UNIT 2:LABELS

Hazardous material must be easily identifiable to workers on the job. The WHMIS label is the first hazard warning workers are likely to see.

WHMIS labels have different forms. They may be a mark, sign, stamp, sticker, seal, ticket, tag, or wrapper. They are attached to, imprinted, stenciled, or embossed on the controlled product or its container.

Because there is usually limited space on a container, a label only gives brief and vital information about a product but it also refers users to an MSDS for more detailed information.

A controlled product cannot be used in a Canadian workplace unless the container in which the product is packaged is clearly labeled.

Two Basic Kinds of WHMIS Labels:

In most cases, the WHMIS labels you will see will be a supplier label-the label placed on a container by the supplier before shipping.

The other kind of WHMIS label you may see is a workplace label- the label placed on a hazardous material which has been produced in the workplace. Workplace labels are also used on a hazardous material which has been transferred from its original container into a smaller container after arrival.

Both supplier labels and workplace labels are required to present certain kinds of information to the workers who use the materials or come into contact with them on the job.

a) Supplier Labels:

Those who supply a hazardous material, either by importing it or producing it or selling it in Canada, must affix a supplier label to the container. The receiving employer must make sure the supplier labels are in place, and that the labels meet the WHMIS requirements.

The requirements of a WHMIS supplier label are as follows:

the information must be set within a distinctive WHMIS border as shown

the colour of the border must contrast the background

the label must be located on a part of the container that is displayed under normal conditions of storage and use

the label must contain the proper hazard symbol(s), and 7 pieces of information presented in English and French.

The 7 pieces of information required on supplier labels are shown below:

 Means the product's common name, trade name, chemical name, generic name, brand name, or code number.

 Means the supplier's name.

 Says that an MSDS is available for more detailed information.

 One or more of the 8 hazard class symbols is shown.

 Lists any hazards or risks of being exposed to the material.

 Describes precautions you should take when handling to avoid exposure

 States first aid treatment to be given if exposure occurs.

When a container is very small, i.e., less than 100mL, only the first 4 must be shown. But whenever the container size is 100mL or greater, all 7 pieces of information appear on the supplier label.

Where containers are crated inside a larger package for shipping, the supplier may supply the labels separately for the employer to attach once the shipment is received and broken down.

Example of a Supplier Label:

Note: The supplier label information will be in both English and French.

Example of a Workplace Label:

Note: The workplace label will be in the main language in use at the workplace.

b) Workplace Labels:

Workplace labels must be placed on hazardous materials:

when they are produced in the workplace

when the original supplier's label becomes illegible or is removed and no other copy of the supplier's label is available for replacement

when a hazardous material is decanted (poured) at the workplace from the original supplier's container.

The only exception here is that the new container does not need any label if the entire contents of it will be used immediately by the person who filled it .

If, however, the entire contents are not used within a short period of time, but will be used by the same person on the same shift then only the name of the material must be written on the container.

Workplace labels do not require the hatched border nor do they require as much information as supplier labels. Only 3 of the 7 pieces of information are required on workplace labels. These are:

i)the product identifier

ii)the precautionary measures (safe handling instructions)

iii)an MSDS statement

Variations of the Workplace Label:

Bulk quantities (>454 liters) of hazardous materials such as found in industrial-size mixing or process vessels, large vats, tanks, trucks, or piping systems and conveyors only require a product identifier. This can be on a tag, placard or even just by means of a colour coding.

Hazardous wastes produced in the workplace require only some kind of sign or placard to ensure that workers recognize the waste material. A waste is hazardous if it fits any of the 6 hazard classes or is named on the ingredients disclosure list.

Consumer products from retail stores do not need relabelled when entering the workplace so long as the original store label is readable.

Substances undergoing laboratory testing only require some form of product identifier (name, or number code).

Fugitive emissions, i.e., gas, liquid, or solid that escapes from equipment in the workplace do not have to be given workplace labels.

Examples of Risk Phrases:

may cause blindness / eye irritant
causes severe burns / reacts violently with water
may cause cancer / spontaneously flammable in air
may cause birth defects / explosive when dry
contact with acids liberates toxic gas / rapidly absorbed through skin

Examples of Precautionary Statements:

keep container tightly closed / store in cool place
keep away from ignition sources / avoid contact with skin
avoid shock and friction / avoid contact with eyes
avoid prolonged breathing of vapour / wear face/eye protection
when using, do not smoke / do not breathe dust

Appearance of Workplace Labels:

There are no specific requirements on the size, or shape of the workplace label. It is important that it is readable and clearly visible to workers.

Letters, numbers and borders that appear on labels may be in any colour that contrasts distinctly from other markings on the container.

If the employer chooses to apply a hazard symbol to a workplace label it should not be of a colour that creates confusion with any other labeling systems. For example, orange hazard symbols should not be used since these indicate explosives in TDG labeling. Brown and purple are O.K. for all WHMIS hazard symbols and black is O.K. for all except compressed gases since black identifies a corrosive gas under TDG.

All workplace labels must be durable, i.e., permanent and firmly attached to their containers.

Summary of Labeling Requirements:

REQUIREMENTS / SUPPLIER / WORK PLACE / PLACARD / LAB
LABEL
supplier / sample
<100mL / >100mL / <10kg / <10kg
Product Identifier /  /  /  /  /  / 
Supplier Identifier /  /  / 
MSDS Statement /  /  /  /  / 
Hazard Symbol /  / 
Risk Phrases /  / 
Precautionary Measures /  /  / 
First Aid Measures /  / 
Border /  /  / 
Bilingual /  /  /  / 

Consumer Restricted Product Labels:

Consumer restricted products (e.g., aerosols, bleaches, adhesives) are intended primarily for consumers rather than the workplace. They are exempt from WHMIS supplier labels and MSDS requirements. However, if you use these products in the workplace, your employer must train you to handle them safely.

Consumer restricted products have their own unique label format as shown below:

Starting Fluid

DANGER

EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE, VAPOUR HARMFUL,

CONTAINER MAY EXPLODE IF HEATED

250g

There are two parts to each hazard symbol:

1.The overall shape of the frame indicates the degree of risk. They are based on traffic symbols:

the octagon or stop-sign means "DANGER"

the diamond or warning sign means "WARNING"

the inverted triangle or yield sign means "CAUTION"

2.The picture inside the frame indicates the kind of hazard, i.e., corrosive, flammable, explosive or poison.

Consumer Restricted Products

Hazard Symbols and Signal Words

1. Danger 2. Warning 3. Caution

1. Corrosive 2. Flammable 3. Explosive4. Poison

Differences Between Labels on Restricted and Controlled Products:

restricted products are based on only 4 types of hazard; WHMIS supplier labels are based on 8.

WHMIS symbols do not specify degree of hazard.

restricted labels do not require reference to MSDS's.

EXERCISE FOR UNIT 2

1. Circle one (correct) answer. The purpose of a WHMIS label is to:

a)warn people

b)identify the hazardous material to be used

c)tell you that more information is available on the MSDS

d)all of the above

e)none of the above

2. Under WHMIS legislation, there are two basic types of labels. Name these.

a) ...... b) ......

3. Circle the correct answers. Workplace labels must be used:

a) for fugitive emissions (small leaks from process equipment)

b) for hazardous materials produced in the workplace

c) when a supplier's label falls off or becomes damaged

d) for consumer products brought into the workplace

e) for hazardous materials decanted (poured) out of the supplier's container and stored in the new container.

4. State the 3 pieces of information required on a workplace label.

a) ......

b) ......

c) ......

5. State the 4 additional pieces of information required on a supplier label.

d) ...... e) ......

f) ...... g) ......

6. For each hazardous material listed in column 1, write in the missing risk phrase or precautionary measure in column 2 or 3. Refer back to Unit 1 if necessary for information on the hazard classes.

Hazard Class and Example / Risk Phrase / Precautionary Measure
Class A
Compressed Gas
e.g., Helium / -store upright in cool place
-keep safety cap on when not in use
Class B
Flammables
e.g., gasoline / -keep away from flames and sparks
-store in safety cans
Class C
Oxidizers
e.g., oxygen / -explosive when combined with combustible materials
Class D1
Acute Toxins
e.g., rat poison / -may be fatal if swallowed
Class D2
Chronic Toxins
e.g., asbestos / -wear respiratory protection
-do not breathe dust
Class D3
Biohazards
e.g., blood serum / -contact may cause disease
Class E
Corrosives
e.g., drain cleaner / -avoid contact with skin and eyes
Class F
Dangerously Reactive
e.g., sodium metal / -reacts violently with water producing explosive gas

7. For each of the following, write the letter T if the statement is true and write the letter F if the statement is false.

...... T..... All supplier labels must have hazard symbols.

...... Supplier labels only have to be in English.

...... Workplace labels are not necessary as long as workers are taught how to handle chemicals safely.

...... Supplier labels must use the hatched (dashed) border.

...... Consumer restricted products must be given a workplace label when brought into the workplace.

8. State the 2 types of information that are missing from the following supplier label.

1) ...... 2) ......

Add the missing information in the space below the label.

......

9. State the 4 types of information that are extra (given but not required by WHMIS) in the following workplace label. Also state the 2 types of information that should be present but are missing on this workplace label.

Types of extra info:

1) ...... 2) ......

3) ...... 4) ......

Types of missing info:

1) ...... 2) ......

10. Name the type of label is shown below.

......

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