Transportation of Dangerous Goods Course in Canada

According to Transport Canada, the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act is designed to promote public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods by road, rail, air, and ship. The Transport of Dangerous Goods regulations are guidelines used to promote the act that have been adopted by all provinces and territories. Alberta passed the act in 1982 and then adopted the federal regulations.

The list of dangerous goods under the act is extensive and includes products falling into 1 of 9 classes. Class 1 comprises explosives, Class 2 comprises gases, and Class 3 includes flammable liquids. Class 4 includes flammable solids, spontaneous combustibles, and products that emit flammable gases on contact with water. Class 5 includes oxidizing substances and organic peroxides.

Class 6 includes poisonous and infectious substances. Class 7 includes radioactive materials, and Class 8 includes corrosives. Class 9 includes miscellaneous dangerous goods and dangerous wastes. A system of labels and placards identify dangerous goods. However, the regulations themselves are extremely detailed and difficult to interpret. Despite this, anyone transporting items considered to be dangerous goods must meet certain standards regarding training, packaging, transporting, documenting, and using warning labels. For example, shipping documents are required for dangerous goods.

Transport Canada does not provide shipping documents; rather, the shipper is responsible for creating his or her own document. In addition, there may be different requirements depending on whether the items are being moved by road, rail, air, or sea. For example, shipping documents for dangerous goods being moved by air must have red hatching's on the left and right margins that slant to the left or right. There are further requirements outlined in the regulations.

Anyone who ships, receives, or transports dangerous goods must be trained, or work with someone who is trained, on TDG regulations. Being knowledgeable about the act itself is also a requirement. This is where a TDG course can come in handy. To be compliant with Canadian government standards, TDG courses must meet Transport Canada’s training requirements for employees involved in transporting dangerous goods. TDG course content should include topics such as TDG requirements; shipper, handler, and driver responsibilities; classes of dangerous goods; shipping documents; safety marks; containers; special situations; and emergency actions.

There are many online TDG courses available. TDG courses provide certificates upon completion. TDG course certification is valid for three years. However, it is important to note that TDG course certification is not transferable, so if a trainee changes employers, he or she will have to take a TDG course again. For more course detail click on website caycan.ca.