Section 1.15 of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods has become the 150 kg Gross Mass Exemption as a result of Amendment 6. This exemption provides relief from the following sections:

• documentation
• dangerous goods safety marks
• means of containment
• training, and
• immediate reporting

The conditions to be met are: the individual package cannot exceed 30 kg gross mass and the shipment cannot exceed 150 kg gross mass. There are some restrictions that are similar to section 1.16 500 kg Gross Mass Exemption.

Although this exemption is for ground or a ship on a domestic voyage, it appears some shippers are trying to use this exemption to ship by air. In addition, some carriers are finding that shippers are utilizing this exemption and this is causing some serious concerns for carriers as there are no dangerous goods safety marks on the packages. The 500 kg exemption still requires the application of the shipping name, hazard label(s) and UN number. This provides for identification of the hazard(s) in the package. Under 1.15 nothing is required to be marked on the package. If a package is found to be leaking on the carrier’s vehicle – what is the hazard?

Transport Canada recognizes that there is a problem with this section and will issue an amendment that will limit the transport of the dangerous goods to the purchaser or user of the dangerous goods.