FAA Proposes $60,000 Hazardous Materials Fine Against Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc.

CHICAGO, IL (April 18, 2001) The Federal Aviation Administration
has proposed to assess a $60,000 civil penalty against Applied
Industrial Technologies, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, for allegedly
violating U.S. Department of Transportation hazardous materials
regulations.

The FAA alleges that on or about June 29, 2000, Applied Industrial
Technologies offered United Parcel Service a one-piece shipment
containing hazardous materials for shipment by air from Florence,
Kentucky to Alpena, Michigan.

When the shipment arrived in Alpena, UPS personnel noticed that
it was emitting an unusual odor. Further inspection revealed that
within the box was an inner box, marked, "PAINT ALL, Consumer
Commodity, ORM-D, Contents in Aerosol Cans," and "12
AEROSOL CANS, PAINT ALL, BA. 1 170 CA65, LEVEL 2
AEROSOLS." Inside that box were 12 10-oz. metal aerosol cans
of Paint All enamel, classified as "flammable aerosols," a
hazardous material.

The FAA alleges that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc., offered
the hazardous materials for transportation when they were not
packaged, labeled, marked, classed, described, documented, or in
condition for shipment as required by regulations. The FAA also
alleges that Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc., failed to properly
instruct each employee having responsibility to prepare hazardous
material shipments of the appropriate regulations, and that the
shipment was not accompanied by the required emergency
response information.

Applied Industrial Technologies has 30 days from the time it
receives the FAA's civil penalty letter to respond to the
allegations.

This announcement of the proposed civil penalty is in accordance
with FAA's policy of releasing information to the public on newly
issued enforcement actions in cases that involve penalties of
$50,000 or more.