Workplace Hazordous Materials Information System or WHMIS helps to keep workers and students safe by informing them of possible safety and health hazards.
There are 6 classes hazordous materials including:
Class A Compressed Gasses
-gasses under pressure
-may explode under pressure or heat
Class B Flammable And Combustible Materials
-these are potential fire hazards that can light at low temperatures
-may burst into flame in air or release a flammable gas on contact with water
-Division 1: Flammable gases
-Division 2: Flammable liquids (with flashpoints of less that 37C)
-Division 3: Combustible liquids (with flashpoints of greater than 37C)
-Division 4: Flammable Solids
-Division 5: Flammable Aerosols
-Division 6: Flammable reactive materials
Class C Oxidizing Materials
-these are a fire or explosion risk near combustible materials
-may burn skin or eyes on contact
-may or may not burn on its own but release oxygen to feed a fire
Class D Poisonous And Infectious Materials
-these materials are potentially fatal and should not be inhaled, swallowed, or absorded through the skin
-proper protective gear should be worn at all times when working with these materials
-Division 1: Materials Causing Immediate And Serious Toxic Effects
-these materials are immediately dangerous to life and health, and can kill you quickly
-Division 2: Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects
-these materials are poisonous but are not immediately dangerous to health, they may cause death or permanent damage over a long time of exposure
-Division 3:Biohazardous Infectious Material
-these are any organisms, like bacteria and viruses, and the toxins that they may produce that cause disease
Class E Corrosive Material
-caustic or acid materials that can eat through skin or metals
-these also include corrosive gases
Class F Dangerously Reactive Materials
-products which undergo dangerous reactions when introduced to water, heat, pressure, or shock
Each class has a label and border that can tell you how dangerous a material is, octagon being the most dangerous and triangles just needing caution
Always make sure you understand the experiment and have permission before starting an experiment
