Search

FAA Raises Hazmat Air Shipping Civil Penalties

Posted on 4/10/2017 by Roger Marks

For hazmat or dangerous goods air shippers, mistakes just got more expensive.

US FAA published a Final Rule in the Federal Register this week to raise the civil penalties for violations of FAA rules and the US DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). The Federal Rail Administration published its own updates to the civil penalties for hazmat rail shippers. Because these adjustments are carried out using a very specific formula, the new civil penalty amounts are identical across all modes of transport (once adjusted by the controlling Federal agency).

We expect that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will follow suit soon and raise its civil penalties for hazmat highway shipping violations. 

For hazmat air and hazmat rail violations, the adjusted civil penalties are as follows:
 

DOT Hazmat Training Violations for Air Shippers ($8 increase)

For hazmat training violations, the penalty is up $8, from $463 per day, per employee to $471 per day, per employee. An $8 increase may seem insignificant, but the “per day” and “per employee” multipliers can add up fast, especially in industries with high-turnover or at facilities where employees often take on new hazmat job responsibilities.

Questions about who needs hazmat training to prepare air shipments? Watch the explainer video here.

US DOT requires all hazmat employees to complete training once every 3 years. [49 CFR 172.704] For employees involved in preparing air shipments, the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) requires training once every 24 months. [IATA DGR 1.5]

Hazmat employees must receive general awareness, security awareness, and function-specific hazmat training. Some employees may also need hazmat safety training or training on their workplace’s hazmat security plan, when applicable to the employee’s job functions. 
 

Maximum Hazmat Air Shipper Civil Penalty ($1,262 increase)

For non-training hazmat violations, FAA raised its maximum civil penalty from $77,114 per day, per violation to $78,376 per day, per violation.
 

Aggravated Maximum Hazardous Materials Civil Penalty ($2,994 increase)

For “aggravated” hazmat violations—those that result in death, serious illness, severe injury or substantial destruction of property—FAA raised the civil penalty from $179,933 to $182,877 per day, per violation. 
 

Shipping Lithium Batteries by Air

Higher civil penalties are of special concern for lithium battery shippers, who at this time face major changes to the regulations that may make compliance more of a challenge. The updates for air shipments include new labeling requirements, stricter size limitations and quantity restrictions, and more.
To get up to speed on the latest new rules for shipping lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries by ground, air, or vessel, join a full-time Lion instructor for the LIVE Shipping Lithium Batteries Webinar.
 
 
 

Tags: DGR, DOT, fines and penalties, hazmat shipping, IATA

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Well designed and thorough program. Excellent summary of requirements with references. Inclusion of regulations in hard copy form, as well as full electronic with state pertinent regulations included is a great bonus!

Oscar Fisher

EHS Manager

I have over 26 years of environmental compliance experience, and it has been some time since I have attended an environmental regulations workshop. I attended this course as preparation for EHS Audits for my six plants, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Frank Sizemore

Director of Regulatory Affairs

The instructor clearly enjoys his job and transmits that enthusiasm. He made a dry subject very interesting and fun.

Teresa Arellanes

EHS Manager

More thorough than a class I attended last year through another company.

Troy Yonkers

HSES Representative

Best course instructor I've ever had. Funny, relatable, engaging; made it interesting and challenged us as the professionals we are.

Amanda Schwartz

Environmental Coordinator

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

The course was very well structured and covered the material in a clear, concise manner.

Ian Martinez

Hazmat Shipping Professional

The course was very informative and presented in a way that was easily understood and remembered. I would recommend this course.

Jeffrey Tierno

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Lion was very extensive. There was a lot of things that were covered that were actually pertaining to what I do and work with. Great Job. I will be coming back in three years!

Tony Petrik

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Attending Lion Technology classes should be mandatory for every facility that ships or stores hazmat.

Genell Drake

Outbound Lead

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Just starting out with shipping lithium batteries? The four fundamental concepts in this guide are the place to start.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.