November 19, 2018
WHMIS 2015 Deadline Approaching
The amended Hazardous Products Act (HPA) and new Hazardous Products Regulations (HPR) became law in Canada in 2015. The amendments established new requirements for labels and safety data sheets (SDSs) under Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems (WHMIS). The HPA and HPR regulate suppliers (importers, manufacturers, distributors) while the Workers Compensation Board of PEI regulates the requirements of WHMIS in Island workplaces. “The transition to the new requirements has been implemented in phases, giving employers and workers time to become familiar with new regulations and hazard symbols, and allowing suppliers and distributors time to deplete their stock of existing labels,” said Luanne Gallant, Chief Executive Officer for the Prince Edward Island Workers Compensation Board. The transition phases are coming to an end on November 30, 2018. As of December 1, 2018, all workplaces are expected to be in compliance with the new WHMIS requirements. Workplaces have a number of options to deal with old hazardous products in order to comply with the new requirements:Use up WHMIS 1988 products;Re-label WHMIS 1988 products with a WHMIS 2015 compliant workplace label, and obtain or prepare a WHMIS 2015 compliant SDS;Re-label WHMIS 1988 products with a WHMIS 2015 compliant supplier label, and obtain or prepare a WHMIS 2015 compliant SDS; Safely dispose of WHMIS 1988 products that cannot be brought into compliance with WHMIS 2015.Educate and train workers so they understand the hazards and know how to work safely with hazardous products. Information to help with the transition to the new requirements is available for suppliers, distributors, employers and workers through WHMIS.org and wcb.pe.ca/whmis. Occupational Health and Safety Officers and Education Consultants are available to visit workplaces and can assist employers and workers, so they can better understand their requirements and responsibilities. In addition, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) offers an online course on WHMIS 2015 for Workers as well as other eCourses on WHMIS. For more information, please visit our website at www.wcb.pe.ca/whmis. Aussi disponible en français.
November 14, 2018
Talking to your Kids about Workplace Safety
This Wednesday, November 14th, is Take Our Kids to Work Day for grade nine students. The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) reminds Islanders that it is an ideal time to teach their children about workplace safety.“Teaching our children about safe work practices is extremely important,” said Stuart Affleck, Chair of the Workers Compensation Board. “This will enable them to develop skills that can protect them throughout their working lives.” The WCB recommends that Islanders participating in Take Our Kids to Work Day discuss the importance of speaking up for safety with their visiting grade nine students. Every worker has the following important workplace safety rights: The right to know about any potential hazards on the job and how to stay safe at work.The right to participate in decision making about workplace safety, and in resolving safety issues at work.The right to refuse unsafe work. The WCB has developed a new resource that will help parents talk to their teenagers about working safe on the job. “There are many conversations we have with our children about safety, and we need to make sure workplace health and safety is also on that list,” said Luanne Gallant, CEO of the Workers Compensation Board. “As parents, it’s important for us to take some time to talk to our kids, to ensure that they know their rights and that they feel confident enough to speak up if they see something that is unsafe.” For more information about workplace safety for youth or to download a copy of the Parent Tips, visit the Young Workers section of the WCB website at wcb.pe.ca/Workplace/YoungWorkers or contact the WCB Youth Education Consultant, Clare Waddell at 368-6357. Aussi disponible en français.
