Safely Managing
Compliance strategies and solutions for supervisory personnel
Workplace chemicals and the law
The estimated number of chemicals used in the world’s workplaces ranges from a high of 100,000-plus to a more conservative 40,00-60,000.
Of those, about 6,000 account for about 99 percent of the total volume of industrial chemicals in commerce globally.
Many of them are very dangerous.
Numbers aside, protecting workers from those dangers is not just a good idea, it’s the law.
Employers must ensure a safe working environment, which includes identifying potential hazards, assessing worker exposure, and implementing procedures to minimize risks. They are also responsible for providing appropriate protective gear and ensuring proper ventilation systems are in place.
Workers have the right to know about the hazards of chemicals to which they may be exposed, and they have the right to participate in workplace health and safety activities.
In Canada, the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) provides a comprehensive framework for managing chemical hazards, including safety data sheets (SDSs), labeling and worker training. The
US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to develop a hazard communication program, including labels, SDSs, and training.
Also, in both Canada and the United States, there are regulatory requirements for proper transportation, signage, paperwork and training so chemicals can be moved safely by road, rail, sea and air. WHMIS is an integral part of provincial
and territorial regulations governing the handling and storage of chemicals in the workplace.
But just because there are legal requirements doesn’t mean the message is getting through.
Employers often shirk their responsibilities, with the result that workers are left in the dark and vulnerable.
Several years ago the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA) organized a meeting to
n
hear what workers in occupations characterized by high exposure to hazardous chemicals would want government to hear about their workplaces and the hazards they face. The discussions included front-line workers from a plastics factory, a firefighter, a nail salon technician, and a border services officer.
Participants acknowledged they were unaware of the federal government’s role in regulating chemicals and added that on-the-job training about the chemicals they work with is almost non-existent.
Common challenges raised included:
• Lack of information on what chemicals are being used, released or stored and what signs to look out for in cases of over-exposure.
• Absence of disclosure requirements, labelling information and misinformation on use of consumer products.
• False information about apparent safety (e.g. products labelled “toxicfree” when they were not).
• For some workers, there was expressed fear of reprisal if inquiries or issues were raised regarding safety, even being reminded that they were replaceable.
Fears and worries about cancer often dominated the discussion, with almost all the participants noting an alarming number of co-workers who had been diagnosed with or died from different cancers and at younger and younger ages.
The CELA sampling was quite small. Would these be typical concerns among your employees?
If so, you’ve got some work to do.
Chemicals pose a wide variety of hazards. They can be corrosive, they can cause health effects such as the inability to breathe, cancers, and dangers to the nervous system. If they are improperly stored in the workplace, chemicals can also cause fires, explosions, and the release of toxic gases. Chemicals and their hazardous waste can also damage the environment, by contaminating nearby waterways, affecting wildlife and plants.
In essence, the law aims to protect workers from the dangers of chemical exposure by requiring employers to provide information, training, and a safe working environment, while also recognizing and upholding workers’ rights to participate in health and safety efforts.
WHMIS was first introduced in Canada in 1988 and was modified in 2015 to incorporate the Globally Harmonized System (GHS), which is an internationally consistent approach to classifying chemicals and communicating hazard information on labels and safety data sheets.
WHMIS training is legally required for everyone in Canada who works with or may come into contact with hazardous materials at work.
Does WHMIS training apply to your workplace?
If a product has WHMIS symbols (aka pictograms) or labels, then WHMIS applies and employers have a legal responsibility to provide WHMIS training. Typically, the symbols (such as a flame) are contained within a red diamond-shaped border on a white background.
In some cases, “consumer products” with non-WHMIS symbols and labels
The law aims to protect workers from the dangers of chemical exposure by requiring employers to provide information, training and a safe working environment.
are used in workplaces. If so, WHMIS training is still legally required to keep employees safe. Their symbol in typically a black object (such as a skull) contained within a black inverted triangle border.
These products are generally for personal and household purposes and are often sold in hardware and grocery stores. They are partially exempt from WHMIS, because suppliers do not need to label them according to the regular WHMIS requirements and SDSs are not required as a condition of sale.
However, when consumer products are brought into a workplace environment, employee training is still required and needs to be provided to all employees who use or might come into contact with these products.
Every organization must review its WHMIS program at least annually or more frequently if required by a change in work conditions or available hazard information. Reviewing the program determines if employees are still adequately trained.
They should be able to properly answer the following questions for each product they work with:
• What are the hazards associated with the product?
• How do I protect myself from those hazards?
• What do I do in case of an emergency?
• Where can I get further information about the product?
If you find that your employees are not sufficiently trained, they should be retrained. It’s recommended that the training be done annually.
The material contained in this document has been prepared from sources believed to be accurate and reliable. Application of this information to a specific worksite should be reviewed by a safety professional. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all liability arising therefrom. Specific medical advice should be obtained through consultation with a physician or other trained health care practitioner.
Allergy can make insect bites worse
Whether on the job, on vacation in the woods or puttering in your garden, an insect sting or bite can cause serious and possibly life-threatening harm.
Most of the time, there is just mild pain or itching, but sometimes, more severe effects are caused by an allergy to the sting or bite.
Even after experiencing a normal reaction to insect stings, it is possible to experience a more serious allergic reaction during one’s lifetime. It is important to avoid insect stings whenever possible as well as learn how to respond when someone is suffering from a severe allergic reaction.
There are five insects that cause the majority of allergic reactions in North America — bees, hornets, wasps, yellow jackets and fire ants.
Anaphylaxis is the most serious reaction to allergens. Anaphylaxis can impair breathing, cause a dramatic drop in blood pressure, and affect heart rate. It requires immediate medical treatment, including an injection of epinephrine and a trip to a hospital emergency room. If it isn’t treated properly, anaphylaxis can be fatal.
The best way to avoid problems is to stay away from stinging insects whenever possible. If you know you
have severe reactions to insect stings, do not complete work that puts you at great risk of being stung.
Here are some more suggestions:
• Inspect work areas to ensure there are no insect nests that could be disturbed.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants in case of an insect attack.
• Have an EPI pen on hand in case of a sting and ensure your coworkers know where it is.
• If you suspect someone is suffering some type of serious allergic reaction immediately call 911, even if an EPI pen has been used.
It’s important to note that there are other types of reactions that could occur. Some insects inject venom that can cause a toxic reaction. The symptoms appear similar to an allergic reaction, but the underlying mechanism is different.
Insects that might cause a toxic reaction include black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, scorpions and puss caterpillars (woolly slugs).
Another type of reaction to insect bites and stings is a serum sickness reaction. The symptoms can appear similar to allergies, but might also be similar to having a flu virus.
Symptoms of a toxic reaction vary depending on the insect or spider, the toxicity of the venom, and the amount of venom injected. Most often, symptoms improve or go away within 48 hours.
Although hives and difficulty breathing may occur in an allergic reaction, these symptoms will not occur in a toxic reaction. It is possible to have both a toxic reaction and an allergic reaction at the same time.
A toxic reaction might require immediate medical care or lead to death. Signs and symptoms of a toxic reaction include:
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Fever.
• Weakness.
• Light-headedness.
• Rapid swelling at the site of the bite or sting.
• Muscle spasms.
• Headache.
• Drowsiness.
• Fainting.
In addition to injecting venom, a sting or bite might also cause an infection that could require medical care. Symptoms of infection could include:
• Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness near the bite or sting.
• Red streaks leading from the bite or sting.
• Pus draining from the bite or sting.
• A fever.
ManagementTips
Know the basics of trenching safety
Trenches are narrow excavations deeper than they are wide, and can pose serious risks if not properly managed.
The walls can collapse suddenly and without warning, giving workers no time to move out of the way. Small amounts of dirt might not seem treacherous, but one cubic yard can weigh more than 1,300 kilograms (3,000 pounds) – about the weight of a small car or more than a compact excavator.
Flooding and contact with buried service lines supplying utilities such as natural gas and electricity are also among the serious risks workers can face.
Comprehensive safety measures and strict adherence to regulations can significantly reduce the chance of death, injury and damage associated with trenching work.
In general, trenches that are 1.2 metres (4 feet) deep or greater require a protective system unless the excavation is made entirely in stable rock. The factors to consider include:
• Soil type, which determines the strength and stability of trench walls.
• Water content of soil.
• Depth of cut.
• Surcharge loads (e.g., spoil, other materials to be used in the trench).
• Other operations in the area.
Always check the legislative requirements in your jurisdiction related to the use of protective systems. Some jurisdictions have not defined soil types, but do require preventive measures when an excavation reaches a certain depth or proportion.
Based on the dimensions of the trench, protective systems include sloping, shoring or shielding.
Sloping involves cutting back the
barriers or guardrails.
Shoring uses supports (such as aluminum hydraulic or timber shoring) to prevent soil movement and cave-ins.Shielding involves the use of trench boxes or other supports. When planning the excavation, it is essential to locate, identify, mark and de-energize any underground or overhead services and utilities.
Here are some more important safety precautions:
• Ensure the work site is free of debris and excavated soil, and check surrounding areas for hazards that can affect soil stability, such as vehicles, equipment, buildings and structures.
• Consider weather conditions (such as rain) that can affect trench stability.
• Test for hazardous gas, vapours, dust and oxygen levels before entering the trench and continue testing oxygen levels as needed.
• Prevent falls into the excavation with
• Wear appropriate personal protective equipment as needed.
• Determine if the trench is considered a confined space.
• Ensure safe access and egress into and out of the trench with ladders, ramps or stairways within 7.5 metres (25 feet) of lateral travel.
• Plan for adverse weather conditions.
• Do not place the sections of pipes, piles of spoil, unused tools, and timber and other materials within 1 metre (3.5 feet) of the trench’s edge.
• Do not overload heavy equipment near the trench.
• Do not work under suspended or raised loads and materials.
• Have a worker above ground to help in case of emergency when anyone is in the trench.
• Ensure there is first aid equipment at the site and that an emergency plan and rescue procedures are in place.
trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation.
SuperCompliance Never leave openings unguarded
An opening in a floor or work surface poses a potentially deadly fall hazard and must be securely covered or guarded.
Failure to do so is a common occurrence that can have tragic consequences for workers and serious penalties for employers.
The size of the opening can vary, but even small gaps can be dangerous. Examples include elevator shafts, stairwells, or any other area where a worker could accidentally step into a void.
In Alberta, a worker was completing roof work and removed plywood covering an opening, intending on accessing a work area concealed by the covering. As the cover was removed, he fell through the opening, falling a distance of 4.5 metres and was seriously injured.
The work site superintendent pleaded guilty to contravening a section of the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act — failure to take all precautions necessary to protect the health and safety of the worker by not ensuring that a temporary cover was used to protect an opening or hole, and that there was a warning or marking clearly indicating the nature of the hazard posted near or fixed to the cover.
He was fined $30,000, including a 20 percent victim fine surcharge.
A much larger penalty, totalling $200,000 — was levied against a Saskatchewan potash company. It stemmed from an incident in which a worker suffered a serious injury after stepping into an unguarded floor opening.
As with the above incident, the company had failed to ensure that any opening or hole in a floor or other work surface into which a worker could step or fall is covered with a securely-installed covering capable of supporting a load of
360 kilograms per square metre and provided with a warning sign or permanent marking clearly indicating the nature of the hazard.
The court imposed a fine of $142,857 with a surcharge of $57,142.
Regulations requiring employers to protect workers from falls through openings often specify the types of protection required, such as covers, guardrails or alternative fall protection systems.
Not only can workers fall through, so too can tools and other objects, creating hazards for those below.
Carrying materials can make it harder to see and avoid openings, increasing the risk of a fall.
Here are some more necessary precautions:
• If covers and guardrails are removed for work, ensure an alternative fall protection system is in place, such as a safety harness and lanyard.
• An opening should be constantly attended by an employee or be guarded when it is not in use.
• Remind workers to communicate to colleagues when any hatch or cover is removed.
• If the opening leads to a stairway or ladder, it is guarded on all exposed sides, except for the side that leads to the stairway or ladder’s entrance.
• Regularly inspect the area to ensure covers and guardrails are in good condition and properly installed.
• Provide training to workers on the hazards of floor openings and how to work safely around them.
• Ensure adequate supervision to prevent workers from taking unnecessary risks.
While the employer is ultimately responsible for all safety provisions, supervisors have a vital role to play in the safety of their teams. They must acquaint employees with the hazards and control measures associated with their work, provide the information and instruction necessary to ensure their health and safety, and enforce safety rules, programs, codes of practice and procedures.
Store off the floor for back safety
Storing items off the floor is a key principle of back safety. Lifting items from floor level significantly increases the risk of back injury compared to lifting from waist height. By storing items at waist level or on shelves, you can minimize the strain on your back and reduce the likelihood of injury.
Here’s why storing items off the floor is important:
• Reduces strain. Lifting from the floor requires bending and twisting, which places extra stress on the spine.
• Improves posture. When items are stored at waist level, you can maintain a more upright posture while lifting, reducing the risk of injury.
• Encourages proper lifting techniques. By placing items at a more convenient height, it becomes easier to use proper lifting techniques, such as keeping your back straight and lifting with your legs.
• Reduces the need to bend and reach. Storing items at waist level eliminates the need to bend down or reach up excessively, both of which can strain the back.
Effective safe work practices
You might have created workplace policies and procedures, but have you ever asked yourself how effective they are? According to Nine Elements of a Successful Safety & Health System, published by the National Safety Council, “Employees are more likely to follow safe work practices they understand.”
Effective safe work practices are: Clearly stated. They use simple, easy-to-understand words in an active voice. Examples: “Wear hard hats onsite at all times” and “Report all injuries, no matter how slight.”
Positively phrased. Employees are more likely to follow a positive statement such as “Always wear
rubber gloves on the job” than they would a negatively worded version of that same rule, “Don’t forget to wear your rubber gloves.”
Fair. Meaningless or excessively restrictive practices and selective enforcement can damage the credibility of all work practices.
Consistently communicated. Make sure you’re sharing safe work practices in every meeting, discussing them during performance reviews, integrating them into department procedures, publishing them in a company newsletter, posting them on posters throughout the workplace, handing out pocket cards with them, etc.
To reduce the risk of slipping on stairs, a nonslippery surface on the whole steps or at least on the leading edges is crucial. Such a surface can be made of rubber or metal or painted with special slip-resistant paint. Regular maintenance to keep the stairs in good repair plus good housekeeping can reduce hazards for tripping.
Take steps to avoid stair slips Hazards of ‘thermal runaway’
Thermal runaway is often considered the greatest hazard related to lithium-ion batteries. When these batteries are defective, damaged, or not operated safely, overheating in the cells can occur, resulting in a chemical reaction.
During normal operation and charging, small amounts of heat are generated but are safely dissipated. During thermal runaway, the temperature within the battery cell is greater than what can be dispersed, and the excess heat initiates a chemical chain reaction resulting in an uncontrollable self-heating state of the cells.
The damage from a thermal runaway may result in leakage of the electrolyte and the release of by-products (e.g., carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and hydrocarbons). The battery may also burst or cause a fire or explosion. Explosions may shoot parts of the battery over 18 metres (60 feet), causing multiple fires.
Include signage training
Simply putting safety signs everywhere in the workplace is not enough. For these signs to be efficient, your workers need to be trained to read and understand them. Each sign has a special colour and its own symbols.
Employees must be able to understand which one is which and what security measures are appropriate.
Here are some of the things a worker needs to learn during safety signage training:
• The colour code of each sign and the meaning of the symbols.
• The location where a sign should be placed.
• When and how to remove a sign.
SafetyMeeting
Storage of hazardous chemicals
Not all chemicals are harmful, but many others require special care and if not stored properly, they can cause injury, death or serious property damage.
Safe storage begins with an up-todate inventory of chemicals and knowledge of the hazards posed by each of them.
It is very important to keep chemicals in their original containers. The container should have a label, which is a quick way of determining whether the material is a fire, health or reactivity hazard.
Every chemical should have a safety data sheet (SDS) readily available. It describes in greater detail the chemical’s properties, hazards, and what to do if there is an accidental spill or exposure. The SDS can be used as a guide for making storage decisions.
Storage areas should be wellventilated and away from work areas, sources of heat and direct sunlight. It might seem obvious to store chemicals in alphabetical order for ease of use, but this could result in storing incompatible chemicals right
next to each other.
As a general rule, flammable or combustible liquids, toxic chemicals, explosive chemicals, oxidizing agents, corrosive chemicals, water-sensitive chemicals and compressed gases should be segregated.
Dangerous combinations include acids with bases, flammables with oxidizers, and water reactives with aqueous solutions.
It is best practice to minimize the quantities of hazardous chemicals on hand whenever possible. This will reduce the likelihood and severity of an incident involving the chemicals.
Following are some more safe storage precautions:
• Never transfer chemicals into a different container unless it’s necessary. If it is, ensure the new container has the proper label.
• Keep containers closed unless you are dispensing a chemical or adding to
the container.
• Storage shelving material should be acid-resistant, secured to a permanent structure, and strong enough to support the weight of the containers. The shelving should be fitted with a raised lip or be tilted slightly backward so containers won’t slip off the edge.
• Never store chemicals higher than eye level. If the container is accidentally knocked over you could risk being showered with the chemical substance resulting in a burn or possible blindness.
• Do not store chemicals in a fumehood, unless the hood is dedicated to that purpose, or in a domestic refrigerator or freezer.
• Do not store chemicals on floors, window ledges, or balconies.
• Store glass chemical containers where they are unlikely to be broken.
• Make sure first aid kits and materials for cleaning spilled chemicals is readily accessible.
• Chemical containers should not be stored on top of each other or on the floor where they could be knocked over. Don’t casually leave chemical containers wherever you last use them or set them aside to make room for other work. Take the time to return containers to their proper storage place.
• The chemical inventory should be checked regularly not only to ensure proper storage but to also for damaged or corroded containers, signs of leakage or container pressure buildup.
• Make sure empty or damaged chemicals are disposed of properly.
Storage of hazardous chemicals.
The Quiz
These questions are meant to help you remember what was discussed today — not to test your patience or challenge your intelligence. The answers are at the bottom of the page. Cover them up, and complete the quiz as quickly as you can.
Hold These Thoughts !
Cabinets specifically designed for the storage of flammable liquids provide temporary protection from a fire. To be effective, cabinets must be used according to local fire code requirements and the manufacturer’s instructions.
Which of these can be used as a guide for making chemical storage decisions.
A. Safety and health program.
B. Safety data sheets.
C. Safety spread sheets.
D. Safety information system.
E. All of the above.
Which of these is not a precaution to take for storing chemicals?
A. Keep containers closed unless you are dispensing a chemical or adding to the container.
B. Store chemicals at or above eye level.
C. Do not store chemical containers on top of each other or on a floor.
D. Check chemical storage areas regularly for signs of leakage or pressure build-up.
E. None of the above.
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They must be placed at a location that meets code requirements. This could be under a counter, along a wall, or be wall-mounted or stacked. They should not block exits, walkways, evacuation routes, etc.
Generally, manufacturers recommend that safety cabinets be located in well-ventilated and lowhumidity environments.
The most common injuries from hazardous chemicals are burns to the skin and eyes. The damage typically occurs quickly, at the time of exposure, but can develop over time. Symptoms include itching, skin irritation, pain or numbness, blisters, and/or bleached, reddened or darkened skin.
Severe burns may also cause shock, and the victim may turn pale, have shallow breathing or even faint. Immediate treatment is essential because the longer the chemical stays on the skin, the deeper and more serious the burn can be.
Chemicals can penetrate the eye membrane in less than 10 seconds, and the skin in 15 seconds or less.
You can’t always tell how severe the burn is by how it looks.
Chemical health hazards can also come from inhaling a gas, mist, or dry particles suspended in the air. This could be gases from gas cylinders, vapours from gasoline or bleach, fumes from metal welding operations or a powder that becomes airborne.