University of Manitoba

U of M - Administration - Human Resources - Environmental Health and Safety Office - NEW! Interim WHIP - Workplace Hazard Information Placard

NEW! Interim WHIP - Workplace Hazard Information Placard

Updated January 10, 2011

The Workplace Hazard Information Placard (WHIP) identifies hazards in the room and emergency contact persons knowledgeable of the hazards in the room. The WHIP is currently under review. To allow time for consultation, an interim approach is necessary.

Effective April 2010, Interim WHIP will be created by the Environmental Health and Safety Office (EHSO) based on the information provided on the interim application form. To receive a new placard or an amended placard, fill out the interim application form.

1)  On the interim WHIP, the various chemical hazard icons will be replaced with the DANGER symbol.  Without the various chemical icons, a hard copy inventory of hazardous materials located in the placarded room must be available to emergency responders. In the event of an after hours emergency, Security Services will retrieve the hard copy inventory from the location indicated on the WHIP.  Generally, the hard copy inventory should be located in your local Departmental General Office in a manner that is accessible and visible to Security Services. 

  • The chemical inventory should indicate the name of the chemical and maximum volume or mass. Be sure to include gas cylinders (liquid and gas) and cryogenic material. The chemical inventory could be printed off the EHSA database.
  • If the room is permitted for radioisotopes, a copy of the current permit(s) should be placed with the chemical inventory.

2) Emergency contacts listed must sign the back page of the interim WHIP application form and are responsible for:       

  • Ensure a hard copy inventory of the hazardous materials in the room will be stored in the room indicated on the WHIP,
  • Answer questions about the materials to facilitate emergency response, and
  • Update the information on this application as needed.

3)  Personal protective equipment (PPE) with a red border is now an entrance requirement. The PPE must be put on prior to entering the room. Yellow bordered PPE will remain as commonly used to handle controlled products. A full shoe will be red bordered and required to enter all rooms containing controlled products.

To make any changes to the interim WHIP, send an e-mail to signage@cc.umanitoba.ca indicating the changes and for changes in contact information attach a scan or fax (789-3906) the completed first and last page. Send the originals by mail to EHSO.

For Existing WHIPs:  When emergency contacts review the placards of the rooms/labs for which they are responsible, one of two situations will be indicated:   

  • Validation only (no changes)  If there are no changes to the identified hazards, emergency contacts and PPE, then a validation sticker can be placed on the placard. EHSO will send validation stickers indicating the current year, to the local Departmental General Office to be placed over the existing date on the placard.  To place the validation sticker on the WHIP, slip a sticky note in the top of the holder and this will stick to the placard so it can then be pulled out.
  • Amendment required (changes) When there is a significant change to the existing WHIP information, the placard needs to be amended and replaced. Changes include a decommissioning of a radioisotope lab, updates to contact person information, the types or amounts of a hazard and PPE. In the interim, an Emergency Contact will have to fill out the interim application form for all changes to the placard. (see above)

 



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