American Welding & Tank cited for ammonia tank safety violations

The DOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) fined American Welding & Tank LLC (AWT) about $3.9 million for violating federal hazardous materials safety standards. The company was fined for manufacturing and selling unsafe nurse tanks, a type of cargo tank used to store and transport anhydrous ammonia, according to the DOT. No propane tanks were  involved in the safety violations. FMCSA conducted a safety investigation of the company’s Fremont, Ohio, manufacturing plant following reports of safety defects with recently manufactured nurse tanks. After investigating the company’s welding practices and safety records, FMCSA said it discovered a clear pattern of AWT failing to manufacture, maintain, repair and sell nurse tanks that meet federal hazardous materials safety standards. AWT has disputed DOT’s action, stating that it has always followed federal guidelines for the manufacture of the anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks.