WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Sheet) is, as the name implies, a system to categorize all the known hazardous materials a worker could encounter in the workplace. Its contents are law and must be complied with. It will outline the hazards and what PPE to use to avoid risk of injury or illness. It includes the SDS (MSDS) a form that each chemical must have that shows its characteristics and hazards and more appropriately, how to deal with them in a safe manner. This is one of the most important modules in this course and should be referred to in the case of any questions arising about any particular chemical.

All chemicals have a legally determined maximum exposure limit for those who work with the chemical. Hence, each year the air in the plant where a worker is most likely to encounter higher than allowed exposure, air monitoring is performed. It entails the worker carrying with him (wearing) a small monitoring pump for a designated period of time depending on the chemical being monitored. This module explains the equipment used and where the regulations can be found.

This module will explain the functions, rights and make-up of a workplace Health and Safety Committee. It is a group made up of worker and management representatives that come together on a regular basis to discuss ongoing plant safety issues and how top resolve them, and to bring to light any new issues found or reported by employees. There are legal guidelines and requirements concerning these committees and it is incumbent upon each employee to be aware of them. The module will give you a good understanding of these requirements and your rights in the workplace.

CCA and ACZA (ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate) are both used for a variety of industrial applications. CCA for utility poles, fence posts, plywood, preserved wood foundations, marine pilings and timbers. ACZA is used for rail ties, marine structures and large timbers.CCA and ACZA (ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate) are both used for a variety of industrial applications. CCA for utility poles, fence posts, plywood, preserved wood foundations, marine pilings and timbers. ACZA is used for rail ties, marine structures and large timbers.This module is about the QC and QA needed to guarantee a level of treatment quality to satisfy the various standards pertaining to the use of the products made with these two chemicals. It covers sampling techniques and interpretations of samples, the analytical aspects of quality control used for these products. This is a must do module for those treating with either of these chemistries.

In recent years the industry has been using a variety of copper based preservatives, this module will explain some of the requirements that an operator needs to be aware of to successfully accomplish his job and have the treated material meet industry standards. Treating and treatment quality criteria are discussed, along with checks during and after the process. It talks of the Process standards now common in the industry and of the automated systems used, where the all-important recording functions are performed. It covers third party inspection requirements and duties and requirements for annual calibration of all monitoring equipment.

This is a pictorial presentation showing safety violations found at various plants throughout Canada and the US. This captions quote the Canadian violation. You can use this as a guide to take a tour of your own facility to see if you can find any one of these issues.

These are the issues covered in this module; what defines a hazardous waste, hazardous waste generator requirements (registration, paperwork, etc.), emergency responses to unexpected release occurrences, types of hazardous waste containers (including satellites), wastewater exclusions. The last things in the module is a rundown of the top 10 hazardous waste mistakes found at the treating plants by the auditors over the years and then a brief resume of best management practices.

This will give you a clearer understanding of what is considered a confined space and the regulations on what is required to enter a confined space. This will include who can enter, who has to stay outside, monitoring the space, and all the recording required during the operation. The following are some of the hazards discussed in the module; engulfment, from flooding, from particulates, etc., oxygen deficiency (19.5% or less) or oxygen enrichment (23.5% or greater), flammable gases or vapors that may be present, hence the requirement for atmospheric testing, combustible dusts (grain silos), toxic substances (chemical tanks) and physical hazards (internal machinery inside the confined space, i.e. impellers, etc. The rules for confined space entry are very specific and have to be followed as set out in the regulations.

Lockout/Tagout concerns not only the maintenance person but the operator as well. Both could be injured or worse if all the rules for LOTO are not followed. The module will offer an indication of what is required, who should be involved and the procedures to be followed by all parties. It will also cover the documentation required to meet legal obligations. It will explain the various pent-up forces involved in various pieces of machinery, even when shut down and how to safely release then prior to any work being done. It will explain the types of equipment used to do LOTO. This is a must do module for maintenance and operations personnel.

Although most plants have their operators trained by professionals for forklift operation, this module can be a powerful refresher option. It covers some of the most common issues with forklift use, maintenance and safety issues, what to do and what not to do.

The TRD is all about complying with a set of government-approved recommendations and documenting this compliance so it can be checked and approved. The module explains all the documentation required for all 11 sections, the 6 sections on design and operating and the remaining sections on environment, health and safety. The documentation should cover all of the following, the operating manual, job descriptions and PPE, all company policies regarding the entire operation, all safety programs including committees, chemical handling and deliveries, atmospheric monitoring and any other aspect of plant operations.

This module goes over the two types of XRF analyzers currently being used by treating plants. It explains their uses and how to setup and use the machines to analyze both wood and solutions. It also covers some moisture meters and their operation and how to use them.

This explains the differences between the two main types of analyzer along with some minor maintenance instructions. It will cover sending off samples to outside third party labs as well as the labs of the chemical suppliers. It shows what type of reports that can be expected. This is a quite detailed module.

Here we have a brief yet comprehensive information module on the use of dry kilns or fixation/stabilization kilns, their operation and maintenance procedures. It also outlines defects in the wood caused by various schedules and ways of placing wood in the kilns. Fan operation is also discussed. Finally, it shows the 10 most useful ways to fine-tune the kiln to improve both quality and efficiency.

This module offers information on how the chemicals are “fixed” within the penetrated zone of the wood. The term Fixation applies mostly to the CCA chemical treatment (chromated copper arsenate), whereas stabilization is used for the stabilizing of the newer chemicals in the wood. Both terms deals with the chemicals binding to the wood and becoming as leach resistant as possible. The tests required to determine fixation/stabilization are discussed.