DHL Express hit with $455K penalty for hazmat violations

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is proposing that the express carrier pay civil penalties for improperly handling seven shipments of hazardous material.    The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday proposed levying $455,000 in civil penalties against parcel carrier DHL Express for seven alleged violations of hazardous materials regulations. The agency said DHL accepted shipments in 2013 and 2014 that were not properly prepared for air transportation and failed to ensure its employees or agents received required hazardous materials training.
   All the shipments were discovered during inspections at the DHL Express sorting facility in Erlanger, Ky.
   They involved products such as flammable printing ink, airbag modules, paint, and lithium ion batteries flown on aircraft operated by Atlas Air and ABX Air.
   The final disposition of the case will be determined following a meeting between FAA and DHL officials.