Hello everyone. I’m back with the subject of TDG training. In case you missed the first two parts of this series, please click here for part 1 and click here for part 2. In part two of this series, we made it clear who has responsibility for a list of the most important elements. We used the sections of the Canadian TDG Regulations for each part stating the implications of the various stakeholders.
Now, in order to fully understand what TDG requires as training, we will discuss what is the normal duration for a TDG training that would provide you with adequate skills and especially training applicable to your responsibilities.
It should be noted that the primary purpose of Part 6 of the TDG (article 6.2) is to ensure that the person has a solid knowledge of all of the topics listed in paragraphs (a) to (m) that relate directly to the person’s duties and to the dangerous goods the person is expected to handle, offer for transport or transport.
It is important to clarify here that Transport Canada does not define clearly or exactly what training should contain. TDG leaves much room for the interpretation of what constitutes appropriate training, and it remains the responsibility of the company to establish this.
For this reason, we will be discussing a training standard in the industry and it is equally important to believe that if a training facility declares that it is certified by the government or any other departmental entity that this is completely false. There are no such certifications delivered in relation to TDG training in Canada. And it is obvious that if this certification existed, we would have already joined!
Let’s start by asking questions to define the appropriate and applicable training by using scenarios.
Scenario 1 – YOU DO SHIPMENTS BY GROUND (RAIL AND ROAD) IN CANADA ONLY?
Mandatory TDG regulations training
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) and one or more people with the skills to transport (where applicable).
- TDG Training Consignor initial – 2 days
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG training Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG Training Carrier initial / recurrent – 4 hours
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG Training Handler initial / recurrent – 4 hours
Certificate validity 36 months
Scenario 2 – YOU DO SHIPMENTS BY GROUND (RAIL AND ROAD) AND MARITIME IN CANADA ONLY?
Mandatory TDG regulations training
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them).
- TDG Training Consignor initial – 2 days
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG training Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG Training Handler initial / recurrent – 4 hours
Certificate validity 36 months
Scenario 3 – YOU DO SHIPMENTS BY GROUND (RAIL AND ROAD) AND AIR IN CANADA ONLY?
Mandatory TDG regulations training
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) and one or more people with the skills to transport (where applicable).
- TDG Training Consignor initial – 2 days
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG training Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG Training Handler initial / recurrent – 4 hours
Certificate validity 36 months
Additional Training on ICAO Technical Instructions (may use DGR from IATA Manual) and Part 12 of Canadian TDG Regulations
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) for shipments by air.
- AIR Cinsignor initial – 3 days
Certificate validity 24 months - AIR Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 24 months - AIR Handler initial / recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 24 months
Scenario 4 – YOU DO SHIPMENTS BY AIR TO USA AND INTERNATIONAL ONLY?
Mandatory TDG regulations training
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) and one or more people with the skills to transport (where applicable).
- TDG Training Consignor initial – 2 days
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG training Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG Training Handler initial / recurrent – 4 hours
Certificate validity 36 months
Additional training on ICAO Technical Instructions (may use DGR from IATA Manual) and Part 12 of Canadian TDG Regulations
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) for shipments by air.
- AIR Cinsignor initial – 3 days
Certificate validity 24 months - AIR Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 24 months - AIR Handler initial / recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 24 months
Scenario 5 – YOU DO SHIPMENTS BY MARITIME TO USA AND INTERNATIONAL ONLY?
Mandatory TDG regulations training
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) and one or more people with the skills to transport (where applicable).
- TDG Training Consignor initial – 2 days
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG training Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG Training Handler initial / recurrent – 4 hours
Certificate validity 36 months
Additional training on the IMDG Code from IMO
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) for shipments by maritime.
- MARITIME Training Consignor initial – 2 days
Certificate validity 36 months - MARITIME Training Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months - MARITIME Training Handler initial / recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months
Scenario 6 – YOU DO SHIPMENTS BY GROUND, MARITIME, AND AIR CANADA, USA AND INTERNATIONAL?
Mandatory TDG regulations training
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) and one or more people with the skills to transport (where applicable).
- TDG Training Consignor initial – 2 days
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG training Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months - TDG Training Handler initial / recurrent – 4 hours
Certificate validity 36 months
Additional training on ICAO Technical Instructions (may use DGR from IATA Manual) and Part 12 of Canadian TDG Regulations
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) for shipments by air.
- AIR Cinsignor initial – 3 days
Certificate validity 24 months - AIR Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 24 months - AIR Handler initial / recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 24 months
Additional training on the IMDG Code from IMO
A company must have at least one person with the skills of an in-house consignor to meet the responsibilities of a consignor, one or more people with the skills of a handler (person who prepares shipments or receives them) for shipments by maritime.
- MARITIME Training Consignor initial – 2 days
Certificate validity 36 months - MARITIME Training Consignor recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months - MARITIME Training Handler initial / recurrent – 1 day
Certificate validity 36 months
NB: It should be noted that each training program offered may be adapted to the specific needs of your company, both in terms of content and duration of training. We will be able to establish this once we have discussed with the person in charge. We always take the context of your business into consideration before making an offer.
In conclusion, as you can see, the Canadian TDG regulations are still mandatory regardless of the scenario of your situation and additional training is required depending on the mode of transportation and destination of your shipments.
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