TRANSPORTATION OF DANGEROUS GOODS IN CANADA

In Canada, the transportation of dangerous goods is strictly regulated under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992. The Act was designed with the sole purpose of maintaining public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods. There are approximately 30,000,000 dangerous goods shipments each year in Canada, 99.998 per cent occurring without serious incident.

The safe transport of dangerous goods is a shared responsibility among industry, provincial and territorial governments and the Government of Canada. The provinces and territories work in concert with Transport Canada to enforce transportation of dangerous goods requirements on the highway. Transport Canada conducts enforcement in other modes of transport and leads in the development of dangerous goods regulations in the transportation sector.

The Act and associated safety regulations are enforced directly by a team of more than 250 inspectors designated under the Act, and indirectly by several thousand provincial and territorial inspectors. When infractions under the Act are identified, immediate corrective or enforcement action is taken. This could include fines and/or prosecution.

With the overarching goal of protecting people, property and the environment, transportation of dangerous goods inspectors ensure compliance with the provisions of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 by:

• inspecting and auditing the industries involved in the transportation of dangerous goods;
• enforcing compliance with applicable regulations and procedures;
• consulting and communicating with industry as well as provincial and other regulatory partners;
• promoting, educating and raising awareness through various programs;
• providing regulatory assistance to provinces; and 
• providing advice and information to industry, stakeholders and the public on the requirements of the Act as well as general information about the safe and secure movement of dangerous goods.

When a shipper wishes to transport a substance that is considered highly dangerous under the Act, the shipper must submit an Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP) to Transport Canada. The ERAP -- approved by Transport Canada before the shipment is allowed -- outlines the actions a shipper would take in the event of an accident. The intent of the ERAP is to provide on-site assistance to local authorities in the event of an accident involving such dangerous goods.

ERAPs are required only for the most potentially harmful dangerous goods -- such as certain explosives, toxic substances and flammable gases --  which may present widespread hazards in the event of an accident. A list of those types of goods is contained in the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations and can be found under column 7 of Schedule 1.

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 focuses on prevention and empowers inspectors to take immediate steps during an incident to preserve public safety. Shipments of dangerous goods must be clearly marked with a placard or label to indicate the characteristics of the contents. As well, a shipping document must accompany the goods and provide information on the contents of the shipment and how to obtain help if needed.

Transport Canada also operates the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC) to assist emergency response personnel in handling dangerous goods emergencies. CANUTEC is staffed by professional scientists specialized in emergency response and experienced in interpreting technical information and providing advice. The centre operates 24 hours a day and handles some 30,000 phone calls a year.

For more information on the transportation of dangerous goods, please visit: The Transport Dangerous Goods Directorate.

May 2006