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8. WHMIS and the Transportation of Dangerous Goods: A Comparison

WHMIS and TDG Classification Systems

The classification of products under WHMIS and TDG is similar but not identical. WHMIS has 6 Classes, designated A to F and TDG has 9 Classes, designated 1 to 9. WHMIS Classes A to E have comparable Classes in TDG, but Class F has no equivalent in TDG. On the other hand, TDG has 2 Classes that have no equivalent in WHMIS, namely, Class 1, Explosives and Class 7, Radioactive Materials. An overview of the classes used in the two systems is shown in Table 1.

Table 1. An Overview of the Classes used in the WHMIS and TDG Systems
Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG)
Class A Compressed Gases

Class 1 Explosives


Divisions 1-5 differentiated on the basis of hazard

Class 2 Compressed Gases

Division 1: Flammable Gases
Division 2: Non-flammable, Non-toxic, Non-corrosive Gases
Division 3: Poisonous Gases
Division 4: Corrosive Gases

Class B Flammable and Combustible Material


Division 1: Flammable Gases
Division 2: Flammable Liquids
Division 3: Combustible Liquids
Division 4: Flammable Solids
Division 5: Flammable Aerosols
Division 6: Reactive Flammable Materials

Class 3 Flammable Liquids


Divisions 1-3 differentiated on the basis of flashpoint and form of transport

Class 4 Flammable Solids, Spontaneously Combustible, Dangerous When Wet


Division 1: Flammable Solids
Division 2: Substances Liable to Spontaneous Combustion
Division 3: Substances Which Emit Flammable Gases on Contact with Water
Class C Oxidizing Material

Class 5 Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides

Division 1: Oxidizing Substances
Division 2: Organic Peroxides

Class D Poisonous and Infectious Material


Division 1: Materials Causing Immediate and Serious Toxic Effect
Division 2: Materials Causing Other Toxic Effects
Division 3: Biohazardous Infectious Material

Class 6 Poisonous and Infectious Substances


Division 1: Poisonous Substances
Division 2: Infectious Substances

Class 7 Radioactive Materials
Class E Corrosive Material Class 8 Corrosives
Class F Dangerously Reactive Material

Class 9 Miscellaneous Products or Substances


Division 1: Miscellaneous Dangerous Goods
Division 2: Environmentally Hazardous Substances
Division 3: Dangerous Wastes

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