Ups/FedEx Shipper Faces .5 Million Fines

[FN FAL]

N.J. Cigarette Lighter Distributor Charged

By DAVID B. CARUSO
Associated Press Writer

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- A company that distributes cigarette lighters and matches was charged Wednesday with shipping thousands of flammable products via FedEx and UPS without telling the companies the cargo could be hazardous.

Federal prosecutors said the Garden State Tobacco Co., of Neptune, N.J., improperly shipped flammable materials about 10,000 times between 2000 and 2003.

The company, which also goes by the name H.J. Bailey Co., also ignored federal regulations requiring it to label the shipments as containing flammables, prosecutors allege.

An attorney for the company, Bob Bonney, said Garden State changed its procedures when informed about the problems last August. The company temporarily ceased all shipments and taught employees the federal rules, he said.

"We are looking forward to resolving the matter with the government," Bonney said.

If convicted, the company could face fines of up to $500,000.

Prosecutors also charged a company manager with authorizing the shipments in knowing violation of federal law. He could face a sentence ranging from probation to five years in prison if convicted, authorities said.

Delivery companies generally require clients to pay a higher rate for delivery of dangerous materials.

Garden State Tobacco distributes a variety of smoking-related materials, including tobacco and various brands of lighters and matches.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

 

[avbug]

That's pretty serious stuff, really, Anybody ever seen what a single can of hairspray, or a canister of cigarette lighter butane will do when detonated inside a shipping container? I have.

Strike-anywhere matches can spontaneously ignite.

Simply breaking or crushing a plastic lighter can produce a fire or explosion; put a case or two together and the result could easily be another valuejet.

That firm needs to be fined.

 

[A Squared]

Strike-anywhere matches can spontaneously ignite.

Yeah, a couple of years ago, the company I was working for was working with another comapny that was doing radar mapping with a Lear 45. I was in the airplane out on the ramp talking to the equipment technician about thier imaging systems, suddenly smoke started rolling out of the back of the plane. There was a mad scramble and a survival kit was identified as the culprit and was pitched out the door. After it stopped smoking, we dissected it and found a box of matches that had ignited. Would have been much more interesting if it had happened at 30,000 ft

 

[TonyC]

Undeclared HAZ = Bad

Strike-anywhere matches can spontaneously ignite.

Do they still make those things? I've looked high and low, and all I can find is the Safety Matches.


Undeclared Haz is a serious risk - - ask the guys that landed in Newburgh, NY (Stewart) with a burning DC-10. (Aviation Safety Network Accident Description)


Dangers of HAZMAT


I looked for a link to the burning hulk, but couldn't find one... anybody?

 

[A Squared]

Yeah, Diamond still makes strike anywhere kitchen matches. Look for them next to the charcoal briquettes in hte grocery store.

 

[TonyC]

Yeah, Diamond still makes strike anywhere kitchen matches. Look for them next to the charcoal briquettes in hte grocery store.

Reckon I'll hafta look when I get abck to ANC - - I've checked in probably a dozen grocery stores, half a dozen Wal*Mart/K-Mart/Target kinda places - - and a sporting goods store. No dice.

 

[avbug]

Too many kids using them to make contact bombs, I guess. I usually keep a box or two around for candles.

 

[A Squared]

Reckon I'll hafta look when I get abck to ANC - - I've checked in probably a dozen grocery stores, half a dozen Wal*Mart/K-Mart/Target kinda places - - and a sporting goods store. No dice.

SOooooo, you gonna declare them as haz-mat in your luggage?

 

[TonyC]

SOooooo, you gonna declare them as haz-mat in your luggage?

Naahhhhh I'll just FedEx 'em!