The Incident
On April 4, 2024, emergency crews responded to a "chemical incident" at ControlChem Canada, a water treatment chemical supplier located on Appleby Line in Burlington, Ontario. A worker had been overcome by chemical fumes while dispensing one material into a second, larger container.
The worker suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to hospital. Despite medical intervention, he later succumbed to his injuries. The Ontario Ministry of Labour launched an investigation into the incident.
What Went Wrong
The worker was exposed to dangerous chemical fumes during a routine transfer operation. The exact chemicals involved were not publicly disclosed during the investigation, but the nature of the incident — fume exposure during chemical dispensing — points to failures in hazard communication and personal protective equipment.
How WHMIS Training Could Have Helped
This tragedy underscores several critical areas covered in WHMIS training:
Safety Data Sheets (SDS): Section 8 of every SDS specifies the required exposure controls and personal protective equipment. A worker trained in reading SDS documents would know exactly what respiratory protection is needed when handling specific chemicals.
Pictogram Recognition: The skull and crossbones pictogram (acute toxicity) and the health hazard pictogram (serious health effects) would have immediately signalled the danger level of the materials being handled.
Ventilation Requirements: WHMIS training covers the importance of engineering controls like local exhaust ventilation, which is critical when transferring chemicals that produce hazardous fumes.
Emergency Procedures: SDS Section 4 (First Aid Measures) and Section 6 (Accidental Release Measures) provide life-saving information that all workers handling hazardous products should know by heart.
Every worker who handles hazardous products has the right to know what they are working with and how to protect themselves. That knowledge starts with WHMIS training.
Source: CBC News, April 5, 2024