Search

Hazmat in Researcher’s Suitcase Costs College $56,000

Posted on 3/11/2016 by Roger Marks

The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued a $56,000 civil penalty against a Wisconsin university for hazmat violations after the TSA found “highly flammable” research-grade alcohol and corrosive epoxy resin in a student researcher’s baggage at the airport.  

$56,000 is a steep price to pay for what seemed like a simple mistake. The graduate student, who was unaware the materials were regulated as hazmat, is said to have undergone more intensive hazmat training since the incident took place.

As this incident shows, being unaware of the existing hazmat standards is not an excuse for noncompliance. Effective hazmat training is critical to ensure your employees make smart, informed decisions about the hazardous chemicals and materials they work with every day. 

TSA finds undeclared hazmat

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that UW-Madison had been fined twice for similar hazmat incidents, in 2015 and 2016. In fact, only one incident occured. A change in the civil penalty amount for this incident led the author to believe a separate incident had occured, when in fact that was not the case.

Convenient 24/7 Online Hazmat Courses

Help employees understand their responsibilities for classifying, naming, packaging, marking, labeling, loading, unloading, and documenting hazmat shipments. Convenient, interactive online courses at Lion.com are designed to keep students engaged as they learn the latest 49 CFR, IATA, and IMDG Code rules for shipping hazmat by ground, air, and vessel. 

Don’t wait for a hazmat inspection or incident to cost your company up to $75,000 per day, per violation. Set your staff up to succeed with hazmat training trusted by shippers nationwide and available anytime, anywhere. 

Tags: enforcement, hazmat

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The instructor had knowledge of regulations and understanding of real-world situations. The presentation style was engaging and fostered a positive atmosphere for information sharing.

Linda Arlen

Safety & Environmental Compliance Officer

Course instructor was better prepared and presented better than other trainers. Course manual and references were easier to use as well.

Marty Brownfield

Hazardous Waste Professional

I love that the instructor emphasized the thought process behind the regs.

Rebecca Saxena

Corporate Product Stewardship Specialist

Very well structured, comprehensive, and comparable to live training seminars I've participated in previously. I will recommend the online course to other colleagues with training requirement needs.

Neil Luciano

EHS Manager

The instructor was very engaging and helped less experienced people understand the concepts.

Steve Gall

Safety Leader

Very good. I have always appreciated the way Lion Tech develops, presents and provides training and materials.

John Troy

Environmental Specialist

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

We have a very busy work schedule and using Lion enables us to take the course at our own time. It makes it easy for me to schedule my employees' training.

Timothy Mertes

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Excellent job. Made what is very dry material interesting. Thoroughly explained all topics in easy-to-understand terms.

David Hertvik

Vice President

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

Genell Drake

Outbound Lead

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

A guide to developing standard operating procedures, or SOPs, that help you select, manage, and audit your hazmat agents and contractors.

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.