Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) and Skilled Labourer - Final Report - Part I - Essential Skills & Employability Skills, Part II

a. inhalation - through the lungs
b. absorption - through the skin
c. ingestion - through the mouth & stomach

Other Exposures and Routes of Entry

The BASICS for WHMIS
(or any other chemical)

What are the hazards?

How do I protect myself?

What do I do in an emergency?

Where is more information?

a. Health effects of materials

acute health effects - occur within minutes or hours of exposure (headache, vomiting, unconsciousness, coma).
chronic health effects - symptoms show up months or years after exposure.

b. Body responses to exposure

Suppliers	Employers	Workers
use special labels to give hazard information	“controlled products” labelled	use “controlled products” safely - no risk to self/others
provide a material safety data sheet (MSDS)	MSDS’s readily available	follow work procedures
update MSDS every 3 years or 6 months on new health information	train workers on the safe use of “controlled products”