Canada Road & Rail Transport - Classification

Many different substances, products, and organisms have been determined to be dangerous to transport. To ensure that all of these substances are transported safely worldwide, the United Nations began in 1992 to create an internationally recognized list called the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS). In the GHS, substances are assigned a four-digit UN number and a proper shipping name. These designations aid in the identification of a dangerous good throughout its transport and handling, and are used in TDG Schedule 1.

Dangerous goods are categorized by the main threat they present. A dangerous good is placed into one of nine different hazard classes, as follows:

• Class 1 - Explosives
• Class 2 - Gases, including compressed, deeply refrigerated, liquefied, or dissolved under pressure
• Class 3 - Flammable liquids
• Class 4 - Flammable solids, substances liable to spontaneous combustion, and substances that emit flammable gases on contact with water
• Class 5 - Oxidizing substances and organic peroxides
• Class 6 - Toxic and infectious substances
• Class 7 - Radioactive material and substances within the meaning of the Atomic Energy Control Act
• Class 8 - Corrosives
• Class 9 - Miscellaneous products, substances, or organisms considered by the Governor-in-Council to be dangerous to life, health, property, or the environment when handled, offered for transport, or transported

To learn more about Transporting Dangerous Goods in Canada visit our Transporting Dangerous Good by Road & Rail Online Training web page.