There are hundreds of materials that we now use in the workplace, some help us produce or

make a better product they can also make our task easier. Although these materials help us
in many ways they also present us with some problems by being dangerous if used wrongly
and without care and attention.
How do we know which are dangerous?
How can we protect ourselves and others?
To know the answers to theses questions, this is where WHMIS which became LAW in Saskatchewan in
October 31st 1988. WHMIS requires suppliers and employers to use the system to identify and handle any
hazardous materials safely. If the rules and regulations are not followed you can be charged with an offence
and, fined or jailed if convicted. It also states that you have a RIGHT TO KNOW.
Suppliers and employers must by LAW identify all the hazards concerning the materials you will have to
handle while at work, also any effects contact will have on you and the environment. Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS) they must also identify any treatment or first aid if any contact is made and clean up or
containment procedure in the environment.

REMEMBER ALL ACCIDENTS ARE PREVENTABLE

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Your responsibility:
Although suppliers and employers have must identify any hazards and make you aware
of them, you must follow and read the labels before use to protect you from harm
by:

• Recognizing labels (MSDS)

• Checking the hazard
• Following all the recommended procedures
To do this you will require training which the employer must give to you by LAW so you can identify and
handle hazardous materials safely, you must follow them also by LAW.
If you still have any doubts about the product ask do use it then ask later the damage to you or the
environment could already be done.

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 What is hazardous materials?
This is any substance which causes illness, disease or death to unprotected people.
These materials can also be referred to as hazardous products, dangerous or
controlled products even dangerous goods.
How bad are the hazards?
The dangers of hazardous materials can be caused by fire, explosion, skin contact, swallowing or breathing – in. The
effect this will have on you will depend on one or more things.
• How much pressure there is
• How easily the material burns or explodes
• How much of the material there is
• How toxic it is
• How it enters the body
• How strong/concentrated it is
So just looking at the list above, shows you how important it is to understand what you are using, and how to deal
with it.

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 How can I protect myself?
Workers can protect themselves by:
• Watching carefully for hazard labels
• Reading the MSDS for each material to learn about proper handling and precautions
• Handling all materials in the recommended way
• Telling or reporting to your supervisor about any unsafe conditions
• Paying close attention to any WHIMIS or Dangerous Goods training or information provided by your
employer or a material supplier

Just by following these rules and regulations you will be able to carry out your work/task safely without
any effects to you and the environment.
If you still do not feel confident using any materials say so before using it, later could be too late.

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Giving Directions
Directions need to be:
Clear
• explain exactly what is required Include any steps/special information they will need to follow your
directions
Concise
• Keep directions concise/short to the point without leaving out any details
Confirm
• Check that the person has understood your directions, get them to relay your direction back to you
Example #1
• Could you go to the 3rd floor in the extraction building and wait by #4 motor I will meet you with the
locks and permit.

This does not give them permission to start any work at all.

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Giving Directions
Example #2
Would you go to the main control room on the 4th floor Pete Smith will be there he will show you which
tank he wants the scaffold building inside. If he is not there the controller will page him on 6453
once he has shown you the tank, you can get the materials for the job but do not go inside the tank.
Steve will be coming with the air monitor and confined space procedure at 10.30am we then all go
through the confined space procedure together.
If for some reason Pete Smith is unavailable, get in touch with me for further directions and instructions.

This is a little more complicated than example #1 but still contains the information that will be required.

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The Reporting Of Accidents
You are required by law to report all accidents that happen while at work however
small/large. It does not matter if nobody was injured or nothing was damaged.
Possible causes:
procedure, no information, no communication, ignoring rules/regulations or no training all
play a factor in a accident.
All accidents must and will be investigated.
The investigation is not to place blame but to establish what happened and how this could
have been prevented in the first place which can only be done by looking at all the
facts to establish the cause.
Lessons can and always will be learnt by investigating accidents by recording the
outcome. It may result in the task being engineered out so it no longer has to be done
that way, even establishing a new set of regulations or a different procedure.
By not reporting accidents not only puts you in danger but your fellow workers at the
same time.
Some remember to report accidents it is your duty.

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Near Misses
All near misses must be reported and investigated to what caused the near miss to happen in
the first place.
Any near miss is a potential accident at sometime in the future.
The near miss could have been happening for some time, if something has always been done
in a particular way because of some fault, and the person doing the task has never
reported the fault.
They may not think it is not a near miss because nobody has ever been hurt doing the task
this way.
Along comes a relief person who does not know about the fault in the system ends up getting
hurt because the fault causing the near miss has never been reported. The near miss then
becomes an accident.
So you see that by reporting near misses or faults you come across will prevent accidents
from happening in the future.

REPORT ALL NEAR MISSES

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Red Bull Attitude
It will give you wings
By using this attitude at work you will end up having an accident or being the
cause of one at some time.
If you think that the job will be helped by:
• Cutting corners
• Rushing without looking ahead
• Not taking the time to use your P.P.E
Then think again it is a known fact that by doing any of the above will
lead to an accident happening at some time.
You must take time to:
• Plan
• Use your P.P.E and wear it
• Risk Assess
• Toolbox
• Check for any hazards
By taking time to do the above will ensure you work safely and ensure the safety of
others.
So don’t be a jerk and become a statistic at work
REMEMBER ALL ACCIDENTS ARE PREVENTABLE
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