By Trident Safety Group

09/26/2010
The Cost of Compliance V – The Financial Cost of taking Risks
Trident Safety has been at the coal face of Dangerous Goods Regulations for decades.
In this time we have encountered every class and division of dangerous good or article offered for shipment and we have helped with resolving issues both simple and hugely complex within transport operations.
Essentially we ensure our clients businesses operate within the law and we can assist with their compliance issues with all modal transport regulations. It is a service we excel at, there are no grey areas for us and we are proud of our track record in this industry.
We hear occasionally of incidents of non-compliance and the resulting damage that this can cause to people, the environment, to businesses, damage to equipment, to product or worse still the effect that a non-compliant package can have on board an aircraft carrying passengers.
We also hear on occasion…But the costs are too high? …we hope that the extracted pieces below help to focus on what it can mean not to ship safely.
FAA Proposes $70,000 USD Civil Penalty against Southwest Airlines for Hazmat Violations

FORT WORTH -- The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed to assess a $70,000 civil penalty against Southwest Airlines for allegedly violating Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations.

The FAA alleged Southwest knowingly accepted a shipment containing hazardous materials as checked baggage aboard one of its aircraft. The shipment consisted of a box packed with 20 smaller boxes each containing 50 disposable lighters. Such devices are classed as hazardous materials under the regulations.

The shipment was clearly marked as "lighters" when Southwest accepted it, the FAA alleged. Southwest is a "will-not-carry" airline for hazardous materials. The airline transported the shipment from Houston to Dallas. A Southwest employee discovered the illegal shipment when it was unloaded at Love Field. Southwest then notified the FAA. The FAA has also issued a notice of proposed civil penalty to the passenger who offered the shipment.
The company has 30 days from receipt of the enforcement letter to respond to the agency.






$72,000 Civil penalty sought against United Airlines for Shipping Undeclared Oxygen Generator on Fedex

FORT WORTH--The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed to assess a $72,000 civil penalty against United Airlines Inc. for allegedly offering a damaged, unmarked and undeclared oxygen generator to Federal Express for transportation by air from San Francisco International Airport to a Texas based firm.

The alleged violations of federal hazardous materials regulations occurred last July when United shipped the four-pound unexpended oxygen generator from a United Airlines stores unit at San Francisco to Aviall Aircraft Parts in Dallas aboard a FedEx cargo aircraft.

Aviall employees in Dallas discovered the oxygen generator and notified the FAA. This shipment was not accompanied by shipping papers and it was not properly packaged, marked, labeled or declared as a hazardous material. In addition, United Airlines failed to provide the required emergency response information. United did not obtain the DOT approval necessary to ship it by cargo aircraft. As a result, the FAA alleged that United violated several federal hazardous materials transportation regulations.
The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed assessing $60,000 in civil penalties against Predmor, Inc., a Canadian company . . . for violating regulations regarding the shipment of hazardous materials ... the FAA alleged that representatives knowingly offered ... an improperly packaged, labeled and documented shipment ...the FAA also alleged that Predmor failed to train its employees to package and handle hazardous materials.
FAA proposes $80,000 civil penalty against a Santa Anna company for hazmat violations. Applied Industries Tech, Inc... offered the hazardous material for shipment when it was not packaged, labelled, marked, classed, described, documented ...or in condition for shipment ... AIT also failed to ensure that employees were trained to properly package and handle the hazardous materials.
There is definitely an increasing trend in fines here. These fines would have been avoided if the companies had adhered to the regulations involving the training of their staff.
FAA proposes $85,000 penalty against a Chicago based company for hazmat violations. Paxton Patterson ... offered the hazardous materials for transportation when it was not packaged, labeled, marked, classed, described, documented, inspected, or in condition for shipment ... Paxton Patterson also failed to ensure that employees were trained to properly package and handle hazardous materials ...
FAA proposes $99,000 penalty against Amerijet International for hazmat violations ... for allegedly violating regulations concerning training employees who handle hazardous materials which are offered for transport aboard aircraft.


For one percent of the above fine, a company could train its DG employee.