WHMIS Refresher Creating and Maintaining A Safe and Healthy Environment Department of Chemical Engineering and App

1. WHMIS RefresherCreating and Maintaining A Safe and Healthy Environment  Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied ChemistryUniversity of Toronto

2. Outline Responsibilities and rights of Workers and Supervisors under the Occupational Health and Safety Act An overview of Department�s Safety Policies and Programs with respect to the application of the Act

3. Why We Are Here? Under the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA), all members of the department must participate in safety training and annual review sessions. The University as a workplace is not free of health and safety hazards. In this department, we use and have inventory of a wide range of chemicals, equipment, and apparatus that are potentially hazardous. The Wallberg building is our second home.

4. Safety Training Programs Primary Training CHE2222 Two-day session for all new graduate students, researchers, and academic/administrative/support staff Participants must pass (>70%) a written examination 2nd-yr Undergraduate Half-day session in September 4th-yr Undergraduate Now part of CHE2222 (1st-day session) Summer students Full-day session Under the OHSA, all members of the department must participate in comprehensive safety training before they begin work.Under the OHSA, all members of the department must participate in comprehensive safety training before they begin work.

5. Safety Training Programs (cont�d.) Supplementary Training WHMIS refresher One-hour session for all members of the Department who did not attended current year CHE2222. (Attendance must be taken) Other training provided by the University Radioisotopes, cryogenics, biohazards, use of respirator, etc.

6. Accidents do happen! Accidents do happen!

8. Numbers of Accident/Incident Reports Filed in Our Department (2000-2004)

10. What is the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)? Provincial legislation governing workplace health and safety issues. Outlines rights and duties of the employer, supervisor and worker in the workplace to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. Establishes procedures for dealing with workplace hazards. Provides for enforcement of the law where compliance has not been achieved.

11. Federal Legislation

12. Ontario Legislation With the pass of Bill 79 on June 29, 1987, an amendment to the Occupational Health adn Safety Act (OHSA) allowed the implementation of WHMIS. WHMIS regulation is a key component of OHSA. It stands for by means of Bill 79, passed on June 29, 1987. WHMIS is aTo implement WHMIS in Ontario, With the pass of Bill 79 on June 29, 1987, an amendment to the Occupational Health adn Safety Act (OHSA) allowed the implementation of WHMIS. WHMIS regulation is a key component of OHSA. It stands for by means of Bill 79, passed on June 29, 1987. WHMIS is aTo implement WHMIS in Ontario,

13. What is WHMIS? Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System A comprehensive plan for providing information on the safe use of hazardous materials in Canadian workplaces. via Product labels Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) Worker education programs

14. Definitions Under the Act Employer: a person who employs one or more workers (i.e., University of Toronto). Workplace: any place in, on or near where a person works (i.e., U. of T. and the Department). Supervisor: anyone in charge of a workplace or with authority over a worker (i.e., faculty/academic staff who supervise staff and/or students). Worker: a person paid to perform work or supply services (all University employees including faculty members, academic, technical and administrative staff). Students who are paid to perform work (e.g. TAs) are Workers covered by the Act. Other students are afforded the same protection. It is the policy of the University that although they may not meet the precise definition of worker, students should be afforded the same protection that would be afforded a work under the Act.It is the policy of the University that although they may not meet the precise definition of worker, students should be afforded the same protection that would be afforded a work under the Act.

15. Main Duties of Employer Under the Act Instruct, inform and supervise workers to protect their health & safety. Appoint competent persons as supervisors. Inform workers about any hazard in the workplace. Establish a Health & Safety committee.

16. Main Duties of Employer (cont�d.) Provide training programs for workers, supervisors and committee members. Prepare, post and review (once a year) a written occupational health & safety policy. Provide and maintain all necessary materials, equipment and protective equipment. Keep and maintain accurate records of the handling, storage, use, and disposal of biological, chemical or physical agents.

17. Duties of Supervisors Be knowledgeable about health and safety hazards in the workplace, and advise workers about these hazards. Provide suitable and properly maintained safety and protective equipment. Ensure all workers comply with the Act and any regulations that apply. Maintain an up-to-date inventory and proper labels for all hazardous materials.

18. Ensure availability of MSDS for all chemicals in inventory. Ensure all workers participate in safety training sessions. Ensure safe disposal of all hazardous materials. Duties of Supervisors (cont�d.)

19. Duties of Workers Workers must: work in compliance with the Act and regulations. use or wear any protective equipment devices or protective clothing required by employer. report immediately to their supervisor any missing or defective equipment or protective device that may be dangerous. report immediately to their supervisor any unsafe working conditions and violations of the Act or other safety regulations.

20. Duties of Workers (cont�d.) Most senior person present in laboratory (staff or student) assumes responsibility for other workers compliance. This person can be held legally responsible if worker compliance is not followed. Should fellow workers refuse to work in compliance, supervisor should be informed. Workers not working in compliance could have lab privileges revoked. Remember � unsafe work practice by others around you can cause harm to you as well.

21. Basic Rights of Workers The right to participate (through worker representation on H&S committee). The right to know (through training on equipment, machinery, working conditions, processes, hazardous substances (WHMIS). The right to refuse work (if worker believes it will endanger themselves or others).

22. Common Law: Be a Good Citizen It is each individual�s duty to work and study in a manner which does not jeopardize the health and safety of themselves and/or others.

23. The Departmental Safety Committee The Act requires the establishment of a Occupational Health and Safety Committee. The Departmental Health & Safety committee is a sub-committee of the Faculty committee.

24. The Current Membership The committee consists of students, faculty members, academic and supporting staff. At faculty level, there is a health and safety committee. Current Prof. Saville and Ms Penny Seymour are members of the faculty committee. At university level, there is an Office of Environmental Health and Safety dealing with health and safety related issues.The committee consists of students, faculty members, academic and supporting staff. At faculty level, there is a health and safety committee. Current Prof. Saville and Ms Penny Seymour are members of the faculty committee. At university level, there is an Office of Environmental Health and Safety dealing with health and safety related issues.

25. Department Policies

26. All researchers (including 4th year theses students and summer students) must complete an Experimental Registration Form (even those only doing computer work - Sections 1, 2 and 12). Form must be reviewed and signed by researcher�s Supervisor, then submitted to the Health & Safety Committee (Leticia in WB217) for review and authorization. 4th year students must submit their forms to the H & S Committee for review and authorization by date designated by Undergraduate Office. Registration of Research Work

27. Registration forms for researchers valid for one year (until July 31st) and must be renewed if project continues after a year. New form must be submitted if there are substantial changes in chemicals and procedures used. Registration of Research Work

28. Additional Permits Special permits/certificates are required if your research involves: radioactive and/or biohazardous materials (permits from the University) designated substances under the Act or by the Department (permits from the Department) running experiments overnight (from the Department) Special permits must be attached to your Experimental Registration Form when submitted.

29. Designated Substances

32. Accident/Incident Reports Must be Filed for: An accident that has caused injury. An accident that involves laboratory .procedure even though there was no injury. An incident which has the potential to cause injury. A large chemical spill (a few liters). A small spill of a highly toxic or flammable material. A chemical spill outside a laboratory.

33. Safety Equipment Laboratories are equipped with protective and other equipment: fume hoods, fire extinguishers, showers and eye-wash fountains, spill clean-up kits. Students and staff must be familiar with the location and uses of these.

34. Safety Materials Required in Chemical Labs Up-to-date experimental registration forms for all lab occupants (if same work done in several labs, provide photocopies in all labs used). Up-to-date emergency contact card affixed to the door. Spill clean-up kits . Material safety data sheets (MSDS). All of the above should be clearly visible.

35. Chemical Inventory Management An annual laboratory inventory must be completed of all chemical and physical hazards and a copy supplied to the H&S committee. Chemicals must be segregated according to their properties. Flammable liquids should be stored in a special fire resistant cabinet. Fume hoods should not be used to store chemicals.

37. Chemical and Gas Cylinder Transport

39. Waste Disposal All researchers are expected to follow all federal, provincial, municipal guidelines when disposing of wastes. The Department has adopted a procedure of waste disposal in accordance with these guidelines. Waste chemicals must be disposed of through WB16, using fully labeled containers. No chemical wastes should be poured down the drains.

40. Smoking and Consumption of Food and Beverages Smoking is not allowed in any building at the University. Consumption of food and beverages is strictly prohibited in all laboratories. This includes desk areas that may or may not have been partitioned from the laboratory using portable partitions.

41. Personal Safety and Security The Wallberg building is not immune to theft and other criminal acts. Laboratory and office doors should be locked when unoccupied. Do not prop open any building door (internal or external) after normal operating hours (8am -5pm). Lab door windows must not be obstructed in any way. Keep valuables locked in your desk or cabinet (Purses, wallets, backup disks of computer files, etc.).

42. Safety Phones and First-aid Boxes Emergency phone #: 82222 (Campus security) or 9911. Safety phones outside lab and offices: All personnel elevators, computer room (WB216), graduate and undergraduate common rooms (WB247/WB238), payphone opposite WB227, WB316 There are first aid boxes on each floor of the Wallberg building WB3, 16, 102, 125, 203, 218, 303, 419

43. When Fire Alarm Sounds Evacuate the building (mandatory University policy even during exams). Do NOT use elevators. Do NOT re-enter building until authorized by Fire Officer.

44. Emergency Procedures Pull the nearest fire alarm. Telephone University Emergency Centre, 82222; report your location. Evacuate the building. Report to fire inspector: is anyone still in the building? Location of fire?

45. Related University Policies Health and Safety Policy (1993) www.utoronto.ca/safety/ Smoking Policy Smoking is prohibited in all University buildings. Policy with respect to AIDS or HIV Prohibits discrimination. Policy for safety in field research Responsibility rests primarily upon the persons who directly supervises and carry out the research on location.