CANUTEC
(613) 996-6666 or *666
Canadian Transport Emergency Centre
Transport Canada
Since 1979
MISSISSAUGA TRAIN DERAILMENT, NOV. 10, 1979
• 250 000 people evacuated
• Full tank car losses of Chlorine and LPG
• CANUTEC had begun operations on
July 3rd 1979 just 4 months prior to the
Mississauga derailment
CANUTEC ADVISORS
• Scientists with chemistry, biochemistry,
chemical engineering backgrounds
• Operates 24 hours / 7days per week
• Training / continuous learning is essential
• Bilingual (English and French)
CANUTEC DESCRIPTION
Government of Canada
Transport Canada
Safety / Security
Transport of Dangerous Goods Directorate
CANUTEC
• CANUTEC also offers a 24-hour
emergency telephone service. Shippers
who wish to use CANUTEC's
emergency telephone number on their
dangerous goods shipping documents,
must first register with CANUTEC at
(613) 992-4624. In Canada, registration
with CANUTEC is free of charge.
CANUTEC & TDG REGULATIONS
• Under Parts 3.5 (1) (f) and 3.5 (2) of the TDG Clear Language
Regulations, shipping documents must show the following
information:
(f) the words “24-Hour Number” or " Numéro 24 heures " or an
abbreviation of these words, followed by a telephone number,
including the area code, at which the shipper can be reached
immediately for technical information about the dangerous
goods in transport, without breaking the telephone connection
made by the caller
• CANUTEC’s number may be used for this purpose, however,
the shipper must receive permission, in writing, from
CANUTEC
CANUTEC & TDG REGULATIONS
• Under Part 8.1 (5) of the TDG Clear Language Regulations,
CANUTEC has to be notified in case of accidental or
imminent accidental release of dangerous goods for the
following situations:
•
•
•
•
•
For a railway vehicle
For a ship
For an aircraft, an aerodrome or an air cargo facility
For Class 6.2, Infectious Substances
For an accidental release from a cylinder that has suffered
a catastrophic failure
OUR CLIENTS
Poison
Control
Centres
Hospitals
Carriers
Post Offices and
Courier Services
Manufacturers
Anyone
needing
help
Emergency Services
TRAINING
CANUTEC
TOTAL NUMBER OF CALLS PER YEAR
35000
33591
31808
32183
31209
30127
30000
26366
25934
26005
24582
25000
20000
17811
15000
10000
7852
4000
5000
2000
3000
600
0
1979
1981
1983
1985
1987
1990
1994
1997
2000
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
TOTAL NUMBER OF EMERGENCIES PER YEAR
1200
1065
997
1000
1007
1004
954
921
938
941
884
879
863
853
827
851
800
720
600
400
200
0
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
SERVICES & INFORMATION PROVIDED BY CANUTEC
Toxicity &
first aid
Response & disposal
Technical information,
properties, behavior and
incompatibilities
Regulations
Commercial
products
information
Selection of personal
protective equipment Communication centre
ESSENTIAL CONTACTS DATABASE
• Manufacturers
• HazMat Emergency Responders
• Emergency Services (Fire Departments,
Police Services, etc…)
• Radioactive materials Emergency
Responders
ESSENTIAL CONTACTS DATABASE
• Hospitals and Poison Control Centers
• Federal / Provincial / Municipal
Government
• International Emergency Responders
(CHEMTREC)
INDUSTRY MUTUAL AID RESPONSE GROUPS
CHLOREP:
The Chlorine Emergency Response
Program
LPGERC:
Liquefied Propane Gas Emergency
Response Corporation
CERCA/CHEMNET:
Network of private emergency
response contractors
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS)
• CANUTEC manages close to 1.9 million MSDS in
paper and electronic format
• Several thousands are received every month
• Relied upon by emergency responders for health and
safety information
• MSDS information is specifically critical for nontransport related incidents
• Information described and transmitted to emergency
response scene
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
PROPERTIES OF SUBSTANCES
• Solid substances:
- Low mobility
- May generate dusts that could be toxic, corrosive or
even explosive
• Liquid substances:
- Good mobility depending on the viscosity and also gravity
- Density, solubility, toxicity and flammability are to be
considered
• Gaseous substances:
- Excellent mobility
- Vapour density, toxicity and flammability are to be
considered
USEFUL TOOLS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE
• Benzene vapour pressure is 79.38 mm of mercury at 21ºC
• The concentration in air will be as follows:
(79.38 mm Hg / 760 mmHg) X 100 = 10.4%
• LEL is 1.3 % and UEL is 7.9%
• The level at the source is above the UEL but in the surrounding area, due
to dispersion, you will be between LEL and UEL.
• Vapour density is 2.7, vapours will remain close to the ground.
• 10.4%, is equal to 104 000 ppm directly at the source: you are way above
the IDLH, which is 500 ppm.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROCEDURES
• Approach cautiously from upwind
• Isolate area and assure the safety of
people and the environment
• Identify the hazards: placards, container
labels, shipping documents, MSDS, rail
car and road trailer identification
charts…
• Assess the situation
• Obtain help
• Decide on site entry
• Respond
 How do you respond?
Do you try to
extinguish the fire or just let it burn?
 Using water to extinguish may not be
recommended since the trailer could contain
calcium carbide which, upon contact with
water, will generate flammable acetylene gas …
which may result in an explosion.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK - ERG2008
•
The Emergency Response Guidebook
2008 (ERG2008) is primarily a guide
to aid first responders in quickly
identifying the specific, or generic,
hazards of the material(s) involved in
an incident and protecting themselves
and the general public during the
initial response phase of the incident.
•
It is published every 4 years. The next
edition will be in 2012.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUIDEBOOK - ERG2008
The ERG2008 is also available
•
-Online
•
-As a free downloadable version
(ERGO) (English, French and
Spanish)
•
-In PDF format
•
-In various software configurations
for desktop computers and PDAs such
as the Palm handheld computer and
Pocket PC (Windows CE)
HOW TO CONTACT CANUTEC
In case of emergency dial (613) 996-6666 (call
collect) or * 666 on a cellular phone, 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week.
In non-emergency situation, please call the
information line at
also
(613) 992-4624
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
ELECTRONIC HIGHWAY
E-MAIL ADDRESS: CANUTEC
WEB SITE:
TC.GC.CA
http : // WWW.CANUTEC.GC.CA
Here are a few examples of what can be found on
CANUTEC’s Web page :
CANUTEC brochure,
registration information, statistics, ERG2008, articles
written by advisors, chemical spill related links on the
Internet, readers’ comment section, etc.