NEW – Federal: Proposed amendments to the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations
While most stakeholders meet or exceed the current training requirements of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDGR), Transport Canada inspectors have identified that some employees lack the knowledge and skills required to conduct their dangerous goods tasks despite possessing a valid training certificate.
In response, TC has proposed amendments to the TDGR in the Canada Gazette, Part One on Dec. 11, 2021. It is allowing for a 60-day period for public commentary.
The TDGR require any person who handles, offers for transport, or transports dangerous goods, to be “adequately trained” in their dangerous goods tasks and receive a certificate of training.
The proposed amendments to the TDGR would remove the term “adequately trained”, incorporate by reference a new training standard developed under the Canadian General Standards Board and specify that to be considered competent to handle, offer for transport or transport dangerous goods, a person must receive both general awareness and function-specific training and assessment.
TC says the proposed amendments would also provide greater clarity and certainty to employers, ensure more consistent training and certification, and allow inspectors to objectively assess if persons have been trained and are competent for their dangerous goods tasks.
Inconsistent or poor training of persons who handle, offer for transport or transport dangerous goods can result in improper handling and transporting of dangerous goods that could endanger public safety, says TC. The TDG monitoring program revealed that, of the 409 dangerous goods incidents resulting in injury or death reported between 2014 and 2019, approximately 55 were attributed to improper or insufficient training. Extensive consultations with industry indicated that there is confusion among some stakeholders regarding what “adequately trained” means and what type of training their employees need.
Propane Training Institute 100-03 course meets the current standard, but once these TC amendments are published, PTI will update its training processes to meet the new requirements.
For more details, click here.
