Transportation of Dangerous Goods flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

TDG Act purpose

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992 establishes the federal framework to promote public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods by prescribing duties for consignors, carriers, handlers, and importers.

Consignor duty

The consignor must classify the goods, prepare an accurate shipping document, select authorized means of containment, and certify that the goods are properly described, packaged, marked, and labelled for transport.

Carrier responsibility

The carrier must accept only properly documented and packaged goods, ensure correct loading and securing, and maintain the means of containment in good condition throughout the journey.

Inspector authority

Inspectors designated under the Act may enter premises, inspect means of containment, seize documents, and issue directions to remedy non-compliance; obstructing an inspector is an offence.

Penalty range

Penalties for TDG offences range from compliance orders and ticketing to prosecution with fines and imprisonment, increasing for repeat offences or where harm results from the failure.

Class 3 flammable liquid

A liquid with a flash point of 60 degrees Celsius or less, or a liquid transported at a temperature at or above its flash point, divided into packing groups I, II, and III.

Packing Group meaning

Packing Group I, II, or III indicates the degree of danger: great, medium, or minor. It is assigned only to certain classes, including 3, 4, 5.1, 6.1, and 8.

UN number

A four-digit number assigned to a specific substance or generic entry in the Dangerous Goods List, used together with the proper shipping name to identify the goods.

Proper shipping name

The name shown in the Dangerous Goods List for a given UN number, used on shipping documents and package markings to identify the dangerous goods being transported.

Class 2 divisions

Class 2 gases are divided into 2.1 flammable gases, 2.2 non-flammable non-toxic gases, and 2.3 toxic gases, each with its own label and handling requirements.

Precedence of hazard

When a substance meets criteria for more than one class, the Dangerous Goods List entry or the precedence table determines the primary class; subsidiary risks are shown separately.

Shipping document order

The shipping document must show, in sequence, the UN number, proper shipping name, primary class, subsidiary class or classes, and packing group, followed by quantity and consignor details.

Emergency phone number

The shipping document must include a 24-hour emergency telephone number monitored at all times during transport that connects to a person with knowledge of the goods.

Consignor certification

A signed statement on the shipping document confirming that the goods are fully and accurately described, classified, packaged, marked, labelled, and in proper condition for transport.

Document retention

Shipping documents must be retained by the consignor and carrier for two years and must be readily available to inspectors and emergency responders during transport.

Shipper's Declaration

The air transport document, the Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods, must include the airport of departure and destination, shipper details, and emergency contact information.

Label versus placard

Labels are 100 mm by 100 mm diamonds applied to packages; placards are 250 mm by 250 mm diamonds applied to large means of containment and transport units.

UN mark size

The UN number must be marked on a small means of containment, preceded by the letters UN, in characters at least 6 mm high, or 12 mm on larger containers.

Placard threshold

Placards are required on each side and end of a transport unit when dangerous goods in small means of containment exceed 500 kg aggregate gross mass or the applicable class threshold.

Orientation arrows

Orientation arrows mark packages containing liquids that must be kept upright; they are required markings but are not hazard labels.

UN packaging code

A code such as 4G/Y25/S/24 identifies the packaging type, packing group letter, maximum gross mass, intended contents, and year of manufacture.

Packing group letters

In the UN packaging code, X denotes packing group I, Y denotes packing group II, and Z denotes packing group III, indicating the maximum danger level the packaging is tested for.

Pressure receptacle testing

Cylinders and tubes must be requalified at intervals set by the applicable standard, commonly every 5 or 10 years, and marked with the date of the last test.

Means of containment duty

A means of containment must be designed, constructed, filled, closed, secured, and maintained so that under normal conditions of transport there is no release of dangerous goods.

Segregation rule

Incompatible dangerous goods must be separated during loading: oxidizers away from flammables, acids away from cyanides, and class 1 compatibility groups separated per the segregation table.

Load securing

Dangerous goods must be secured against movement using straps, dunnage, or blocking so that the load does not shift under normal driving conditions.

Pre-loading check

Before loading, the handler must verify that the means of containment is undamaged, that labels and marks are present, and that the shipping document matches the goods.

Immediate release report

A release posing danger to people, property, or the environment must be reported immediately to local emergency services and to CANUTEC at 1-888-CAN-UTEC.

24-hour written report

After a release, a written report must be filed with Transport Canada within 24 hours describing the goods, quantity, circumstances, and response actions taken.

ERAP requirement

An emergency response assistance plan is required for certain high-hazard goods listed in the Regulations; its reference number must appear on the shipping document.

Training certificate renewal

Anyone handling, offering for transport, or transporting dangerous goods must hold a training certificate issued by the employer, renewed every three years.

150 kg exemption

Certain dangerous goods may be transported without full documentation and placards when the total quantity is below 150 kg and the goods are in small means of containment.