Study

Texas Tech University, Jan. 7, 2010

• Student handling a self-reactive substance

• Made 10 g instead of 100 mg
• Crushed with a mortar and pestle
• Explosion due to friction and pressure
• Student suffered burns and lost three
fingers

32
Organic Peroxides

Demonstration

• Very reactive, can ignite

easily and burn quickly
• Sensitive to temperature
changes, light, friction

* Source of ignition not always necessary

33
Organic Peroxides

Peroxide-forming chemicals
• Form explosive, shock
sensitive peroxide crystals
• Risk  when concentrated
• Evaporation & Distillation
• Expiry Dates
• Do not handle the container
• Examples
• Isopropyl ether, Ethyl ether,
Tetrahydrofuran, p-dioxane

Texas Tech University

34
Corrosion pictogram

Physical hazard Health hazards

• Corrosive to Metals • Skin corrosion/irritation
• Serious eye damage
• Strong acids and bases
• Effect likely irreversible

35
Corrosion pictogram

Hazards
• Cause severe burns to skin, eyes and other tissues
• Will burn respiratory tract if inhaled
• Can attack other materials, including metal
Examples
• Sulfuric Acid
• Hydrochloric Acid
• Sodium Hydroxide
• Phenol
Corrosion pictogram

Precautions
• Use in fume hood if required
• Use proper protective equipment
• Protect skin and eyes
• Store appropriately
• Store acids and bases in separate areas
• Pour chemicals properly
• Pour acid into water
• Use containment during transport
Incompatibilities within Acids

Organic Acids Oxidizing Acids

• Acetic Acid • Nitric acid
Special consideration

Perchloric acid
• Requires special fume hood

Picric acid
• Explosive when dry

Hydrofluoric acid Case Study

• Especially damaging to tissue • Lab technician dies in
Australia after exposure to HF
• No proper PPE, no Calcium
Gluconate gel applied
Gas cylinder pictogram

Hazard Class
• Gases under pressure (Compressed gas,
Liquefied gas, Refrigerated liquefied gas and
Dissolved gas)

40
Gases Under Pressure

Products under pressure or chilled

• Compressed Gases
• Helium
• Oxygen
• Argon
• Liquefied gases
• Carbon dioxide
• Liquid nitrogen
• Cryogenic liquids

41
Gases Under Pressure

Risks
• Fire and explosion hazards
• Flammable gases
• Cylinder can explode if heated
• Sudden release creates a stream that
can puncture skin
• May “rocket” or torpedo” if damaged
• Toxicity
• Asphyxiation

42
Gases Under Pressure

Precautions
• Chain to a structural component
• Transport & handle with care
• Store away from heat sources
• Use proper regulator
• Install protective cap when in
storage or transport

43
Gases Under Pressure

No protective cap Not attached Close to heat Item on Attached too

source regulator low

44
Cryogenic Fluids

Characteristics
• Boiling points < -150°C
• Example: liquid nitrogen
• Causes cold burns and
frostbite
• Can cause O2 deficiency

45
Cryogenic Fluids

Precautions
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment
when handling
• Insulated gloves
• Safety glasses and face shield
• Lab coat closed and closed shoes
• Fill containers below maximum level
• Pour slowly

46
Health Hazards

47
Skull and Crossbones Pictogram

Acute toxicity
• One or more exposures to a product in a short
period of time
• Skin contact, ingestion or inhalation
• May cause immediate death or serious injury

Examples
• Hydrogen cyanide
• Carbon monoxide
• Formaldehyde

48
Health Hazard Pictogram

Health hazard classes Examples

• Respiratory sensitizer • Acetaldehyde
• Germ cell mutagenicity • Lead
• Carcinogenicity • Heptane
• Reproductive toxicity
• Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Single exposure
• Specific Target Organ Toxicity - Repeated exposure
• Aspiration hazard

49
Health Hazard Pictogram

Chronic health effects

• Exposure over longer period of time (from days to years)
• Cancer-causing products
• Lead to respiratory sensitization

Targeted health effects

• Specific organs systems (i.e. liver, kidney, nerves)
• Single or multiple exposures

 Other possible hazards

• corrosive, flammable

50
Exclamation Mark Pictogram

Health Hazard Classes

• Acute toxicity – Oral, Dermal, Inhalation
(only Category 4)
• Skin irritation
• Eye irritation
• Skin sensitizer
• Specific target organ toxicity – Single exposure
(only Category 3)

51
Exclamation Mark Pictogram

Risks
• Delayed health effect
• Usually reversible and short duration
• Dermal sensitizers (itching, redness,
etc.)
• Reversible skin damage (inflammation)
• Irritation of respiratory tract (coughing)
• Eye irritation

52
Safety Precautions
• Replace with less hazardous products
• Avoid stockpiling – minimize amounts
• Use fume hood if required
• Use eye and skin protection
• Good housekeeping (clean work
surface)
• No food or drink in work areas
• Good personal hygiene
• Wash hands after handling & before
leaving

53
Biohazardous Infectious Materials

Organisms or their toxins that can

cause disease
• Bacteria (Pseudomonas
aeruginosa)
• Viruses (Hepatitis B, HIV)
• Recombinant nucleic acid
• Fungi (Candida albicans)
• Toxins (Botulinum)

54
Biohazardous Infectious Materials

Precautions
• Protect skin and eyes
• Handle in designated areas
• Culture Rooms
• Biological Safety Cabinets
• Disinfect your workspace
• Practice good personal hygiene
• No food or drink in work areas
• Advise supervisor of medical conditions
• Labeled storage - refrigerators and freezers

55
Biohazardous Infectious Materials

No lab coat Jewelry

No gloves No separation
of sterile vs.
non-sterile
Hands not
inside
Excessive
clutter
Items blocking
air intake Mug

56
Chemical Storage

57
Chemical Storage Principles
• Maintain up-to-date inventories
• Regularly clean out unwanted
chemicals
• Not under the sink or on the floor
• Do not store alphabetically
• Store according to chemical
family or hazard classification
• Group them as:
• Flammables/combustibles, Acids,
Bases, Toxics, Oxidizers, Gases,
Cryogenics, Pyrophorics, Water
Reactives and Explosives

58
Chemical Segregation

• Use partitions or distance to segregate

each chemical family
• Keep different hazard classes on
separate shelves in cabinets or store in
separate cabinets
• Accidental contact between
incompatibles can result in fire,
explosion, formation of highly toxic
and/or flammable substances or
potentially harmful reactions

59
Chemical Segregation

Most labs have limited space, apply these steps to

resolve the problem:
• Store flammable liquids in flammable storage
cabinets
• Store corrosive liquids in corrosive cabinets
• Segregate acids from bases
• Segregate organic acids from oxidizing mineral acids
• Separate oxidizers from flammables, combustibles,
and toxic materials
• Separate corrosives from substances that may react
with and release corrosive, toxic, or flammable vapors

60
Lab Safety – Chemical Storage

Open waste
container

No edge
guards

Don’t store
on the bench

No
segregation
Large items blocking Don’t store in fume
air flow hood
Lab Safety – Chemical Storage

Flammables not in
FLSC

Ethanol
20 liters

No chemicals under
sink

Don’t store chemicals Liquids too high

in office

62
Chemical Segregation

Nitric Sulphuric
acid acid

Extreme
oxidizer

Methanol Hydrochloric acid

63
Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE)

64
Routes of Entry

Skin Absorption Inhalation

Injection Ingestion

65
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Appropriate Clothing
• Closed lab coat
• Closed shoes
• Keep long hair tied
Eye Protection
• Safety glasses
• Goggles
Face shield
Hand Protection
• Gloves

66
Lab Coat Policy

• Appropriate protective clothing

• Lab coats
• Aprons
• Coveralls
• Required in all experimental
areas where hazardous
materials are handled

Courtesy of University of Ottawa

67
Eye Protection Policy

• Everyone must wear appropriate

eye protection:
• All areas where hazardous materials
are used or stored
• To protect from splashes, projectiles
or pressure release
• To protect from UV or laser light
sources

68
Hand Protection

• Protects against cuts,

abrasions, burns or hazardous
materials.

• Requires selection of the

appropriate chemical resistant
gloves

69
Case Study

• A toxic-metals expert (Prof. Karen Wetterhahn) spilled a

couple of drops of dimethyl mercury on her hand
• She quickly cleaned it up and assumed that her latex
gloves provided protection.
• Five months after the accident, she was having difficulty
walking and speaking.
• Tests later showed that she had 80 times the lethal
dose of mercury in her blood.
• She slipped into a coma and died in June 1997, at the
age of 48.

70
Quiz

When wearing a face shield safety glasses are not

required.

True

False

71
Labels

72
WHMIS - Labels

Supplier’s Labels
• Original container

Workplace Labels
• Created at workplace

73
Supplier Label

1. Product 2. WHMIS
Identifier Pictograms

3. Signal 4. Hazard
Word Statement

5. Precautionary 6. Supplier
Statements Identifier

74
Workplace Label

Product K1
Danger
1. Product Fatal is swallowed. Causes skin irritation. 2. Safe Handling
Name Wear protective gloves (neoprene). Wash hands Precautions
thoroughly
after handling. Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this
product.

See SDS for more information.

3. Reference
to SDS

75
Workplace Labels – When?

• On hazardous products produced and

used in the workplace
• If the supplier label becomes illegible
or defaced
• When transferring into another
container
Workplace Labels – Research Labs

Research Label Requirements

• No exemptions
McGill Specific Label Requirements
• Full name of product, or
• Use abbreviations found in EHS Approved
Good example
Laboratory Abbreviation List (see McGill
Lab Safety Manual), or
• Post a label near the container
Additional Requirements
• SDS must be available
• Not to be transported out of laboratory
Bad example

77
WHMIS - Labels

No label Label damaged

78
Safety Data Sheets
(SDS)

79
Safety Data Sheets

Suppliers responsibilities
• Must prepare and provide
• Update only when "significant new data“ is available
• 16 sections
Employers responsibilities
• Ensure SDS is available and accessible to ALL
workers

80
Safety Data Sheets – 16 Sections
1. Identification
2. Hazard Identification
3. Composition / Information on Ingredients
4. First Aid Measures
5. Fire Fighting Measures
6. Accidental Release Measures
7. Handling and Storage
8. Exposure Controls / Personal Protection
9. Physical and Chemical Properties
10. Stability and Reactivity
11. Toxicological Information
12. Ecological Information
13. Disposal Considerations
14. Transport Information
15. Regulatory Information
16. Other Information

81
Safety Data Sheets - Examples

McGill Emergency Number:

To call in the event of a spill or lab incident or accident

Downtown ext. 3000; Macdonald ext. 7777; MNI ext. 55-555

82
Safety Data Sheets - Examples

83
Safety Data Sheets - Examples

84
Safety Data Sheets - Examples

85
Safety Data Sheets - Examples

86
Safety Data Sheets - Examples

87
Safety Data Sheets - Examples

88
Safety Data Sheets - Examples

The smaller the

LD50 or LC50 value
the greater the
hazard

89
Reproductive hazards

90
Safety Data Sheets - Examples

Contact Hazardous Waste Management

(5066)
MNI – See MNI Lab Safety Manual

91
Where to find SDS Information?

McGill SDS via https://mylab.mcgill.ca/

92
• Web based compliance tool
• Maintains hazardous material inventories
• Access to SDS service
• Waste disposal request
• Critical info for emergency responders
• And more …

93
SDS in myLab

94
Other sources
http://www.mcgill.ca/ehs/forms/references/links/

95
Laboratory Information Card

Posting home
numbers optional

96
Quiz

SDSs must be updated:

Every three years

When significant new data is available
Every year
When the government orders it

97
Any questions? Do you want to contact us?

3610 McTavish, 4th Floor

www.mcgill.ca/ehs

ehs@mcgill.ca

514-398-4563

98
The End

99