Supply Chain Analysis of Class 6.2 Infectious Substances and Dangerous Goods Associated with the Handling and Treatment of COVID-19 in Canada.

The Transportation of Dangerous Goods Directorate (TDG), based on risks, develops safety regulations and standards, conducts oversight and provides expert advice on dangerous goods incidents to promote public safety in the transportation of dangerous goods by all modes of transport in Canada.

Class 6.2 Infectious substances are a division of dangerous goods under Class 6 – Toxic and Infectious substances. Infectious substances are defined as substances known or reasonably believed to contain viable micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, parasites, fungi and other agents such as prions that are known or reasonably believed to cause disease in humans or animals^[1]. Class 6.2 is further divided in Category A and Category B. Category A infectious substances include those which upon exposure could lead to permanent disability or death, while Category B infectious substances are less hazardous. Dangerous goods classified as Class 6.2 Infectious substances can include blood samples, tissue samples, organs, body fluids, or cultures that contain pathogenic microorganisms. Commonly transported Class 6.2 dangerous goods are biological substances, patient specimens, samples of cultures transported for the purposes of research, and medical and clinical wastes.

In 2020, the world changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This affected every aspect of our lives, including the way we handle, offer for transport and transport dangerous goods. The coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) which causes COVID-19 is classified as a Class 6.2 dangerous good. Cultures of COVID-19 are transported as Category A, and patient specimens such as nasal swabs from suspected COVID-19 individuals are transported as Category B. Therefore; it is important that we as the TDG program expand our knowledge base regarding the transportation of Class 6.2 dangerous goods and the other dangerous goods that surround or support these supply chains.

A geographic information systems (GIS) analysis from a safety perspective of Class 6.2 infectious substances and of the dangerous goods associated with the handling and treatment of COVID-19 will provide an overview of the handling, offering for transport, transport and import of these dangerous goods within Canada, their respective modes of transport and routing, as well as identification of facilities involved in these supply chains.

[1] https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2001-286/page-14.html#h-1228505