NEW YORK shipper Alfa Chemistry has been hit by a massive possible US$325,000 fine after it allegedly sent two separate shipments of toxic, flammable cargo by air.
The US Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing the civil penalty after the company shipped approximately one pint of Acrolein on one FedEx flight and a further three pints on another, says the FAA after an investigation.
Acrolein can become explosive when combined with air and is classified as a toxic/poisonous material and flammable liquid under hazardous materials regulations.
“When FedEx personnel tried to inspect the second shipment of Acrolein at the FedEx sort facility in Peabody, Massachusetts, it began emitting a strong, pungent odour,” says an FAA statement.
“However, they were unable to examine it because they began to experience coughing fits and extreme eye, nose and throat irritation due to the severity of the odour and vapours coming from the shipment.”
A FedEx employee had to put on a protective suit to inspect the shipment, it is revealed.
The FAA later determined that neither shipment had the required shipping papers or emergency response information.
It is claimed that the shipments were not labeled and packaged according to the strict government regulations.
Additionally, the FAA determined that Alfa Chemistry failed to properly train and test the employees who packaged the Acrolein.
Alfa was given 30 days to contest the ruling.
