The Risk with Dangerous Goods
There is a lot of risk involved with transporting dangerous goods – not just for the transporter but also the public. Injury and damages can result from mishandling of dangerous goods. Because of this, dangerous goods are considered controlled substances, meaning the government regulates handling and transporting them strictly. There are several legislations that cover the transportation of dangerous goods (TDG). Specifically, the federal legislation Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations published in 2002 was drafted to promote public safety.
TDG Training
To reduce this risk in occupations that handle dangerous goods, the TDG regulations require all businesses to train its staff in TDG. Certain staff members have to to take formal training and become certified. Red Deer First Aid is a top provider of TDG training, available as a classroom and online course. There are nine units or modules in a TDG program.
The classroom TDG course has nine units and runs for four hours. It costs 49.99 dollars. Online training has nine modules and runs for three hours (shorter by an hour). This costs cheaper as well, 29.99 dollars.
A TDG course focuses on the basics of transporting dangerous goods, specifically labeling, data sheets, emergency measures, and in-house training.
Note: If you plan on taking the online TDG course, take note that you cannot proceed to succeeding modules unless you pass the test given at the end of each one.
Training Credentials
Unlike certificates for first aid and CPR training, TDG credentials do not expire. Students don’t have to retake the program or enroll in a TDG refresher class to keep their credentials valid. We do encourage all our certified trainees to sign up for an update every few years – this, of course, is not required.
We award students temporary certificates immediately after they complete and pass the final certification exam. Permanent credentials are send via mail within the week. We keep a record of your scores if ever you would need another copy of your certificate.
Training focus: Safety Marks
One of the benchmark concepts in TDG training is safety marks. A safety mark is the responsibility of the supplier, or the source of the dangerous goods. The mark is a label placed on the container, containing several key pieces of information:
- Date
- Name and address of consignor
- Description (in order) – shipping name, technical name, “not odorized”, classification, compatibility group, subsidiary classification, UN number, packing group (N/A for gases)
- Quantity (SI units)
- Number of container
- “24-hour number” plus 24-hour contact number
- Emergency Response Assistance Plan (ERAP)
- Control and emergency temperatures
If the container is small (less than 450 liters), the safety mark can simply contain the shipping name, technical name (if any), and the UN number. Reducing the label is acceptable up to 30 mm on each side. In this situation, affixing a tag to the container is a must.
You can sign up for TDG training below, with the online form. Our office hours are from 8 AM to 5 PM – you can enroll in person by then.