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Employers have a responsibility to
protect workers against health and safety hazards at work. Workers have
the right to know about potential hazards and to refuse work that they
believe is dangerous. Workers also have a responsibility to work safely with
hazardous materials.
Health and safety hazards exist in every workplace. Some are easily identified
and corrected, while others create extremely dangerous situations that could be
a threat to your life or long-term health. The best way to protect yourself is
to learn to recognize and prevent hazards in your workplace.
Types of workplace hazards
Poor work practices create hazards
Report hazards immediately
Workplace inspections prevent hazards
What is WHMIS?
Controlling hazardous substances
There are four main types of workplace hazards:
Physical hazards are the most common hazards and are
present in most workplaces at some time. Examples include: frayed electrical
cords, unguarded machinery, exposed moving parts, constant loud noise,
vibrations, working from ladders, scaffolding or heights, spills, tripping
hazards.
Ergonomic hazards occur
when the type of work you do, your body position and/or your working conditions
put a strain on your body. They are difficult to identify because you don’t
immediately recognize the harm they are doing to your health. Examples include:
poor lighting, improperly adjusted workstations and chairs, frequent lifting,
repetitive or awkward movements.
Chemical hazards are present when
you are exposed to any chemical preparation (solid, liquid or gas) in the
workplace. Examples include: cleaning products and solvents, vapours and fumes,
carbon monoxide or other gases, gasoline or other flammable materials.
Biological hazards come from
working with people, animals or infectious plant material. Examples include:
blood or other bodily fluids, bacteria and viruses, insect bites, animal and
bird droppings.
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Poor work practices create hazards – examples of
unsafe work practices commonly found in the workplace include:
| • | using machinery or tools without
authority
| | • | operating at unsafe speeds or in
violation of safe work practices
| | • | removing or disabling guards or other
safety devices on machinery or equipment
| | • | using defective tools or equipment or
using tools or equipment in unsafe ways
| | • | using hands or body instead of tools or
push sticks
| | • | overloading, crowding or failing to
balance materials or handling materials in other unsafe ways, including
improper lifting
| | • | repairing or adjusting equipment that
is in motion, under pressure, or electrically charged
| | • | failing to use and/or maintain, or
improperly using personal protective equipment or safety devices
| | • | creating unsafe, unsanitary or
unhealthy conditions by improper personal hygiene, poor workplace
maintenance or by smoking in unauthorized areas. Learn how to
avoid carrying hazardous substances home with you.
| | • | standing or working under suspended
loads, scaffolds, shafts, or open hatches
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Report hazards immediately
Everyone in a workplace shares
responsibility for ensuring that their work environment is safe and healthy.
Some hazards pose an immediate danger and others take a longer time to become
apparent. But both types of hazards must be fixed. If you are aware of a hazard
in your workplace, you should report it promptly to your supervisor, employer or
health and safety representative. Once a hazard has been identified, your
employer and/or supervisor has a duty to assess the problem and eliminate any
hazard that could injure workers.
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Workplace inspections prevent hazards
Regular workplace inspections are another important factor in preventing
injuries and illnesses. By critically examining all aspects of the workplace,
inspections identify and record hazards that must be addressed and corrected.
A workplace inspection should include:
| • | listening to the concerns of workers
and supervisors
| | • | gaining further understanding of jobs
and tasks
| | • | identifying existing and potential
hazards
| | • | determining underlying causes of
hazards
| | • | monitoring hazard controls (personal
protective equipment, engineering controls, policies, procedures)
| | • | recommending corrective action
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What is WHMIS?
The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is a Canadian
hazard communication system that provides employers and workers with information
about many hazardous materials (referred to as controlled products) that are
produced, handled, stored, used or disposed of in the workplace. The goal of
WHMIS is to reduce accidents and prevent health hazards.
WHMIS addresses three important areas of workplace safety:
1. Labels – All hazardous or controlled products must carry
labels that clearly identify the product and provide hazard information about
it. The label must indicate whether a workplace MSDS (see below) is available in
the workplace.
2. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) – An MSDS must be
provided for every controlled product in your workplace. The MSDS provides much
more detailed information than a label.
3. Worker education – Every employer is expected to develop and
implement an up-to-date education program to enable workers to understand and
use the information that is provided on the labels and MSDS. This program should
be reviewed at least once a year, and whenever there is a change in conditions
or new hazard information concerning any hazardous substances in the workplace.
Employers must keep written records of employee education.
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An effective program for controlling hazardous
substances includes the following elements:
| • | developing a written policy to show
commitment and assign responsibility at every level
| | • | identifying and evaluating all
hazardous substances in the workplace
| | • | labeling all hazardous substances and
providing up-to-date MSDS for them
| | • | implementing safe work procedures and
appropriate administrative and engineering controls
| | • | educating workers about labels, MSDS,
safe handling, storage, disposal and emergency response
| | • | identifying required personal
protective equipment and educating workers in its care and use
| | • | promoting the purchase of the safest
substances possible
| | • | identifying the qualified persons
responsible for carrying out the program
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