Blog Post
The use of a 24-hour emergency telephone numbers on the safety data sheet
The emergency telephone number listed is a telephone number that will enable a caller to directly obtain information about the hazardous product. Providing a functional emergency telephone number is a requirement of the Hazardous Products Regulations. Any restriction on the use of the number must also be disclosed (i.e. available only during office hours, or language spoken at the telephone number is neither English or French, etc.).
There is much confusion surrounding the use of Transport Canada’s CANUTEC 24-hour emergency telephone number on Part/Item 1 of the safety data sheet. Many suppliers of hazardous products use the CANUTEC number thinking that this will be helpful for workers or medical staff treating workers exposed to hazardous products.
What is CANUTEC? CANUTEC is the Canadian Transport Emergency Centre operated by the Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) Directorate of Transport Canada. The Directorate’s overall mandate is to promote public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods by all modes. CANUTEC was established in 1979 and is one of the major safety programs Transport Canada delivers to promote the safe movement of people and goods throughout Canada.
The centre also offers a free 24-hour emergency telephone service for Canadian consignors who wish to use CANUTEC’s 24-hour number (1-888-CAN-UTEC (226-8832) or 613-996-6666) on their dangerous goods shipping documents. A consignor must first register with CANUTEC and submit pertinent contacts and Safety Data Sheets before receiving authorization to use CANUTEC’s number.
CANUTEC deals with approximately 1,000 emergency situations yearly and handles over 25,000 telephone calls per year.
Adding confusion to the use of CANUTEC is comparable services offered in the United States from CHEMTREC who can provide advice for both transport incidents involving dangerous goods and workplace exposure from hazardous products. Note the distinction in the descriptors. Dangerous goods are transported while hazardous products are used in the workplace. The classification criteria for both can be significantly different. Think “single massive exposure” during a transport incident versus “acute (now) and chronic (later) workplace exposure”. Huge difference.
Health Canada will soon issue guidance on the use of specific information elements for emergency telephone numbers that will include a statement that the CANUTEC telephone number is not an acceptable emergency telephone number under the Hazardous Products Regulations.
So what to do? The simplest instruction is to have workers with exposure concerns contact the local poison control centre or their doctor – and don’t forget to bring along the safety data sheets for the hazardous products that they have been exposed to or are concerned about.
Properly trained and equipped workers who read the safety data sheet before using a hazardous product should not need to contact a poison control centre due to an exposure issue if they follow the safe handling, use and disposal instructions provided on the safety data sheet.
Safety First!
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