What is WHMIS? WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) is a system designed to deliver information about hazardous materials used in the workplace. It is often referred to as the “right to know”. Although this is a provincially legislated regulation it is applicable Canada-wide through Federal legislation.
To help for the annual review, attached is a more detailed review of WHMIS:
What does MSDS stand for?
A MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET (MSDS) is a document produced by manufacturers, suppliers and distributors or chemical products, to provide information on the hazards and precautions for safe use and handling of their chemical products.
It is important that you have a MSDS for all chemical products used in your department, so that you are aware of the hazards and the necessary precautions which are required for safe use and handling to protect staff and students. An MSDS must be updated every three years to include any new information on the product.
A review of the MSDS should be done for every new product introduced to the workplace, as well as products that are not used on a regular basis.
NO product is to be used without having an MSDS available.
Every facility within the RCCDSB has one or more binders. Everyone should know the location of the MSDS binder within their facility in which you work. If you are unaware of the location of the binder in your facility, follow this link: Locations of MSDS binders within each RCCDSB site.
If an MSDS is not available in your binder; sheets are available from MSDS Online website at the following link: MSDS Online
General Instructions for updating Manuals or Retrieving an MSDS
Links
WORKPLACE LABELS
Workplace Labels are used in the workplace to:
- Identify controlled products that are produced and used in the workplace
- For products transferred into other containers.
- To replace a supplier label if it is damaged or missing.
- No product is to be used without having an identification label attached to it.
Workplace Label Example:
|
PRODUCT INDENTIFICATION |
|
SAFE HANDLING/PERSONAL PROTECTION Extremely Flammable |
| Refer to MSDS for more information |
Remember–Always ensure every bottle has a supplier label or workplace label on it. Don’t bring chemicals in from home unless approved by the Principal and the Health and Safety Officer.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Appropriate personal protective equipment shall be provided and shall be worn where and when required.
The following PPE shall be worn when deemed necessary by a Supervisor, Material Safety Data Sheet or common sense:
*Eye and Face Protection: C.S.A approved eyewear must be worn where and when required. Glasses, goggles, and or face shields or mask shall be worn while working in designated locations or where there is a possibility of injury to one’s eyes or face.
*Skin Protection: Proper gloves must be used when handling chemicals, as well as cleaning blood borne pathogens (i.e. changing diapers or cleaning messes from blood borne pathogens)
*Body Protection: C.S.A. approved Kevlar sleeves, chest and torso protection, or shin guards shall be worn where and when required as deemed by the Supervisor. Mostly used for when working with children with agression
*Foot Protection: C.S.A. approved steel toed shoes or boots shall be worn where and when required as deemed by the Supervisor.
*Slips Trips and Falls Protection: Stripping boots shall be worn when stripping and scrubbing floors by caretaking staff.
