FAA fines companies for hazmat violations

The firms tried to air freight paint, acryllic, bullets and other banned substances.    The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has levied fines against five companies for hazardous materials shipping violations.
   California-based Quaker City Plating and Ohio-based Freedom Manufacturing delivered to FedEx packages of paint and bullets, respectively, that were found by workers at sorting facilities. Paint is a flammable liquid and bullets are classified as explosives. The FAA will fine Quaker City $66,000 and Freedom $65,000. Both companies are meeting with the FAA to discuss their cases.
   Florida-based International Dental Supply sent bottles of acrylic, which is a flammable material, to UPS for shipment, and Saudi Chem Crete of Saudi Arabia sent bottles of epoxy resin, which is a corrosive liquid, from Saudi Arabia to Texas. IDS will be fined $57,400, and Saudi Chem is facing a $54,000 fine. IDS will meet with the FAA, and Saudi Chem has yet to respond to the agency.
   Arizona-based Passport Health offered three bottles of flammable liquid hand sanitizer to UPS for shipment. The company is facing a $54,000 fine, and has yet to respond to the agency.
   Meanwhile, the FAA proposed a $227,500 civil penalty against Shanghai Yancui Import and Export Co., of Shanghai, China, for allegedly violating U.S. hazmat regulations by shipping a package of titanium tetrachloride on July 26, 2013, on a DHL cargo flight. Workers at the DHL package sorting facility in Erlanger, Ky., discovered the bottle emitting smoke. 
   The agency said the package also contained two bottles of benzodioxole, which is a hazardous flammable liquid.
   The FAA is charging Shanghai Yancui with not marking, labeling or packing the shipment in accordance with hazmat regulations and not including documentation identifying the contents or emergency response information. Additionally, the agency alleges the company did not provide required hazardous materials training for it employees.
   Shanghai Yancui has 30 days to respond to the FAA’s enforcement letter. The agency often reduces its initial penalty decisions after hearing from violators.