Customs agents and workers at two FedEx facilities were exposed to hazardous materials in three separate incidents last year because the companies shipping the toxins failed to label and package them properly.
Violating the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Hazardous Materials Regulations will cost the companies from $66,000 to $82,500.
In each case, the FAA alleges the shipments were not accompanied by shipping papers to indicate the hazardous nature of their contents and were not marked or labeled in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations. The FAA also alleges the companies failed to ensure their employees received required hazardous materials training and did not provide emergency response information with the packages. Additionally, the FAA alleges Bridgewater International and Crow Works did not properly package the shipments.
The cases are as follows:
$82,500 against China Express International Express Changzhou Branch of Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China. The FAA alleges that on June 12, 2014, China Express offered a shipment containing one Lithium-ion battery pack to United Airlines for air transportation. U.S. Customs & Border Protection discovered the shipment at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and alerted the FAA.
China Express has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.
Contents leaked
$67,070 against Bridgewater International, Inc., of Woods Cross, Utah. The FAA alleges that on September 19, 2014, Bridgewater offered a shipment containing polyester resin, acetone, organic peroxide and construction adhesives to FedEx for shipment by air. Workers at a FedEx sort facility discovered the shipment when some of the contents leaked, including the polyester resin.
Bridgewater has asked to meet with the FAA to discuss the case.
$66,000 against Crow Works, LLC, Killbuck, Ohio. The FAA alleges that on September 8, 2014, Crow Works offered a shipment containing petroleum mineral spirits, rubbing alcohol, flammable aerosols and paint to FedEx for shipment by air. FedEx workers discovered the shipment and alerted the FAA.
Crow Works has communicated with the FAA about the case.