The safety of Canadians is Transport Canada’s top priority.
In Canada, the transportation of dangerous goods is strictly regulated under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1992. Dangerous goods must be properly classified and transported in the proper means of containment manufactured to a Transport Canada approved standard. Transport Canada verifies compliance through inspections. Transport companies are inspected regularly. Additional requirements include: proper documentation, safety marks, reporting and training.
Railcars, as well as road vehicles, are all required to display placards identifying the dangerous goods being transported. Placards clearly identify the specific product identification number and class of dangerous goods, which provides immediate hazard identification in the event of an accident or incident. It is the responsibility of the shipper to properly classify and label dangerous goods being transported. Transport Canada verifies compliance through regular inspections.
Companies are also required to share information with Transport Canada (for example – a rail shipping document) immediately following an incident.
Transport Canada operates the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre (CANUTEC) to assist emergency response personnel in handling dangerous goods emergencies. CANUTEC is staffed by bilingual professional scientists specialized in emergency response and experienced in interpreting technical information and providing advice to first responders. This advice includes plume (air emission) analysis, evacuation and protective distances for public and first responders, personal protective equipment for fire fighters, risk of BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) and preventive measures, detection methods for volatile organic compounds and exposure limits to those, fire suppression recommendation, and physical and chemical properties of a dangerous good.
Municipalities can ask rail companies for information regarding the types of dangerous goods materials that are being transported. Moreover, Industry Associations have in place programs that work with communities regarding the products being manufactured and transported through a community. One example of such a program is the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada’s Responsible Care program. For more information on Responsible Care please contact the CIAC at 613-237-6215.
Transport Canada also supports first responders and municipalities by distributing, free of charge, an Emergency Response Guidebook to first responders, 911 centres and other dangerous goods professionals. The department provides a Guidebook to each first responder vehicle (police, fire and ambulance) in Canada. This comprehensive guide, developed by Transport Canada in partnership with the United States and Mexico, enables first responders to quickly identify the specific or generic hazards of the material(s) involved in an incident. It provides recommended evacuation distances, describes potential hazards of a dangerous good, and supplies safety information on first aid, recommended protective clothing, respiratory equipment and evacuation distances.
Following the tragic accident in Lac-Mégantic, Transport Canada has been examining any other means of improving rail safety and the safe transportation of dangerous goods.
Transport Canada recognizes the responsibilities of all parties involved in maintaining safe transportation in Canada, including provinces, territories, municipalities and industry. We continue to engage in two-way dialogue and information exchange with key transportation stakeholders in communities across Canada. We welcome input from municipal leaders in this process and have demonstrated this with the issuance of a protective direction [link to PD on TC website] requiring any person who transports dangerous goods by railway vehicle to share information with municipalities.
Effective immediately, Transport Canada requires that:
- Any Canadian Class 1 railway company(classified based on an operating revenue exceeding $250 million for each of the previous two years) that transports dangerous goods must provide municipalities with yearly aggregate information, presented by quarter, on the nature and volume of dangerous goods the company transports by rail through that municipality; and
- Any person who transports dangerous goods by rail, who is not a Canadian Class 1 railway company, must provide municipalities with yearly aggregate information on the nature and volume of dangerous goods transported through that municipality and notify municipalities of any significant changes to that information, as soon as possible.
These measures further support emergency planners and first responders with their emergency planning and response training.
The protective direction remains in effect for three years, or until cancelled by the Minister or her designate, in order to allow the department sufficient time to develop appropriate permanent regulations.
November 2013
