WHMIS Safe Handling and Exposure 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under WHMIS, which action is required before using a hazardous product for the first time?
- Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) (Correct answer)
- Ask a coworker how they use it
- Estimate the risk based on the product's color and smell
- Check if the container is sealed
Correct answer: Read the Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Workers must read the SDS before using a hazardous product to understand its hazards and safe handling requirements.
Question 2: A worker is transferring a flammable solvent into a smaller container. What WHMIS-required step must be completed on the new container?
- Apply a workplace label with product name, hazard info, and safe handling instructions (Correct answer)
- Leave it unlabeled if used within the same shift
- Write only the product name in marker
- Attach the original supplier label to the new container
Correct answer: Apply a workplace label with product name, hazard info, and safe handling instructions
Decanted hazardous products must have a workplace label that includes the product identifier, hazard information, and safe handling precautions.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes an 'exposure limit' for a hazardous product?
- The maximum concentration in air a worker can be exposed to without adverse health effects (Correct answer)
- The highest temperature at which a chemical is stored
- The amount of PPE required per shift
- The number of hours allowed in a hazardous area per week
Correct answer: The maximum concentration in air a worker can be exposed to without adverse health effects
An exposure limit (such as a TLV or OEL) defines the maximum airborne concentration considered safe for workers over a given time period.
Question 4: When handling a corrosive substance listed under WHMIS, which route of exposure is MOST commonly associated with skin and eye damage?
- Direct contact (Correct answer)
- Inhalation
- Ingestion
- Injection
Correct answer: Direct contact
Corrosive substances primarily cause damage through direct skin and eye contact, making protective equipment essential.
Question 5: An SDS lists a substance as having a TWA (Time-Weighted Average) of 50 ppm. What does this mean for a worker on an 8-hour shift?
- The average exposure over 8 hours should not exceed 50 ppm (Correct answer)
- The worker can be exposed to 50 ppm for up to 15 minutes only
- 50 ppm is the immediately dangerous concentration
- The substance must be used in ventilated areas only above 50 ppm
Correct answer: The average exposure over 8 hours should not exceed 50 ppm
A TWA of 50 ppm means the average airborne concentration over an 8-hour workday should not exceed that level.
Question 6: A WHMIS-classified 'skin sensitizer' product was spilled on a worker's glove. The worker has no immediate reaction. What is the correct response?
- Remove and replace the glove immediately and wash the affected skin (Correct answer)
- Continue working since there is no immediate reaction
- Apply a barrier cream and continue working
- Only change gloves at the end of the shift
Correct answer: Remove and replace the glove immediately and wash the affected skin
Skin sensitizers can cause allergic reactions upon repeated exposure; immediate decontamination prevents sensitization even without an immediate reaction.
Question 7: Which engineering control is MOST effective at reducing inhalation exposure to hazardous vapors under WHMIS guidelines?
- Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) installed at the source (Correct answer)
- General dilution ventilation in the room
- Respiratory protective equipment worn by workers
- Administrative rotation of workers in the hazardous area
Correct answer: Local exhaust ventilation (LEV) installed at the source
Local exhaust ventilation captures vapors at the source before they disperse, making it the most effective inhalation control.
WHMIS Safe Handling and Exposure 2
Under WHMIS, which action is required before using a hazardous product for the first time?