Like any decent regulatory agency the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT/PHMSA) issues monetary penalties for violations of its Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). And wouldn’t you know it, USDOT/PHMSA adjusts those penalties to keep pace with inflation. Below are the increased penalty amounts for 2019:

Note: all penalties are assessed per violation, per day.

• Maximum civil penalty for a violation of the HMR: $78,976. An increase from $78,376 in 2018.
• If the violation results in death, serious illness, severe injury, or substantial property damage:  $186,610.  An increase from $182,887 in 2018.
• The minimum penalty for a violation related to HazMat Employee training:  $481.  An increase for $10 from $471 in 2018.

Remember, those amounts can be assessed separately for each day that each violation exists.

I’m sure you’ve been in a situation where someone has told you that the company can’t afford HazMat Employee training.  Looking at the above amounts I’d say it’s more correct to say the company can’t afford not to have HazMat Employee training.