Workplace information systems

It is noteworthy that the styrene reference concentration (RfC) in the Integrated Risk Information System is based on the biomarker-response relationship found in workers (Mutti et al. 1984 EPA 1998). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) used the relationship of urinary biomarker to ambient-air concentration of workers to develop an RfC that was adjusted for the difference in exposure time between the workplace and the general population. That is a valid approach because it derives a workplace concentration-toxicity relationship in workers, which can then be adjusted for the general population to account for differences in exposure time and can take uncertainty factors into account. It is different from direct adjustment of the styrene BEI to evaluate human population biomonitoring data on styrene metabolites in urine, which would have the uncertainties described above and in Chapter 5. 

The Hazardous Products Act. (R.S., 1985, c. H-3) This act prohibits advertising, sale, and import of hazardous products. It requires Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for chemicals. It also allows inspection of facilities for compliance. 

There are a number of requirements in the existing systems that relate to size, appearance, and placement of the labels. For example, the Canadian Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) system requires a border around the label that distinguishes it from labels of other systems. 

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Website http //www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/whmis/index.htm Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, MSDS http //ccinfoweb.ccohs.ca/msds/search.html (payment req d )... 

The Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), which was established in 1988, aims to protect workers using chemicals by improved communication of hazards. This involves labelling and MSDSs, in English and French, and employee information and training programmes. 

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (Canada)... 

WHMIS Workplace Hazardons Materials Information System... 

In Canada, there is a workplace chemical safety rule called the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). WHMIS requires that the supplier or employer update or replace the SDS every three years. This is for Canada only, but often in the U.S. employers assume that they must also replace their SDSs every three years. 

WHMIS Workplace hazardous materials information system... 

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) DIA (very toxic material) D2B (other toxic effects that are not immediate and serious) E (corrosive) (Chemical Advisor)... 

WHMIS Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System—The Canadian workplace safety rule, WHMIS requires the creation and availability of material safety data sheets, warning labels on hazardous materials, and employee education and training. 

When man Hved in caves, every day was an exercise in disaster planning and recovery. There were no AU Cave News stations for predator reports. The National Weather Service was not around yet to warn about rain that might put out the community camp fire. We Hve in an increasingly interdependent information-driven society. Modem information systems managers have an absolute social, technical, and economic responsibility to get information to the public when disaster strikes. Designers of these facilities must do their part to build workplaces that wiU meet the special needs of the Hfehne information mission during major emergencies. 

National information and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System -Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety... 

For those working largely with chemicals, the hazardous substances requirements of the relevant act and regulations must be addressed. In Manitoba, for example, this would involve the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Regulations 52/88. Many employees will need to be familiar with the requirements in the relevant act and regulations appropriate to plant, equipment and tools. 

In Canada, the set of provincial and federal regulations, collectively known as Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), stipulates similar requirements. The Provincial Acts and regulations in this area either adopt or provide essentially the same requirements as the Federal Hazardous Products Act and the Controlled Products Regulations under that Act [21, 22]. 

Canada, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) This product does not have a WHMIS classification. 

Alternative labeling systems such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 704 Hazard Rating and the Hazardous Material Information System (HMIS) are permitted for workplace containers. However, the information supplied on these labels must be consistent with the HazCom standard (e.g., no conflicting hazard warnings or pictograms.)... 

Researchers have studied whether the qualities of the various subsystems of a SHE information system affect the accident risk. Two different research methods have been applied. In so-called ex-post facto studies, scientists explore whether there are differences in the SHE information systems between companies with high and low accident rates. They have found that companies with low accident rates have better injury record-keeping systems (Simonds and Shafai-Sahrai, 1977), better formal routines for workplace inspections (Smith et al., 1978), and are more inclined to inquire into minor injuries and near accidents (Cohen et al., 1975). 

In action research, scientists participate in the introduction of changes in the SHE information system of a company. They evaluate how these changes affect the behaviour of its organisation and the company s accident rates. Many studies report reductions in accident rates following the introduction of such measures as improved accident investigation and workplace inspection routines and introduction of near-accident reporting (Adams et al., 1981 Menckel, 1990 Komaki et al., 1978). 

In evaluation research, scientists study effects of programme changes made inside companies, without being involved in the changes themselves. An aluminium plant had introduced a documented SHE information system, involving improved routines for accident and near-accident reporting, workplace inspections and follow-up of SHE results. An evaluation study showed that the introduction of internal control, in combination with other measures such as improved maintenance, contributed to an improved control of production. This resulted not only in substantially reduced losses from accidents but also in reduced overall operational expenditures (Kjellen et al., 1997). 

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