Presentations

International Harmonization of WHMIS PDF version

Presentation to CAALL Ministers, March 17th, 2006
Prepared by Yves Brissette, CSST, Québec

The WHMIS

Workplace
Hazardous
Materials
Information
System

Background

1981 — CAALL Initiative
1982 — WHMIS Steering Committee
1985 — Steering Committee Report
1987 — Ministers of Labour adopt WHMIS
1988 — Enactment of laws and regulations

Consensus of the Steering Committee

Three pillars

Identify dangers
- Classification criteria
Inform workers and employers
- Labels
- Material safety data sheets
- Worker training and education
Protect trade secrets

The WHMIS, is...

Coordinating federal and provincial acts and regulations
that link the selling and importing of dangerous goods
to the provision of preventative information through
- labels
- material safety data sheets, and
- Worker training and education
for both employers and workers

Legislative Framework Federal component

Hazardous Products Act
- Obligations of suppliers and importers
Controlled Products Regulations
- Scientific criteria
- Classification system
- Labels
- Material safety data sheets
Hazardous Materials Information Review Act
- The Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission (HMIRC)
- Protecting trade secrets
- Guaranteeing workers' right to know

Legislative Framework Provincial/territorial component

Occupational Health and Safety Acts

WHMIS Model OSH Regulation
- Federal / provincial / territorial consensus
- Tripartite consultation
- Obligations of employers
- Training and education of workers

National consistency

Memoranda of understanding between the federal government and each provincial / territorial government
- Inspection of the HPA
- Claims for exemptions by employers
Current Issues Committee (industry, unions, governments)
Intergovernmental Co-ordinating Committee
Council of governors of the HMIRC (industry, unions, governments)
Acts and regulations
Policies and guidelines
Strategic planning
Technical issues

International Harmonization Background

1992 — The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development

Chapter 19 of Action 21

"A globally harmonized hazard classification and compatible labelling system, including material safety data sheets and easily understandable symbols, should be available, if feasible, by the year 2000."

Canadian regulatory framework (WHMIS, pesticides, consumers, TDG)
Major role by ILO, OECD and the United Nations TDG Committee
Consultation with numerous stakeholders
1993 — WHMIS CIC task force on international harmonization (tripartite)
2002 — The UN Economic and Social Council adopts the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)
2002 — World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg)
- GHS to be implemented by 2008
- Action Plan signed by Canada

International Harmonization — What is the GHS?

Global WHMIS
- Scientific classification criteria
- Labels
- Material Safety Data Sheets
Without trade secret protection mechanisms
- National discretion / guidelines

International Harmonization — Implementation of the GHS

2002 — NAALC (work begins)
2006 — Asia Pacific Economic Council
2006 — Europe
2008 — Canada
2008 — United Nations: Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

International Harmonization — Canadian work

Federal component

2003 — Work begins

GHS General Issues Committee
- Trans-sectoral harmonization
  - Pesticides
  - Transport of Dangerous Goods
  - Consumers
  - WHMIS
WHMIS Current Issues Committee
- Coordination by Health Canada
- Regulatory requirements (CPR)
- Classification criteria completed
- Labels and Material Safety Data Sheets on going
- Amendments to CPR targeted for 2007

Provincial / territorial component

CAALL agreement in principle — 2005
Coordination by Québec on behalf of CAALL — since october
Draft proposals on amendments to WHMIS Model OSH Regulation — 2006
WHMIS Model OSH Regulation to be adopted by CAALL — 2007

International Harmonization — To come...

Technical and legal levels
- Complete harmonization work
  - Label and MSDS
  - Regulatory drafts
  - Various sectors
- Coordinate the two components
  - Controlled Products Regulations
  - Model OSH Regulation
Political level
- Formal agreement to harmonize OSH acts and regulations
- Legislative and regulatory changes plan
- Memoranda of understandings

International Harmonization — For the moment...

Labour Ministers will want to consider supporting federal / provincial / territorial cooperation as part of the efforts to harmonize WHMIS and the GHS

CAALL — Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation