Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System WHMIS labels implementation

Do you need help for your WHMIS implementation 2015 in your organization?
 

You are in the right place! At Kalium Solutions, you will find all the resources you need to ensure a complete and successful WHMIS implementation. Our goal is to help you meet regulatory requirements and protect your workers. We will provide you with a clear action plan and tools to manage WHMIS in your organization and to keep it up to date.

Our team of expert chemists are here to help you implement best practices and ensure compliance with health and safety rules and regulations. We offer you tailor-made services so that you can benefit from a complete and fast solution to meet your WHMIS needs, including WHMIS workplace labels and WHMIS 2015 labels.

We understand the importance of health and safety in the workplace and are committed to providing you with top quality services and solutions. We also offer follow-up and assistance services to help you implement WHMIS but also to ensure its sustainability.

Implementing WHMIS with Kalium solutions means investing in health and safety while having a substantial return on investment.
 

Here is a detailed list:

Our approach is fully compliant with the Health and Safety Act and its OHSR regulations and also with the Hazardous Products Information Regulations (HPIR). This regulation manages information, the information and training program for workers, labeling and the storage of dangerous products in the workplace. The amended HPIR has been in effect since June 1, 2015.

1. Labeling of hazardous products such as workplace labels
2. Rules relating to certain containers
3. SDS such obligation to produce, keep, replace and update
4. Display of safety data
5. Training and information program which must contain the following elements in particular:
   • Information on the nature and meaning of the information contained on a label, a poster and in a safety data sheet;
   • Training on hazard information, including hazard statements and precautionary statements, for each of the hazardous products present in the workplace;
   • Training on applicable directives so that the use, handling, storage, warehousing and disposal of hazardous products, including those contained in a pipe, tank car, tank etc;
   • Training on the precautions to be taken with regard to fugitive emissions, intermediate products as well as hazardous residues, present in the workplace, if applicable;
   • Training on the procedure to follow in the event of an emergency;
   • Training on where the safety data sheets are kept, how to access them, the technology relating to the medium on which they are kept and how to transfer them to a paper medium.

Whether you are a small, medium or large business, manufacturer, distributor or simply a user of hazardous materials, we have the tools, software and the right solution for you!

Frequently asked questions

Why Are WHMIS Labels Important?

WHMIS labels are the first line of protection of a worker using, handling or storing a hazardous product. They give the workers a lot of necessary information for their safety, such as the hazards associated with the product and the precautionary statements for prevention, response, storage and disposal.

What are the main differences between WHMIS 1988 and WHMIS 2015?

There are many differences between WHMIS 1988 and WHMIS 2015. WHMIS 1988 included 6 hazard classes, from A to F; WHMIS 2015 includes 32 hazard classes, and is largely based on the General Harmonized System (GHS). WHMIS 2015 uses the GHS pictograms, which easily recognizable by their red bordered diamond shape.

Here are a few advantages of WHMIS 2015:

• More comprehensive hazard classification criteria that allow for a more accurate definition of the severity of hazards
• New hazard classes have been added. This provides a better management of chronic health hazards.
  For instance, under WHMIS 1988, hazard class D2 – Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects has been replaced by the following classes:
  • Respiratory Sensitization
  • Skin Sensitization
  • Carcinogenicity
  • Germ Cell Mutagenicity
  • Reproductive Toxicity
  • Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Repeated Exposure
  • Skin Irritation
  • Eye Irritation
  Amongst the new hazard classes are some that did not have an equivalent under WHMIS 1988:
  • Aspiration Hazard
  • Specific Target Organ Toxicity – Single Exposure
  • Poussières combustibles
  • Simple Asphyxiants
• The criteria for physical hazards are compliant with the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG)
• The language used is standardized (precautionary and hazard statements)
• The format of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) is standardized and more comprehensive requirements are provided

 

All these benefits from using GHS as the reference for WHMIS 2015 make for a more consistent across countries, which facilitates international trade.

What are the new labeling requirements for WHMIS 2015?

Besides being based on the classification of WHMIS 2015, labels require 7 essential information (HPR, art. 3(1)):

• Product Identifier
• Supplier Identifier (address and phone number in Canada)
• Pictograms
• Signal Word
• Hazard Statements
• Precautionary Statements
• Additional Information (If Applicable)

 

Additionally, Pictograms, Signal Word and Hazard Statements must be grouped on the label, and the information must be presented in the two official languages, French and English. Here is an example of a compliant label:

Who is responsible for implementing WHMIS?

In Quebec, the Loi sur la santé et la sécurité au travail states the employer is the one who must implement a training and information program on hazardous products (LSST, art. 62.5). Other Canadian provinces have their equivalent acts, and for all of them the responsibility of implementing WHMIS also belongs to the employer. However, this does not mean the employer is the sole responsible for insuring occupational health and safety. The following table shows the different responsibilities of suppliers, employers and employees: