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One of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Transportation of Dangerous
Goods (TDG) Regulations is "What do I need to know to comply?" This question usually
prompts us to ask in return "Have you been trained in the TDG Regulations?" Training is
the key to complying with the Regulations. A person must be able to find information in the
Regulations, determine if a product is a dangerous good, determine if the dangerous goods
are regulated and finally be able to use the Regulations. Each of these points is elaborated.
1. Training in the TDG Regulations
The TDG Regulations require that any person who handles, offers for transport and/or
transports dangerous goods be trained or working under the direct supervision of someone
who is trained. The responsibility to ensure people are trained and the manner in which this
training is to be conducted rests with the employer. All trained persons must hold a training
certificate. The training must be based on the duties that the person is expected to perform
and to the dangerous goods that he/she is expected to handle, offer for transport or transport.
(Part 6 of the TDG Regulations). For example, the person who completes the shipping
document must be trained on the requirements of Part 3 - Documentation. For more
information, please consult the Advisory Notice on Training Guidelines.
2. Finding information in the TDG Regulations
The TDG Regulations are broken down into 16 parts and 3 schedules. The parts provide the
regulatory requirements for the transportation of dangerous goods. The schedules provide
additional information that complement the parts.
PARTS |
TITLE |
PART 1 |
Coming into Force, Repeal, Interpretation, General Provisions and
Special Cases (definitions of words and terms and exemptions) |
PART 2 |
Classification (the criteria for the nine classes) |
PART 3 |
Documentation (information required and location of documents) |
PART 4 |
Dangerous Goods Safety Marks (labels, placards, signs and other safety marks) |
PART 5 |
Means of Containment |
PART 6 |
Training |
PART 7 |
Emergency Response Assistance Plan |
PART 8 |
Accidental Release and Imminent Accidental Release Report
Requirements |
PART 9 |
Road |
PART 10 |
Rail |
PART 11 |
Marine |
PART 12 |
Air |
PART 13 |
Protective Direction |
PART 14 |
Permit for Equivalent Level of Safety |
PART 15 |
Court Order |
PART 16 |
Inspectors |
SCHEDULES |
TITLE |
SCHEDULE 1 |
Classes 1 to 9 (list of dangerous goods) |
SCHEDULE 2 |
Special Provisions |
SCHEDULE 3 |
Alphabetical Index |
3. Determining if a Product is a Dangerous Goods
It is the consignor's responsibility to classify a substance, product or organism to determine
if it is a dangerous good. There are two ways to classify goods:
- Schedule 1 - Classes 1 to 9, or
- Part 2 - Classification.
Schedule 1 lists the dangerous goods by UN number and provides information on all classes
of dangerous goods, such as, classification, quantity exemptions and limitations, special
provisions and emergency response plans.
Part 2 defines the criteria of the nine classes of dangerous goods and is usually referred to
when the dangerous goods are not listed by name in Schedule 1.
Always refer to Schedule 1 first. Find the UN Number of the dangerous goods under
Column 1 in Schedule 1. If the UN number is not known, refer to the shipping names
alphabetical index in Schedule 3 to search the UN number.
Forbidden Dangerous Goods
Schedule 3 lists the dangerous goods shipping names in alphabetical order. It includes
dangerous goods that are forbidden for transport. Schedule 1 also forbids dangerous goods
from being transported when the word "forbidden" is shown in column 3, class.
Col. 1 |
Col. 2 |
Col. 3 |
Col. 4 |
Col. 5 |
Col. 6 |
Col. 7 |
Col. 8 |
Col. 9 |
Col. 10 |
UN Number |
Shipping Name and Description |
Class |
Packing Group Risk Group |
Special Provisions |
Explosive Limit and Limited Quantity Index |
ERAP Index |
Passenger Carrying Ship Index |
Passenger Carrying Road Vehicle or Passenger Carrying Railway Vehicle Index |
Marine Polluant |
UN1203 |
GASOLINE |
3 |
II |
17 |
30 |
|
100 |
5 |
P |
UN1873 |
PERCHLORIC ACID with more than 50 per cent but not more than 72 per cent acid, by mass |
5.1 (8) |
I |
68 |
0 |
1000 |
Forbidden |
Forbidden |
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UN3121
| OXIDIZING SOLID, WATER-REACTIVE, N.O.S. |
Forbidden |
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4. Determining if Dangerous Goods are regulated
Verify if any special provision numbers are present under Column 5 of Schedule 1.
Special provisions are found in Schedule 2, and may provide an exemption from certain
parts or sections of the Regulations.
If there are no special provisions in Schedule 2 exempting dangerous goods, verify
sections 1.15 to 1.46 - Special Cases in Part 1. Some of the exemptions are partial, that is,
they may be exempt from certain sections or parts of the Regulations with some conditions.
The conditions of the exemption must be strictly adhered to.
For example section 1.25 states:
"These Regulations do not apply to dangerous goods that are transported solely
within a manufacturing or processing facility to which public access is controlled."
If there are no exemptions in Schedule 2 - Special Provisions or Part 1 - Special Cases, the
dangerous goods are fully regulated.
Modal Requirements
Parts 9, 10, 11 and 12 deal specifically with a mode of transport, respectively, road, rail,
marine and air.
Permits
Permits may also allow a relief from certain requirements of the Act and the Regulations.
The conditions of the permit must be strictly adhered to. Two types of permit exist:
- Permit for Equivalent Level of Safety1
(when conducting an activity in a manner that is as safe or safer than complying with the Act and Regulations)
- Emergency Permit
(when dealing with an emergency in which there is a danger to public safety)
1 Application for a permit is made to the Minister or a designated person
(Transport Dangerous Goods Directorate, Transport Canada)
5. Using the Regulations
The Regulations apply to dangerous goods if they are not exempted in Schedule 2 - Special
Provisions or Part 1 - Special Cases. In addition to training, classification, special provisions
and special cases, the following requirements of the Regulations also apply.
- Filing an emergency response plan with the TDG Directorate for all dangerous goods to
be transported or imported in quantities greater than those specified in Column 7 of
Schedule 1. The products, for which a quantity is specified, in Column 7 are the ones
that are considered most dangerous. The requirements to file an emergency response
plan are found in Part 7.
- Determining the mode of transport. Refer to Parts 9, 10, 11 and 12 for requirements
specific to road, rail, marine and air transport.
- Determining the allowable quantity per means of transport for passenger carrying ship,
passenger road and railway vehicle in columns 8 and 9 of Schedule 1. There are no
quantity limits for other means of transport (i.e. cargo shipments).
- Selecting the appropriate means of containment for the dangerous goods as required in
Part 5. Refer to the Means of Containment Advisory Notice.
- Displaying the dangerous goods safety marks required in Part 4 (i.e. labels, proper
shipping name, UN number). Refer to the Safety Marks Advisory Notice.
- Completing the shipping document in accordance with the requirements found in Part 3.
Refer to the Shipping Document Advisory Notice.
Accidental Release and Imminent Accidental Release Report Requirements -
Any accidental release and imminent accidental release as specified in Part 8 must be
reported by the person having possession of the goods. There is also a requirement for the
employer to complete a follow-up report within 30 days.
This advisory notice was produced to facilitate understanding of the TDG Regulations.
For specific information, the Act and Regulations must be consulted.
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