Archives - Bulletins

Transport Canada has published a video demonstrating the ‘vent and burn’ technique for dealing with damaged LPG highway tanks, rail tank cars or storage tanks. The video presents the results of experiments undertaken by TC and its partners between 2004 and 2006, with the aim of increasing awareness of the procedure among emergency responders. TC notes that the vent and burn procedure is a “technique of last resort”, to be used only when no other reasonable options exist. It also warns that the procedure is very dangerous and “may not produce results as planned”. The video and supporting documentation can be found on the Transport Canada website. (November 15 - HCB weekly email news alert)

Transport Canada has released some data on reportable dangerous goods incidents in Canada in 2011. There were 345 such incidents, it says, of which 63% occurred in Alberta. Most - 62% - took place during handling operations and only 5.5% were classified as 'moderate' or 'major'. Nearly 60% involved five UN numbers: petroleum crude oil (27.2%); diesel, fuel oil, gasoil or light heating oil (12.7%); methanol (7.8%); hydrochloric acid (5.8%); and LPG (4.9%). (July 30 - HCB weekly email news alert)

Transport Canada has set up a new page on its website detailing and explaining the requirements for shipping documents under the TDG Regulations. The page explains when a document is required, the responsibilities of the various players in the transport chain, and the details that must be contained on it. It provides a template for the shipping document, although this is not mandatory. The page also provides contact details for regional dangerous goods office. Full details can be found here. (June 7 - HCB weekly email news alert)

“Faulty Rail Cars Hauling Dangerous Goods," warns the TSB. The TSB warned today that tens of thousands of faulty railway cars may be in operation, hauling dangerous goods across Canada. In its final report (R09W0016) into a 2009 accident near Dugald, Manitoba, the TSB says a faulty stub sill went undetected, allowing a tank car loaded with 51 500 pounds of flammable liquid propylene to separate from the rest of the train before coming to a stop. A stub sill is part of the frame which connects the tank cars. Although the Dugald train came to a stop without derailing, the TSB says the lack of formal protocols to record and report stub sill failures may prevent other broken parts from being found before the next accident. "Approximately 41 000 cars within the North American tank car fleet are equipped with this model of stub sills, and approximately 35 000 of them are in dangerous goods service," said Rob Johnston, Acting Rail/Pipeline Director of Investigations. "And although these represent just 13 per cent of the tank population, they account for 34 per cent of the cracked stub sills and 100 per cent of the broken ones in Canada. These numbers are alarming and must not be ignored." The TSB further noted that in many cases the regulator, Transport Canada (TC), was either unaware of, or had limited information regarding stub sill failures so the problem went undetected. Click here for more information. (August 25 - Gatineau, Quebec)

Transport Canada and US FMCSA have reached an agreement on the mutual recognition of driver training certificates. Canada's TDG Regulations and 49 CFR differ in what they require drivers to carry with them but it has now been agreed that US DOT inspectors will accept a Canadian driver's TDG training certificate in lieu of a hazmat endorsement. (June 17 - Hazardous Cargo Bulletin Email Newsletter)

Small Containers for Transport of Dangerous Goods, Classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9, a Transport Canada Standard

The Transport Canada publication TP14850E "Small Containers for Transport of Dangerous Goods, Classes 3, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9, a Transport Canada Standard" has been published but has not yet been adopted as a requirement of the TDG Regulations. This document was developed after extensive consultation with stakeholders PDF
Amendment [T], CBRNE, Provisions for Orphan Releases

Transport Canada has issued for public consultation a revised version of its proposed Amendment [Z] to the Transport of Dangerous Goods Regulations, relating to dangerous goods safety marks. The new version adds some requirements for the marking of overpacks, new definitions for 'consignee' and 'overpack' and a requirement for the consignee to be shown on the shipping document. Comments on this version of the proposal are invited by March 31, subsequent to which it will be published in Canada Gazette I for formal consultation. (March 18 Hazardous Cargo Bulletin Email Newsletter)

Transport Canada has issued a revised version of Amendment 8, which was published in Canada Gazette I in May 2009. The new version includes some later changes and TC wants to give industry the opportunity to comment before publication in Canada Gazette II and subsequent entry into force. Amendment 8 deals primarily with the wider use of ERAPs and the clarification of the 150 kg exemption. An outline of the changes can be found online. (March 18 Hazardous Cargo Bulletin Email Newsletter)