Substance-Specific Issues

Concrete; classification with respect to corrosive properties

Substances:

Concrete

Issues:

1. Should concrete be administratively exempt from the labelling and MSDS requirements of the Hazardous Products Act (HPA) and Controlled Products Regulations (CPR)?
   
   
2. Does concrete fall within the criteria for Class E - Corrosive Material set out in section 65 of the [WHMIS] Controlled Products Regulations?

Background:

At the January 13 and 14, 1988 meeting on WHMIS Model OSH Issues, [which relates to employer WHMIS requirements], concrete was included in a policy decision that "recognized the existence of materials which... because of their shape, distribution or use would, under normal circumstances, not present a health hazard or be suitable for labelling or MSDSs."

The Worker's Compensation Boards across Canada annually receive numerous claims relating to skin burns resulting from exposure to concrete and related products. The Product Safety Programme at Health Canada has documented cases of consumers who received third-degree burns from exposure to concrete.

WHMIS stakeholders recommended that, as unhardened concrete does pose a significant hazard to workers, it should not be administratively exempted from the WHMIS supplier label and MSDS requirements of the HPA / CPR.

Conclusions:

1. Concrete is not exempt from the WHMIS supplier label and MSDS requirements of the HPA / CPR.
   
   
2. Suppliers and importers of such products will need to assess their products against the criteria specified in the CPR.