STIC - Engineering:
Workplace
(Module 3)
 Health
and Safety - WHMIS (Topic 5)
Content
Topics 5 and 6 of this module deal with health and safety issues. Health
and safety is an important aspect of the Canadian workplace for engineers.
Topic 5 is a lesson on WHMIS (the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information
System). Topic 6 focuses on health and safety issues more specific to
engineers. Due to time constraints, the facilitator may decide to present
only one of the two lessons.
In order to prepare for this lesson, the facilitator should be familiar
with WHMIS. Basic information about WHMIS is provided in the Facilitator's
Notes. Additional information about WHMIS can be obtained from Health
Canada 's WHMIS Web site: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/whmis/index.htm.
The lesson focuses on eight WHMIS symbols, the workplace hazards they
represent, and associated safety procedures. The post-task includes the
MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet), which can be assigned as an optional
take-home reading task. The content and terminology of the lesson provide
a thematic basis for practising communication skills including group
decision-making, task negotiation, and making an oral presentation.
Delivery
Make as many copies as necessary of the following handouts  :
- Handout 1 WHMIS symbols
- Handout 2 Terms for Hazardous Material
- Handout 3 Instructions for Task
- Handout 4, 4A - 7, 7A The members of each of four groups
should get
- Handout 4 and 4A, 5 and 5A, 6 and 6A or 7 and 7A.
- Handout 8 Reading Hazard Labels
- Handout 9 Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) - two pages
Materials needed: chart paper, markers, OHP,
OHT 1 Methodology
Introduction
(10 minutes)
1. Write the words Occupational Health
and Safety Act on the board and encourage participants to brainstorm
words associated with this phrase. Some terms/words that should be raised
are: protection, danger, law, hazardous waste, safety rules.
Pre-Tasks
1. (20 minutes)
Explain that this lesson will focus
on health and safety and Canadian and Ontario law, particularly one
piece of legislation. Explain that Canada places more emphasis on health and safety than any
other country.
At the provincial level, there are two health and safety laws:
- The Occupational Health and Safety Act
- The WHMIS Regulation
Explain that the goal of today's lesson is to become familiar with WHMIS,
which stands for the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System.
All businesses and workplaces are legally required to conform to WHMIS
regulations.
WHMIS is designed to give employers and employees information about hazardous
materials in the workplace. It is based on three approaches:
- Container labelling
- MSDS - Material Safety Data Sheet
- Workplace education programs
The purpose of WHMIS is to reduce accidents, reduce disease, and encourage
workplace education on health and safety. Explain that labour, industry,
and all three levels of governments (federal, provincial, and municipal)
participated in the development of this legislation.
Explain that each employee must understand the dangers in their workplace
and be familiar with WHMIS. In addition, employees should be able to
explain dangers and safety rules to others.
2. (20 minutes)
The first part of WHMIS consists of
symbols representing various workplace hazards. Show OHT1 and ask if
they know or can guess what the symbols mean. Distribute Handout 1
and 2 and have the participants work with a partner and match the label
with the symbol. Take up as a whole-class activity and have the participants
explain the danger (see Facilitator's Answer Sheet). Explain also that
each hazardous material is classified A-F. Explain that the task for the day is to prepare and present a short
presentation on two symbols of WHMIS.
3. (45 minutes)
Divide the class into groups of four.
Distribute Handout 3. Go over the instructions for the task with the
class. Explain that workplace safety training is an important part
of workplace communication. Each group is responsible for a short class
presentation on the dangers represented by two symbols. Their task
is to explain the dangers and the safety rules that should be followed
when working around these materials. Each group will be given two WHMIS
symbols and chart paper in order to create a visual aid to be used during
their presentation (Handouts 4, 4A, 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 7, 7A). Explain that
this task involves teamwork. All team members should work together to
complete the task. Groups can elect one of their members to be a notetaker
and another to be the speaker. Explain to the class that they should
work together first and share knowledge that they have gained through
prior work experience. After 10 minutes, distribute the corresponding
WHMIS information (Handouts 4A, 5A, 6A and 7A) and have the participants
include the information, if they haven't already. Remind them that their
visual aid is an important part of their presentation. Task
(35 minutes)
1. Have each group present their WHMIS
symbols to the class. Set the scene by stating that the participants
listening are really employees in a workplace WHMIS training session.
Allow and encourage clarification questions. Distribute Handout 8 with the information summary following the presentations.
Post-Task
(20 minutes)
1. Distribute Handouts 9 and 9A. Explain
that WHMIS training also includes being able to read information about
hazardous materials on labels and supplier information. All workplaces
must also complete a MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet). This information
is highly technical and detailed. Perhaps some chemical engineers would
be interested in sharing their knowledge. Encourage brief discussion
on any information that is raised.  Downloads
All downloads are in Adobe Acrobat
PDF.
Download a print version of the above lesson plan and related
materials.
Workplace:
Topic 5 [225 KB, 23 pages]
Download the complete Facilitator's Guide and Participant's Workbook.
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