Major Online Retailer Fined $350,000 for Hazmat Shipping Violations

Posted on 6/14/2016 by Roger Marks

or alleged violations of the US DOT’s Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) stemming from an improperly prepared package of drain cleaner offered for air transport from Kentucky to Colorado, a Washington-based online retailer will pay $350,000, according to an FAA press release.

The noncompliant hazmat/dangerous goods package was discovered when it caused a "burning sensation" for UPS employees who handled the package. In addition to not safely preparing the hazmat package for air transport, the shipper:

Did not mark and label the package to indicate the hazards present;
Failed to include a Shipper Declaration of Dangerous Goods (required for all hazmat air shipments); and
Did not provide required hazmat training for employees who handled the package at the shipper’s facility, according to the FAA.

US DOT requires all “hazmat employees” to complete hazmat shipper training once every three years, as per 49 CFR 172.704. To ship hazmat by air, shippers should complete additional training on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations, or DGR for short. IATA requires hazmat training for air shippers once every 24 months.
Loading hazmat onto plane at airport

This is not the first time this giant online retailer has been caught violating US and international hazardous materials shipping rules. In fact, this is at least the 25^th time the retailer has been found to have violated the HMR since 2013, according to FAA officials.

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