Canada Road & Rail Transport - Understanding Dangerous Goods

Many substances that are transported by road or rail are harmless. A number of substances can be dangerous, however, and must be transported in a way that ensures that they will not cause harm. These substances may be solid, liquid, and gaseous, and may be in the form of materials, products, or organisms.

As defined by the TDG Act, a "dangerous good" is a product, substance, or organism that has been included in Schedule 1 of the Act. A given item may be listed in Schedule 1 because it is dangerous by nature (for example, substances that can ignite spontaneously), or it may be listed because it has been deemed dangerous by regulators (for example, lithium ion batteries). Many listed items are clearly dangerous and their danger is well-known. However, some items are not so clearly dangerous, and people may not realize that they present a hazard. Either way, if an item is on the Schedule 1 list, it qualifies as a dangerous good and is subject to the TDG Regulations.

If the word "Forbidden" appears in the class column of Schedule 1, the dangerous good must not be transported. In addition, TDG Schedule 3 lists substances without UN numbers but are also forbidden for transport.

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