TDG – Transportation Of Dangerous Goods

TDG – A Transportation of Dangerous Goods Certificate is needed to understand the transportation of dangerous goods. This needs to be taken seriously to provide the highest level of safety on roads and railways and for the communities, these goods pass through on the way to their destinations.

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act is Canadian Legislation and deals with the handling, selling, and transporting of items or substances that are classified as dangerous by the United Nations.

The Act became law in 1985, in response to the derailment of a train that was carrying explosive and poisonous chemicals that happened in Mississauga, Ontario in 1979.

So what is the Dangerous Goods Act Mean? In this article, you can read what the Dangerous goods ACT is https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90d01

Dangerous goods are substances or articles that are capable of posing a risk to health, safety, or property when transported by air, rail, road, or sea. These substances or articles are regulated under the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, which is also known as the “Orange Book.”

The Guidelines and Regulations for Shipping Dangerous Goods by Ground document guide the safe transportation of dangerous goods by ground. This document is intended for use by shippers, carriers, and others who are involved in the transportation of dangerous goods.

The document covers the following topics:

2. What are dangerous goods?

3. Guidelines and regulations for shipping dangerous goods

4. What are the risks of shipping dangerous goods?

5. How to minimize the risks when shipping dangerous goods

What Are Dangerous Goods? Dangerous goods are substances or articles that are hazardous to people, property, or the environment. They are classified into nine categories: explosives, flammability, oxidizers, corrosives, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive materials, miscellaneous hazardous materials, and nine classes of dangerous goods.

When transporting these substances or articles, the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods must be followed. The categories and classes of dangerous goods provide guidance on how to safely ship, store, and handle hazardous materials. When shipping dangerous goods, it’s important to be aware of the risks and take steps to minimize them.

Guidelines and Regulations for Shipping Dangerous Goods:

The UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods is the most comprehensive source of information for safe transport. This document covers the ground transportation of dangerous goods and provides general provisions for packing, labeling, and documentation.

There are specific regulations for each mode of transport. The guidelines are designed to reduce the risks associated with transporting dangerous goods. The regulations also outline specific actions to take when responding to any incident related to the transport of dangerous goods.

TDG guidelines also provide guidance on the capacity and design of all types of containers used to transport dangerous goods, as well as on the segregation, labeling, and marking of these containers.

A shipper must be aware of the packaging requirements of dangerous goods and use the proper packaging that is best suited to the type and quantity of the dangerous goods being shipped.

What Are the Risks of Shipping Dangerous Goods?

Shipping and handling of dangerous goods have potential risks associated with them, such as property loss, environmental contamination, and potential injuries or fatalities to those handling or exposed to hazardous materials.

It’s important to be aware of the risks and take steps to minimize them. The primary risk of shipping dangerous goods is the potential for an accident to occur. This risk increases depending on the type of dangerous goods being shipped, the quantity of the dangerous goods, the mode of transport, and the distance traveled.

An accident or incident can lead to serious consequences, such as property damage, environmental contamination, or human injury or death. Other risks include incorrectly labeling dangerous goods or using improper packaging, which can lead to the erroneous classification of hazardous materials and an increased chance of an accident occurring.

How to Minimize the Risks When Shipping Dangerous Goods:

There are several steps that can be taken to reduce the risks associated with shipping dangerous goods by ground. These include:

-Ensuring that the dangerous goods are packaged and labeled in accordance with the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods.

-Having a well-trained staff who is knowledgeable about the proper procedures for shipping and handling dangerous goods.

-Conduct regular safety drills to ensure that staff is aware of the necessary actions to take in the event of a hazardous materials incident.

-Performing regular inspections and maintenance of containers used to transport dangerous goods.

-Thoroughly document all dangerous goods shipments and keep records of each shipment.

-Developing a safety plan to minimize the risk of an accident occurring. 

In addition to the above steps, it’s recommended that organizations obtain CSA-approved training. This will help ensure the safe transportation of dangerous goods by ground.

 Shipping dangerous goods require the integrated efforts of everyone involved in the transport chain. Guidelines and regulations must be followed to reduce the risk of accidents and incidents.

The UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods is the most comprehensive source of guidance for shippers and carriers. Training, inspections, and proper packaging are some of the key components to safely shipping dangerous goods by ground.

What Is The Purpose Of A Transportation Of Dangerous Goods Certificate

The purpose of the training certificate is to demonstrate that if someone handles, offers to transport, or transports dangerous goods, they can do their duties in compliance with Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations.

Who Needs Training For Transportation Of Dangerous Goods

If you are a worker who handles, offers for transport, or transports dangerous goods or a supervisor of workers who do, you must be adequately trained and hold a valid training certificate.

Your employer must not allow you to handle, offer for transport or transport dangerous goods unless you are adequately trained and hold a training certificate.

The training requirement applies to shippers, receivers, transport drivers, and workers who load and unload dangerous goods.

Here are the overall requirements you must meet as a person who handles, offers to transport, transports, or imports dangerous goods.

1. Safety requirements, meaning you must meet all the applicable safety requirements in the TDG Act and regulations.
2. Documentation, meaning you must ensure dangerous goods that are being transported are accompanied by all the applicable documents specified in the Act and regulations.
3. Safety standards for containers, meaning you must ensure the containers or packaging, referred to in the regulations as “means of containment”, comply with all the applicable safety standards and display all the required safety marks specified in the Act and regulations.

Key Points You Will Learn Taking A TDG Training Course

• Explain how dangerous goods are defined
• Describe the purpose of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act
• Explain the requirements for training related to transporting dangerous goods by ground
• Identify the classification of dangerous goods
• Use of schedules 1,2 and 3 of the TDG regulations
• Describe the requirements related to the shipping documentation for dangerous goods
• Use and identify certification safety marks according to requirements and safety standards
• Explain the requirements related to means of containment used for transporting dangerous goods
• Meet the necessary reporting requirements when a release or anticipated release occurs
• Describe the conditions that must be met to claim the exemptions available for transporting dangerous goods

Your TDG Certificate will give you The Ability To

• Understand placards
• Proper labeling
• Understanding safety marks
• Documentation
• Description of Dangerous Goods
• Classification of Dangerous Goods
• Training requirements
• Understanding UN codes
• Dangerous Goods Incidents

Does Your Training Certificate Expire

Your training certificate does expire and depending on the modes determine when your certificate will expire

• For transport by aircraft certificate expiration is 2 years after the date of issue
• For other modes, the certificate expires 3 years after the date of issue

Showing Proof Of Training

You must always be prepared for an inspector to request proof of your training. As an employer or self-employed worker, you must keep a record of training or a statement of experience.

Proof of your training must be provided within 15 days of receiving a written request from an inspector.

As a worker or a supervisor of workers who handle, offer for transport, or transport dangerous goods, must give your training certificate, or a copy of it to an inspector immediately when they request it.

Upon completion of the training, the students will receive a picture ID card along with a certificate of completion.

Training should be taken very seriously by employers and employees and training should only be provided by qualified trainers like the ones at AI Forklift Training Ltd.