Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) - Reporting Requirements

Depending on the type of incident and mode of transportation, certain TDG reports are required, including:

• For a release or anticipated release of dangerous goods:
• Emergency report when there is a release or anticipated release
• Release or anticipated release report, and
• A Release or anticipated release 30-day follow-up report
• A “Loss or theft report” for lost or stolen dangerous goods.
• An “Unlawful interference report” for illegal or unauthorized interference with the dangerous goods.

Air transportation also requires an undeclared or mis declared dangerous goods report. 

This OSH Answers document will focus mainly on reporting requirements for road transportation.

Note: The information below is provided as guidance only. Always check with Transport Canada and the the TDG Act and Regulations to ensure compliance. Transport Canada has issued a guide titled “Guide for reporting dangerous goods incidents.

Please also see the following documents in this series:

• TDG - Overview 
• TDG - Training
• TDG - Classification
• TDG – Nine Classes
• TDG – "Special Case” and “Special Provision” Exemptions
• TDG – Emergency Response

A “release” of dangerous goods is defined in the TDG Act as:

"(a) a discharge, emission, explosion, outgassing or other escape of dangerous goods, or any component or compound evolving from dangerous goods, from a means of containment being used to handle or transport the dangerous goods, or

(b)an emission, from a means of containment being used to handle or transport dangerous goods, of ionizing radiation that exceeds a level or limit established under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act;”

For example, the following incidents would meet the definition for a release:

• A tank is punctured in an accident and gasoline drizzles out.
• A test tube containing infectious material falls to the ground and breaks during preparation for transport.
• A pallet of damaged lithium batteries releases hydrogen and catches fire.
• Gases endanger public safety while venting the container.

Unlawful interference is not directly defined in the TDG Act or Regulations. However, dictionaries define “unlawful” as illegal or not morally right or conventional.  Examples of interferences with dangerous goods  that may be considered unlawful include:

• The dangerous good in a container do not match the safety marks displayed on it. For example, filling propane cylinders with ammonia which is used to make illegal drugs. In this situation, the cylinder will bear safety marks for propane instead for ammonia.
• A means of containment that is purposely vandalized, damaged, or altered (e.g., a cylinder valve that is purposely damaged or altered, a tank is broken on purpose, etc.)
• Shipping document information that is purposely altered.

The person in charge (e.g., driver, consigner/shipper, etc. ) of the dangerous goods at the time of the incident is responsible to report a dangerous occurrence as defined in Part 8 , section 8.1 of the TDG Regulations.

A release or anticipated release must be reported to the authorities when:

• the dangerous goods are, or could be, in excess of the quantity set out in in Section 8.2 in the TDG Regulations (which is reproduced below in Table 1), and
• if it could endanger public safety.

Table 1: Reporting requirements: Quantity of dangerous goods release and anticipated release [TDG Regulations, S. 8.2]

A verbal emergency report must be made to any local authority that is responsible for responding to emergencies at the location of the release or anticipated release. Generally, local authorities can be reached by calling 911. See Table 2 for contact information.

In addition to notifying the local authorities, the following other authorities may need to be notified:

• Provincial dangerous goods authorities
• Provincial environmental authorities (e.g., spill centers)

Table 2: Contact information for reporting dangerous goods incidents during road transportation

The details required in each report are outlined in Section 8 of the TDG Regulations.  Specifically:

• Section 8.3 - Emergency Report — Road, Rail or Marine
• Section 8.4 - Release or Anticipated Release Report — Road, Rail or Marine
• Section 8.5 - Information to be Included in a Release or Anticipated Release Report — Road, Rail or Marine
• Section 8.7 - Information to be Included in a 30-Day Follow-up Report
• Section 8.9 - Dangerous Goods Accident or Incident Report — Air
• Section 8.10 - Information to be Included in a Dangerous Goods Accident or Incident Report — Air
• Section 8.12 - Information to be Included in a 30-Day Follow-up Report (Air)
• Section 8.15 - Undeclared or Misdeclared Dangerous Goods Report (Air)
• Section 8.15.2 - Information to be Included in a Dangerous Goods Occurrence Report (ICAO) (Air)
• Section 8.17 - Loss or Theft Report
• Section 8.19 - Unlawful interference report: TDG Regulations
• Section 8.23 - Information to be Included in an ERAP Implementation Report

These reporting requirements are listed in Table 3.

Table 3: TDG Reporting Requirements

Adapted from Alberta EDGE (Environmental and Dangerous Goods Emergencies, Government of Alberta, (2021).  Reporting Requirements.

A 30-day follow-up report is required when a release or anticipated release report was filed. A 30-day follow-up report is needed when the person who has the charge, management, or control of a means of containment:

• Has had to make a Release or Anticipated Release Report – Road, Rail or Marine by telephone
• Has had to make a Dangerous Goods Accident or Incident Report – Air
• When the person who made the 30-Day Follow-up Report must make an addition or amendment to a 30-day Follow-up Report.

A 30-day follow-up report form is available from Transport Canada.

Transportation of Dangerous Goods Directorate, Transport Canada
 Place de Ville, Tower C, 9th Floor
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0N5
e-mail: dor-rcd@tc.gc.ca