4
TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY
Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Every year over 27 million dangerous goods shipments are transported
across Canada. Most of these shipments include goods that directly
influence and improve the lifestyle that Canadians have come to
expect and enjoy. The Transport of Dangerous Goods (TDG) program
promotes public safety during the transportation of goods that
can threaten public safety when involved in an accidental release.
TDG accidents are called "reportable" if they are
severe enough to meet the reporting requirement defined in TDG program
regulations. Very few TDG accidents are caused by the dangerous
goods themselves. In 1999, there were three reportable TDG accidents
directly caused by dangerous goods. One fatality resulted from
one of the three accidents. A fraction of the 1999 accident data
includes estimates.
Table 4-15 compares reportable accidents involving dangerous
goods by mode and type of accident.
In 1999, there were 518 reportable dangerous goods accidents.
In-transit accidents in Table 4-15 includes those that occurred
during actual transport, while handling accidents are those that
took place at handling facilities. Many handling accidents occur
in warehouses while the goods are being handled prior to loading
or unloading. Between 1990 and 1999, more dangerous goods accidents
occurred at the handling stage than while they were being transported.
The number of deaths related to dangerous goods in transit
is low.
Table 4-16 summarizes the number of deaths, as well as the
number and severity of injuries caused by dangerous goods at reportable
accidents.
Table 4-17 gives the total number of deaths and injuries that
occurred at reportable transportation of dangerous goods accidents.
In many cases, the deaths and injuries are caused by the accident
itself (e.g. a collision), not by the goods.
In Tables 4-16 and 4-17, minor injuries refer to those injuries
that require first-aid treatment, moderate injuries require emergency
hospital treatment, and major injuries require overnight hospitalization.
Transportation of Dangerous Goods
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