Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System 2015

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is an inclusive system for providing health and safety information on the safe use of hazardous products used in Canadian workplaces. WHMIS has aligned with the worldwide hazard communication system known as GHS - the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals. Aligning with GHS provides many benefits, including:-

•  Hazard classification criteria are more comprehensive which improves ability to indicate severity of hazards.
•  New hazard classes are included.
•  Physical hazard criteria are consistent with the Transport of Dangerous Goods Act.
• Standardized language (hazard and precautionary statements).
• Standardized Safety Data Sheets (SDS) format and more comprehensive requirements.
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 When a hazardous product is used in the workplace, employers are required to:

• Educate and train workers on the hazards and safe use of products.
• Ensure that hazardous products are properly labelled.
• Prepare workplace labels, as needed.
• Prepare SDSs, as necessary (e.g., if an employer manufactures a hazardous product that is used on-site).
• Provide access to up-to-date SDSs to workers.
• Ensure appropriate control measures are in place to protect the health and safety of workers.

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/whmis_ghs/general.html

Joint Health and Safety Committee

A joint health and safety committee (JHSC) is a forum for bringing the internal responsibility system into practice as ministry of labour cannot have their inspector placed in every single company. The committee consists of labour and management representatives who meet on a regular basis to deal with health and safety issues. The advantage of a joint committee is that the in-depth practical knowledge of specific tasks (labour) is brought together with the larger overview of company policies, and procedures (management). Another significant benefit is the enhancement of cooperation among all parts of the work force toward solving health and safety problems. It is co-chaired by member of management and workers.

The committee assists the employer to:

•   Recognize workplace hazards
•   Evaluate the risk of accidents/incidents, injuries and illness.
•   Participate in development and implementation of programs to protect the employee’s.
•  Respond to employee complaints and suggestions concerning safety and health.
•   Ensure the maintenance and monitoring of injury and work hazard records.
• Monitor and follow-up hazard reports and recommend action.
• Set up and promote programs to improve employee training and education.
•  Participate in all safety and health inquiries and investigations.

·   Rights of JHSC

•            Right to obtain H&S information from the company
•       Right to be present during testing
•            Right to be informed of all hazards in the workplace
•            Right to inspect the workplace monthly
•            Right to participate in work refusals

http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/hscommittees/whatisa.html

Roles of Workplace Parties

Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act consist a “shared responsibility model” under which all parties at workplace are responsible to make workplace safe and healthy and perform their role in compliance with act. Following are the roles and responsibilities for each party at workplace:-

Employers Responsibility   

                                                            

·         Take "all reasonable care" to ensure the safety of workers

·         Write a health and safety policy, post it in the workplace

·         Develop a health and safety program for inspections, hazard identification, worker training, safety procedures and personal protective equipment

·         Ensure compliance with the OHSA (Occupational Health and Safety Act)

Violation of any of these responsibility will result in fines up to $500,000.

Supervisor Responsibility

 

·         Take "every precaution reasonable in the circumstance" to protect workers

·         Knowledge of the OHSA to ensure workers follow it

·         Tell workers of all hazards in the workplace

·         Train the workers to deal with hazards, including written instructions

·         Ensure workers use personal protective equipment

Otherwise, fines up to $25,000 for each violation

Worker Rights

 

·         Right to Know- Worker holds right to know the hazards and safety issues at workplace. Worker should be informed by supervisor

·         Right to Participate- Worker holds a right to participate in health and safety trainings.

·         Right to Refuse- Worker has right to refuse unsafe work. In order to do so worker must inform supervisor and JHSC (Joint Health and Safety Committee)

Worker Responsibility  

·         To work in compliance with the OHSA

·         To wear protective equipment as required

·         To report to a supervisor any unsafe condition or violation of the OHSA

·         To work in a manner that does not endanger self or others

Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act

Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act came into force in 1979 and emended time to time according to need. In Ontario an estimates as many as 6,000 people die every year due to a combination of occupational diseases and injuries. Such a numbers force changes in legislation to strengthened the requirements for occupational health and safety in Ontario workplaces and have reinforced the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) and the workplace structures, in particular the joint health and safety committees.

Act clearly indicated that it is the employers who have the greatest responsibility to ensure that health and safety are met in the workplace. However all workplace parties including employers, workers and supervisors have a responsibility with respect to health and safety. This is basis in order to have Internal Responsibility System (IRS) at work and roles of all parties are detailed in the act.

This Act provide a legal framework and the tools to make Ontario’s workplaces safe and healthy. It describes the rights and duties of all parties in workplace. It constructs the procedure for dealing with a workplace injuries and enforce law where the workplace parties has been failed to achieve compliance.

Occupational Health and Safety Development Models

In the beginning

•  Assumption of risk model- workers accepted the risk of the jobs they chose and protect themselves
• Careless worker model-accidents were blamed on workers who didn't follow the safety rules.

 In the interim

“Shared responsibility” model-partnership of safety was developed:-

•  Management commitment
•  Informed workers 
•  Consultations on safety
• Trust relationships
• Employee input on safety issues

 In the evolution

• Federal Law
• Provincial Law
• Workplace Hazardous Material Information System

In the future

• What will be key issues for H&S in the future?