Title: Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System WHMIS and Laboratory Safety
1Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
(WHMIS) and Laboratory Safety
2No employer may allow the use, handling or
storage of a Controlled Product in a workplace
unless the product carries a label and a material
safety data sheet which meet the requirements of
this Act and the regulations and unless the
worker has received the training and information
required to carry out the work entrusted to them
safely.
It is the law! Provincial Federal
Nova Scotia WHMIS Regulation
3WHMIS Main Elements
- Labels
- supplier
- workplace
- laboratory
- Material Safety Data Sheets
- Training
- core
- job specific
4Responsibilities
- Supplier
- Provide supplier labels
- Provide Material Safety Data Sheets
5Responsibilities
- Employer
- Ensure labels and MSDS are available
- Develop safe procedures for handling, storage and
disposal (based on info from labels and MSDS) - Train workers
6Responsibilities
- Employee/Worker
- Learn to use WHMIS system
- Follow safe procedures and training
- Inform the employer of hazards
7Supplier Labels
8Suppliers Label
PRODUCT IDENTIFIER
TOLUENE SULFONIC ACID
RISK PHRASES Highly irritating to skin, eyes,
and nose HEALTH HAZARD DATA Strong Acid Treat
as sulphuric acid EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE ACUTE
ABC Chemicals 123 Chemical Drive Chemical
City 1-800-CHE-MICAL
Supplier identifier
PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT EYE Face shield and goggles GLOVES
Rubber OTHER CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT Rubber
apron, rubber boots
FIRST AID EYES Flush with water for 15 minutes.
Consult with physician SKIN Flush with water as
per sulphuric acid INGESTION Treat as per
sulphuric acid. Consult with physician
Refer to Material Safety Data Sheet
FRANCAIS AU VERSO
9Supplier Labels
- On all containers received from a commercial
supplier - Have a dark hatch-mark boarder
- Different color from the rest of container
(usually) - In English and French (in Canada)
10Class A Compressed Gas
- Gas inside cylinder is under pressure
- The cylinder may explode if heated or damaged
- Sudden release of high pressure gas streams may
puncture skin and cause fatal embolism
11Class A Compressed Gas Precautions
- Transport and handle with care
- Make sure cylinders are properly secured
- Store away from sources of heat or fire
- Use proper regulator
12Class B Flammable and Combustible
Material Precautions
- Store away from Class C (oxidizing materials)
- Store away from sources of heat, sparks and flame
- Do not smoke near these materials
13Class C Oxidizing Material
- Can cause other materials to burn or explode by
providing oxygen - May burn skin and eyes on contact
14Class C Oxidizing Material Precautions
- Store away from Class B (flammable and
combustible) materials - Store away from sources of heat and ignition
- Wear the recommended protective equipment and
clothing
15Class D Controlled Products
Division 1 Materials Causing Immediate and
Serious Toxic Effects
Division 2 Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects
Division 3 Biohazardous Infectious Materials
16Division 1 Materials Causing Immediate and
Serious Toxic Effects
May cause immediate death or serious injury if
inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through the skin
17Division 1 Materials Causing Immediate and
Serious Toxic Effects Precautions
- Avoid inhaling gas or vapours
- Avoid skin and eye contact
- Wear the recommended protective equipment and
clothing - Do not eat, drink or smoke near these materials
- Wash hands after handling
18Division 2 Materials Causing Other Toxic
Effects
- May cause death or permanent injury following
repeated or long-term exposure - May irritate eyes, skin and breathing passages
may lead to chronic lung problems and skin
sensitivity - May cause liver or kidney damage, cancer, birth
defects or sterility
19Division 2 Materials Causing Other Toxic
Effects Precautions
- Avoid inhaling gas or vapours
- Avoid skin and eye contact
- Wear the recommended protective equipment and
clothing - Do not eat, drink or smoke near these materials
- Wash hands after handling
20Division 3 Biohazardous Infectious Materials
- Contact with microbiological agents (e.g.,
bacteria, viruses, fungi and their toxins) may
cause illness or death
21Division 3 Biohazardous Infectious Materials
Precautions
- Wear the recommended protective equipment and
clothing - Work with these materials in designated areas
- Disinfect area after handling
- Wash hands after handling
22Class E Corrosive Material
- Will burn eyes and skin on contact
- Will burn tissues of respiratory tract if inhaled
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23Class E Corrosive Material Precautions
- Store acids and bases in separate areas
- Avoid inhaling these materials
- Avoid contact with skin and eyes
- Wear the recommended protective equipment and
clothing
24Class F Dangerously Reactive Material
- Store away from heat
- Avoid shock and friction
- Wear the recommended protective equipment and
clothing
25Class F DangerouslyReactive Material
- May be unstable, reacting dangerously to jarring,
compression, heat or exposure to light - May burn, explode or produce dangerous gases when
mixed with incompatible materials
26Not Classified as Controlled Products
- Explosives
- Radioactive materials
- Domestic goods
- Cosmetics
- Food and drug additives
- Drugs and diagnostic chemicals
- Pesticides
- Hazardous waste
27Workplace label
- Whenever a product is taken out of a container
with a supplier label and placed into another
container (without a supplier label), it must
have a workplace label - Placed on the new container by the person
transferring the product
28Workplace Label
PRODUCT IDENTIFIER
Methyl Alcohol
Precautions Use in well ventilated area Avoid
contact with skin and eyes Keep away from spark
and flame
Refer to Material Safety Data Sheet
29Laboratory Labels
- Product name
- First aid measures
- Risk phrases
- Precautionary measures
- Reference to MSDS
Agent Green
30Laboratory Labels
If the product
- From a laboratory house,
- Intended for use in the lab only,
- Are packaged in less than 10kg quantities
31Laboratory Labels
- Sample name, chemical identity
- Hazardous ingredients
- Supplier name and telephone
- Statement This is a hazardous laboratory
sample. For hazard information or in emergencies
call..
32Special Laboratory Rules
o If a controlled product/chemical is
produced in the laboratory for evaluation,
analysis, or testing purposes then while it is in
the laboratory, it must be legibly identified.
The teachers and students must understand the
labeling system and can trace it back to an MSDS
or information necessary to ensure safe use
storage and handling.
33Special Laboratory Rules
If a controlled product received in a laboratory
has been transferred from the original container
for use, analysis, testing, or evaluation in the
laboratory, then the contents of the second
container must be clearly identified. The teacher
and students must be familiar with this mode of
identification and thus can trace the
identification back to the supplier or workplace
label and its MSDS. In other words, beakers
containing chemicals may be identified with
numbers or colors as long as all those using them
understand the identity system.
34Material Safety Data Sheets
- Supplier must provide
- Accessible to ALL workers in the workplace
- Must be kept up to date (less than 3 years old)
- Must be made available to doctor in the event of
exposure
35All chemicals used or stored in a laboratory must
be listed and must have a current MSDS. The list
and the MSDSs must be available to those using
the lab.
Lists and MSDSs
36Whats in an MSDS?
- Product Identification name, company, phone
- MSDS Preparation date, preparer
- Ingredients CAS , OSHA PEL, ACGIH TLV
- Physical Properties odour, colour, state
- Fire and Explosion data -
- Product Reactivity
- Toxicological Information
- Preventative Measures
- First Aid Measures
37While Working in the Lab
- Know the emergency escape route and alternate
- Know the emergency spill procedure
- Know the location of the first aid kit, eye wash
station/shower, spill kits, MSDS and fire
extinguisher - Identify EVERYTHING!
- No food, beverages or application of cosmetics
- Report all injuries and accidents via SIP
38PPE and Procedure
- Info on PPE is available on MSDS
- Select and mandate the use of appropriate
chemical resistant gloves to protect against risk
of cuts, abrasions, burns, or exposure to
hazardous materials - Allow only fully covered shoes with slip
resistance - Restrain long hair and loose clothing
- Wear appropriate eye protection, to protect
against the risk of flying dust particles,
splashes or hazardous materials or harmful rays
39Weekly Lab Checks
- Eye wash (purge)- Is it clean?
- Fire extinguisher- Has it been discharged and,
has it been inspected within a year? - Fume Hood Is the exhaust fan working?
- Tubing, pressurized connections Are they
damaged, deteriorated? - Glassware if it is chipped, throw it out.
- Chemical storage Are chemicals stored in their
proper location?
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