e-news

 The quarterly newsletter for Safety Professionals

Q2, 2008

Issue 10
   

Top Story

 

TDG Amendment 6 is here!

 
The long awaited Amendment 6 to the TDG Regulations was published and came into force February 2008.
 


Due to the large number of changes and the lack of a grace period, users of the TDG Regulations are scrambling to ensure compliance.  A brief overview is provided below, a more detailed 'Part by Part' explanation can be found here.

Exemptions

Of interest to many smaller companies are the changes to the commonly used exemptions available when dealing with smaller quantities of dangerous goods:

Section 1.15 the Personal Use Exemption has been replaced with the 150 kg Gross Mass Exemption, which exempts anyone from Part 3 (Shipping Document), Part 4 (Safety Marks), Part 5 (Means of Containment), Part 6 (Training), and Part 8 (Accidental Releases) of the regulations so long as the dangerous goods are contained in one or more means of containment; each of which has a gross mass of less than or equal to 30 kg, and the gross mass of the total does not exceed 150 kilograms. The restrictions have been expanded as well. (See section 1.15 of the TDG Regs for more details).

In Section 1.16 the 500 Kg Gross Exemption, Part 3 (Documentation), Part 4 (Safety Marks), and Part 5 (Means of Containment) of the regulations do not apply so long as the dangerous goods are contained in one or more means of containment; each of which has a gross mass of less than or equal to 30 kg, and the gross mass of the total does not exceed 500 kilograms. Restrictions on this exemption have been expanded as well.  Please note that this exemption now requires 'all persons' who are using it, to have a TDG Training certificate.

Changes to Schedule 1 “Index of Dangerous Goods”
Hundreds of parameters have changed in the entire Schedule 1 portion the TDG Regulations. This includes changes to “Classification”, “ERAP Index Values” and applicable “Special Provisions”. This includes the reclassification of Anhydrous Ammonia and several additional placards / labels.


Special provision 42, commonly referred to as the ‘welding exemption’ has been revoked but a new exemption 1.32.3 Class 2, Gases, in Small Means of Containment states that Part 3 (Documentation) and Part 6 (Training) do not apply to five or fewer cylinders of a gross mass of which is less than 500 kg and when the labels on the cylinders can be seen from outside the road vehicle. The number of Class 2 gases this exemption applies to has also been expanded.

Dangerous Goods Safety Marks

Part 4, the TDG placards and labels and when to display them, has been amended as well.  If the DANGER placard can be displayed, then it can continue to be used as long as placards are required instead of having to change to a class placard if the load changes and only one class of dangerous goods remain in the large means of containment.

New dangerous goods safety marks for UN1005, ANHYDROUS AMMONIA, UN3383, BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE, CATEGORY B, and fissile radioactive materials have been introduced.

Conclusion

The entire Amendment 6 can be found here: Canada Gazette: Amendment 6

With this amendment being the most significant in 6 years, TDG retraining is recommended for many people who had their training prior to Feb 20, 2008.

Transport Canada is currently amending the TDG Regulation webpage, and an updated Clear Language Edition of the TDG Regulation is available from YOW Canada's TDG Regulations web page: TDG.

YOW Canada is available for consultation on any impact Amendment 6 may have on you or your organization's TDG obligations.
 


 
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