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This lesson introduces the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Act and Regulations, why TDG training is required for anyone handling or transporting dangerous goods, and how the law is enforced. Learners will explore key parts of the regulations and schedules, the roles of the TDG Directorate, Compliance & Response Branch, and CANUTEC, as well as how Canada works with other countries to harmonize TDG standards.

Dangerous goods are transported across Canada every day by road, rail, water, and air. The TDG Act, first enacted in 1980 and later updated, along with its regulations, creates a legal framework that clearly defines the responsibilities of all parties involved—such as manufacturers, shippers, carriers, terminals, users, and government—to help minimize risks during transportation.

he TDG Act deals mainly with the broad requirements of the legislation, such as:

Governance

Enactment

Exceptions

Inspection

Enforcement

Offences

Penalties

This lesson explains how the TDG Act defines “dangerous goods” and the broad meaning of “transportation” in Canada. It highlights that all stages—handling, storage, packing, loading, unloading, and preparation of documents and safety marks—must comply with the TDG Act and Regulations. Participants learn the difference between handling standards and offering for transport standards, and how both help ensure safe movement of dangerous goods.

This lesson explains the role and powers of TDG inspectors. Learners see how inspectors examine dangerous goods, their packaging, and transport containers, and how they use their authority to ensure that all movements of dangerous goods comply with the TDG Act and Regulations to protect public safety.

This lesson outlines the legal consequences of violating the TDG Act. Learners discover the range of penalties— including fines, imprisonment, and additional court orders such as compensation, environmental repair, and contributions to safety research—highlighting how seriously non-compliance is treated.

In addition to fines, the Contraventions Act, which was amended in November 2007, allows offenders to receive:

This lesson introduces the Clear Language TDG Regulations and explains how they are organized into 16 Parts and 3 Schedules. Learners become familiar with the overall structure and titles of each Part, and understand that these Parts contain the practical regulatory requirements, along with helpful tools like tables of contents, explanations, and defined terms.

This lesson explains the purpose of Schedules 1, 2, and 3 in the TDG Regulations. Learners see how each Schedule supports the Parts by listing dangerous goods, special provisions, and shipping names, and how to use these Schedules together to identify the correct UN number and related requirements.

This lesson describes the role of Transport Canada and the TDG Directorate in managing the national TDG program. Learners discover how the Directorate develops regulations, supports industry and government, coordinates with other agencies, represents Canada internationally, and issues permits for approved exceptions to TDG requirements.

This lesson explains the role of the Compliance and Response Branch within the TDG Directorate. Learners see how this branch enforces TDG Regulations through inspections and investigations, coordinates inspection agencies across Canada, and offers guidance and information to industry and the public.

This lesson explains how the TDG Directorate collaborates with other federal safety and regulatory agencies. Learners see how specialized organizations—such as nuclear, environmental, explosives, and health authorities—support TDG by giving expert advice and taking part in inspections and accident response within their areas of responsibility.

This lesson introduces how dangerous goods are classified under Part 2 of the TDG Regulations. Learners explore the role of Schedules 1–3, classification numbers, packing groups, the consignor’s responsibility, the effect of transport mode on classification, how to handle classification errors, and the nine classes and symbols used for dangerous goods.

This lesson introduces Part 2 of the TDG Regulations, explaining how dangerous goods must be classified before they can be transported. Learners discover the nine classes (and divisions) of dangerous goods and the role of the three Classification Schedules in providing essential information for safe transport.

This lesson explains how Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 support the TDG classification system. Learners see how special provisions in Schedule 2 link back to Schedule 1, and how Schedule 3’s five-column index helps them look up shipping names, classes, UN numbers, and identify forbidden or unnumbered dangerous goods.

This lesson explains how primary and secondary hazard classes are shown for dangerous goods in Schedule 1. Learners see that when a product has multiple dangers, the most serious class is listed first and any additional hazards appear in brackets, as in the example of sulphur dioxide classified as Class 2.3 (8).

This lesson explains what packing groups are and how they show the level of danger within a TDG class. Learners are introduced to Packing Groups I, II, and III—great, moderate, and minor danger—and are directed to Part 2 of the TDG Regulations for the detailed criteria used to assign these groups.

This lesson explains the role and responsibilities of the consignor in the TDG system. Learners see how the consignor is responsible for classifying dangerous goods, preparing documents, applying safety marks, choosing proper containment, and ensuring correct classification for imports—while understanding that one person or company can be both consignor and carrier for the same shipment.

This lesson explains who is responsible for classifying dangerous goods and what information classification must include. Learners see that classification requires expert knowledge to correctly identify the shipping name, UN number, classes, packing group, and other details—especially for infectious substances, which must be assessed by qualified medical or scientific professionals.

This lesson explains when consignors can rely on existing dangerous goods classifications from previous consignors, manufacturers, or government authorities—and emphasizes their responsibility to verify and correct any classification they suspect may be wrong before using it.

This lesson explains how the correct classification and documentation of dangerous goods depends on the mode of transport. Learners see when to use the ICAO Technical Instructions, the IMDG Code, the UN Recommendations, and specific Parts of the TDG Regulations for road, rail, air, and marine shipments—including special rules for intermodal and cross-border movements.

This lesson explains the shared responsibility of consignors and carriers when classification or shipment details appear incorrect. Learners see that dangerous goods must not be accepted, moved, or continued in transport until any suspected errors in classification, documentation, labels, or placards have been verified and corrected.

This lesson explains what flash point is and why it matters for flammable liquids. Learners see how a lower flash point means a higher fire or explosion risk, and understand that flammable liquids are assigned to one of three packing groups based on their properties.

This lesson introduces Class 5 dangerous goods, focusing on Division 5.1 oxidizers and Division 5.2 organic peroxides. Learners understand how oxidizers can intensify fires and why organic peroxides are especially hazardous due to their potential for explosive decomposition, rapid burning, reactivity, and severe effects on human tissue and eyes.

Module 4 explains the safety marks required for dangerous goods, including labels, placards, signs, and certification marks. It also covers how to read these marks, where and how they must be displayed, and the responsibilities of consignors and carriers for keeping safety marks correct throughout transport.

Learning Objectives

By the end of Module 4, participants will be able to:

• Identify safety marks used for each class and division of dangerous goods, including the marine pollutant mark, elevated temperature sign, and fumigation sign.

• Interpret certification safety marks found on standardized means of containment.

• Explain the meaning of packaging type codes and construction codes.

• Apply the rules for safety mark visibility, legibility, and colour requirements.

• Describe the responsibilities of the consignor and the carrier related to safety marks.

• Explain when safety marks must be removed and when they must be replaced or updated.

This lesson explains TDG rules for dangerous goods safety marks, including when safety marks are mandatory, when ICAO/IMDG/49 CFR marks may be used, and how consignors and carriers share responsibility for providing, displaying, and maintaining correct markings. Learners also review the standards for visibility, durability, colour, and when safety marks must be removed or updated after hazards are eliminated or changed.

This lesson introduces how dangerous goods are packaged for transport using approved means of containment. Learners review how container standards are set and maintained, how certification safety marks prove compliance, how to distinguish small versus large containment, and how to correctly select and display labels and placards according to TDG requirements.

This lesson explains how TDG requires dangerous goods to be transported in a safe means of containment that meets adopted standards and prevents accidental release. Learners review how transport mode and destination can add packaging rules, why certification safety marks are required, how to distinguish small vs. large containment, how to select compatible containers, and how to recognize and apply labels and placards (including special rules for Class 7).

This lesson explains when labels are required on small means of containment and where they must be placed, including key exceptions and special rules for Class 7 and certain oxidizing gases. It also covers when placards and UN numbersare required on large means of containment, including mixed loads, ERAP-related subsidiary placards, special options for Class 1 explosives, Class 2 gases, oxidizing gases, anhydrous ammonia, and compartmentalized tanks.

This lesson introduces the TDG rules for shipping documents used in dangerous goods transport. Learners review what information a shipping document must include, how it is completed and transferred, when extra documents are needed, when a shipping document is not required, and where the document must be kept while goods are in transit.

This lesson explains why a shipping document is required for most dangerous goods shipments and how it must follow the shipment from consignor to carrier to destination. Learners also review when electronic documents are allowed, what counts as a shipping record, and the exact types of information that must appear on a compliant shipping document.

This lesson explains when shipping documents require extra details beyond the basic shipping description. Learners review added requirements for ERAP shipments, marine transport, temperature-controlled goods, and Class 7 radioactive materials, as well as special documentation rules for fumigated units, residue shipments, and quantity changes during transport.

This lesson explains how shipping document rules change by transport mode, including air requirements (red-hatched margins and ICAO compliance) and rail requirements (the consist). Learners also review when international shipments may use IMDG Code or 49 CFR, when TDG provides documentation exemptions, and the key documentation responsibilities of both consignors and carriers.

This lesson explains the TDG rules for where shipping documents must be kept during road, rail, and marine transport, and what to do when dangerous goods are left in supervised or unsupervised locations. Learners also review requirements for legibility and language, acceptable formatting when mixed with non-dangerous goods, CANUTEC approval for certain storage situations, and two-year record retention with a 15-day response requirement to inspectors.

This lesson introduces the TDG rules that provide restrictions and flexibility, including goods that cannot be transported, situations where requirements are reduced or removed, and special provisions that apply to specific dangerous goods. Learners also study the main Special Case exemptions used for smaller shipments.

This lesson explains how TDG identifies forbidden dangerous goods, how exemptions reduce or remove regulatory requirements, and how special provisions can add requirements or provide relief. Learners also explore “Special Cases” in Part 1 and understand the key conditions of the 150 kg gross mass exemption for domestic road, rail, and marine transport.

This lesson compares the 150 kg and 500 kg gross mass exemptions, explaining when each exemption can be used and when it cannot. Learners review the restricted dangerous goods that disqualify both exemptions, the special conditions for container limits and training, and the extra documentation and marking rules required for the 500 kg exemption.

This lesson explains how the Limited Quantities Exemption works under TDG. Learners review the key limits that qualify goods as limited quantities, the required package markings (wording or limited quantity diamond with UN number), how accumulations are treated, and when a shipping document is required once totals exceed 500 kg.

This lesson introduces practical TDG exemptions and special provisions used in real workplaces. Learners explore common exemption scenarios, special-case categories, and how TDG rules can be legally adjusted through permits or protective directions when safety is maintained.

This lesson explains several practical TDG exemptions found in Part 1, including transportation within a controlled facility, limited transport between two company properties, and exemptions for medical devices and samples. Learners also review exemptions for National Defence, agriculture, emergency response, and dangerous goods needed for operating a vehicle or ensuring onboard safety.

This lesson reviews important TDG “special case” exemptions, including dangerous goods contained in equipment, shipments on short-run ferries, and exemptions for certain explosives, gases, flammable liquids, and gasoline/diesel movements. Learners focus on when specific TDG Parts do not apply and the key conditions—such as quantity limits, labeling/placarding visibility, and safe containment—that must still be met.

This lesson explains several TDG exemptions commonly used in practice: exemptions for certain alcohol shipments, polyester resin kits, and reduced requirements for Category B infectious substances, biological products, and exempt human or animal specimens. Learners focus on the exact conditions—such as concentration limits, package sizes, markings, and packaging standards—needed to qualify for each exemption.

This lesson explains advanced TDG “special cases,” including exemptions for Class 7 excepted packages, residue drums, fumigated units, and selected miscellaneous special cases, plus conditions for fire extinguisher relief. Learners also explore how TDG requirements can be legally adjusted through permits and how safety risks can be controlled through protective directions and interim orders.

This lesson explains how TDG defines a release versus an anticipated release, and when each becomes reportable. Learners review the key quantity thresholds, the events that trigger an immediate telephone report, who must be notified (including CANUTEC and other agencies), and the essential information that must be included in an emergency report.

This lesson explains what must be reported during a release or anticipated release, what details are required in both the immediate telephone report and the 30-day written follow-up report, and how long records must be kept. It also introduces ERAPs—when they are required, what they include, how to apply, what must appear on the shipping document, and the responsibilities of consignors and workers.