W H M I S
W O R K P L A C E
H A Z A R D O U S M A T E R I A L S
I N F O R M A T I O N S Y S T E M
A Canada-wide system in which suppliers, employers and workers each have their own responsibilities.
WHMIS is there to protect the health and safety of workers by promoting access to information on hazardous materials used in the workplace
SUPPLIERS |
| EMPLOYERS |
| WORKERS |
manufacture, import, distribute or sell hazardous materials |
| purchase, use or manufacture controlled products |
| use controlled products at work |
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A system governed by laws
WHMIS is governed by federal and provincial laws and regulations. Any person supplying or using controlled products must comply with it. |
Suppliers are governed by federal legislation, specifically the Hazardous Products Act (part II) and the Controlled Products Regulation. |
Employers are governed by provincial legislation, specifically the Act respecting occupational health and safety (article 62) as well as the Regulation respecting information on controlled products. |
Any questions ?
You don't know whether the products that you supply or use are controlled products... |
You want to know more about the laws and regulations... |
You want to set up a training program for your employees... |
Do not hesitate to contact : |
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A system that defines
six classes
of « controlled » products
WHMIS divides hazardous materials into six main classes based on their specific hazards. If a product corresponds to one or more of these classes, it becomes a « controlled » product |
| Classes | Definition | Examples |
A Compressed gases | Products held under pressure | Oxygen | |
B Flammable and | Products that will burn or catch on fire easily | Propane | |
C Oxidizing materials | Products that can cause or promote combustion of another material (whether or not they are themselves combustible) or products that are organic peroxides | Hydrogen peroxide | |
D1 Materials causing | Products that can rapidly cause harmful health effects, including death | Carbon monoxide | |
D2 Materials causing other | Products whose health effects generally appear over time following one or several exposures | Benzene | |
D3 Biohazardous infectious | Living organisms or their toxins that can cause disease in people or animals | AIDS virus | |
E Corrosive materials | Products that can corrode metal surfaces or cause burns to skin | Caustic soda | |
F Dangerously reactive | Products that can be health or safety hazards under certain conditons (pressure, temperature, impact, violent reaction with water or air) | Fluorine |