Lion's office will be closed on Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. For help with online training, please contact support@lion.com.
Search

Final Rule Alert: Hazmat Civil Penalties Increased

Posted on 8/6/2019 by Roger Marks

Effective July 31, 2019, US DOT has increased civil penalties for Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) violations. With hazmat civil penalties assessed on a per day, per violation basis, even minor increases to these penalty amounts can add up quickly.

Civil penalties for hazmat violations—including failure to train employees—are assessed by DOT PHMSA, FAA, FRA, FMCSA, and other modal agencies, and are adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation.  

The new civil penalty amounts are as follows:
  • The maximum civil penalty for a violation of hazardous materials transportation law (49 U.S.C. 5123(a)(1)) increased from $79,976 to $81,993 per day, per violation.
  • For a violation that results in death, serious illness, severe injury, or substantial property damage, the civil penalty rose from $186,610 to $191,316.
  • The minimum penalty for a hazmat training violation went up $12 to $493 per employee, per day. Hazmat training is required for all hazmat employees once every three years (49 CFR 172.704).  
Find online hazmat training for employees or attend the expert-led Hazmat Ground Shipper Certification Workshop presented nationwide.  

Why Hazmat Penalties Matter

Each time PHMSA increases civil penalties, it underscores the value of hazardous materials compliance management. While civil penalty amounts for typical shipping violations may not reach the upper limits in every case, monetary penalties are part of a risk assessment for businesses that ship or transport hazardous materials.

That said, the consequences of hazmat noncompliance go far beyond financial penalties.

When hazardous materials are not classified, packaged, labeled, and handled properly, the costs can be both human and business-related. Injury to employees and/or logistics workers are not uncommon in cases when hazardous materials are released during loading, unloading, or transit.

When a consignment is not prepared according to the latest hazmat regulations—like US DOT’s 49 CFR regulations, the IATA DGR, the IMDG Code, or another set of rules—the carrier may reject or delay the shipment and require re-packaging or re-labeling. In an environment where every minute counts, these mistakes can severely impact supply chain efficiency and affect relationships with carriers, vendors, and customers.

Hazmat Training—Online or In the Classroom

All hazmat employees need a solid grasp of the hazmat regulations and what they must do to help maintain compliance. Every step of the hazmat shipping process is regulated in some way, and even small mistakes can lead to injuries, emergencies, rejected shipments, and fines that get more expensive every year.  

New hazmat employees must complete DOT hazmat training within 90 days of their hire date and may not perform any unsupervised hazmat job function until they are trained.

The Hazmat Ground Shipper Certification public workshop or online course covers what professionals need to know to identify and properly prepare hazardous materials for transport by highway. IATA DGR and IMDG Code courses are also available for new or experienced hazmat professionals who prepare or offer air or vessel shipments.
 

Tags: DOT, fines and penalties, hazmat shipping, hazmat training, new rules

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

Lion courses are the standard to which all other workshops should strive for!

Brody Saleen

Registered Environmental Health Specialist

The instructor was excellent. They knew all of the material without having to read from a notepad or computer.

Gary Hartzell

Warehouse Supervisor

The instructor was great, explaining complex topics in terms that were easily understandable and answering questions clearly and thoroughly.

Brittany Holm

Lab Supervisor

The instructor was very knowledgeable and provided pertinent information above and beyond the questions that were asked.

Johnny Barton

Logistics Coordinator

Lion is my preferred trainer for hazmat and DOT.

Jim Jani

Environmental Coordinator

Amazing instructor; real-life examples. Lion training gets better every year!

Frank Papandrea

Environmental Manager

This training broke down the regulations in an easy-to-understand manner and made them less overwhelming. I now feel I have the knowledge to make more informed decisions.

Amanda Oswald

Shipping Professional

I tried other environmental training providers, but they were all sub-standard compared to Lion. I will not stray from Lion again!

Sara Sills

Environmental Specialist

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

I can take what I learned in this workshop and apply it to everyday work and relate it to my activities.

Shane Hersh

Materials Handler

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Tips to identify and manage universal waste under more-stringent state regulations for generators and universal waste handlers in California.

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.