FAA hits Amazon with $350,000 hazmat penalty

The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $350,000 civil penalty against Seattle-based e-commerce giant Amazon.com for allegedly violating federal hazardous materials transport regulations.    The U.S. Transportation Department’s Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a $350,000 civil penalty against Seattle-based e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. for allegedly violating federal hazardous materials transport regulations.
   The agency alleges that on Oct. 15, 2014, Amazon offered UPS a package containing a one-gallon container of “Amazing! LIQUID FIRE,” a corrosive drain cleaner for air transport from Louisville, Ky., to Boulder, Colo.
   “While being transported, some of the Liquid Fire leaked through the fiberboard box. Nine UPS employees who came into contact with the box reported feeling a burning sensation and were treated with a chemical wash,” the FAA said.
   The agency alleges the shipment was not properly packaged, lacked a Shipper’s Declaration for Dangerous Goods, and was not properly marked or labeled to indicate its hazardous contents. The FAA also said Amazon failed to provide emergency response information with the package, and that Amazon employees who handled the package had not received required hazardous materials training.
   The FAA pointed out that Amazon has a history of violating federal hazmat regulations. From February 2013 to September 2015 alone, the online retailer was found to have violated hazmat regulations 24 times. The FAA said it’s continuing to investigate Amazon’s compliance with these regulations as they apply to air transport.