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TDG Regulations Update - Amendment 6 gives relief to most
Contractors and HVAC Companies
The Transportation of
Dangerous Goods (TDG) Regulations were designed to promote
public and environment safety when dangerous goods are being
transported on Canadian roads. The regulations are managed
and maintained by Transport Canada. The regulations are a set
of rules that prescribe safety standards and shipping
requirements for thousands of different dangerous goods across
Canada. In order to adapt to different situations, the TDG
Regulations are amended on a regular basis.
On August 15th
2002, the ‘Clear Language’ version of the regulations was
released and made the law. Unbenounced to many, these newly
revised regulations required many contractors including the
HVAC community to abide to the TDG Regulations or face
penalties and fines for ‘Non Compliance’. Some examples of
affected dangerous goods are refrigerants (R22, R314 etc),
Propane, Oxygen and Acetylene. As a company dedicated to
helping companies keep in compliance with many health and
safety regulations, YOW Canada Inc. developed and maintained a
TDG course specifically for this industry (TDG for HVAC /
Contractors)
On February 20, 2008,
Amendment 6 to the TDG Regulations was published in the
Canadian Gazette and thereby made the law. Amendment 6
provides an important ‘Exemption’ for this industry and
essentially allows most contractors to transport dangerous
goods without abiding to any portion of the TDG Regulations.
In particular, The “150 kg Gross Mass Exemption” allows
contractors to transport most Class 2 (Gases)
without abiding to the TDG regulations (See part
1.15 of the TDG Regulations). This applies so long
as each container of dangerous goods is less then 30kg
and the total "gross mass of dangerous goods" in the
vehicle is less then 150 kg. As a result, most
contractors are exempt from all aspects of “Training”,
“Documentation”, “Safety Marks” and “Means of Containment” in
relations to the TDG Regulations.
Please note
that contractors dealing with ANHYDROUS AMMONIA (UN1005)
can not use this exemption and are required
to abide fully with the TDG Regulations. Also, contractors
who are dealing with larger quantities of Class 2 (Gases)
should consult the regulations in order to verify that they
are transporting under the prescribed limits. For compressed
gases, the ‘gross mass’ of a dangerous good is defined in the
TDG Regulations as the mass of the cylinder containing the
dangerous goods and the contents (dangerous goods).
Consequently, YOW Canada has
taken it’s TDG for HVAC course ‘off line’ and will only
make the course available to individuals who either request
the course by phone or who still require the training due to
special circumstances. As usual, we continue to provide our
many other health and safety related courses, products and
services to our clientele.
If you have any questions or
concerns, you may call us toll free for assistance at
1.866.688.2845.
YOW Canada Inc.
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