Ammonia Safety

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Ammonia Safety

• Presented By
• John S. Hillard, CSP
• Risk Control Consultant
• jhillard_at_murrayins.com
• 717-606-5904

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Train the Trainer

• Train the Trainer (TtT)
• 1.) This session is designed to train trainers
• 2.) Information for you and your employees
• 3.) Intended to be delivered by trainers trained
  through this program
• 4.) Available in Spanish and English

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TtT - Agenda

• Train the Trainer (TtT)
• 1.) Increase knowledge in characteristics and
  traits of ammonia
• 2.) Discuss use in the workplace
• 3.) Identify importance of this training
• 4.) Discuss challenges in individual workplaces

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Agenda

• Agenda
• 1.) Why are we here?
• 2.) Definitions
• 3.) Uses of Ammonia
• 4.) Areas of potential exposure
• 5.) Ammonia characteristics
• 6.) Emergency Response/Action Plan

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Why are we Here?

• Purpose
• Your own personal safety
• There is ammonia on our premises
• We want you to be aware of it
• We also want you to be prepared
• Education
• You should know what ammonia is
• Emergency procedures should be well known by ALL
  employees
• Preparation
• Be ready for the worst case
• If the worst case happens, preparation saves
  lives

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Why are we Here?

• Learning through the experience of others
• American Cold Storage Louisville, KY
• Employees removed a unlabeled valve on an ammonia
  line
• 2 employee deaths
• Mountaire Farms Lumber Bridge, NC
• High pressure ammonia line ruptured
• 1 employee death
• 4 employees hospitalized
• Tanner Industries Swansea, SC
• Hose from tank to truck was ruptured releasing
  ammonia
• 1 bystander death (resulting in criminal charges
  for Werner Transportation)
• 5 employees hospitalized
• 2 bystanders hospitalized

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Why are we Here?

• Learning the experience of others
• CF Industries Rosemount, MN
• Connection between a truck and tank failed
• 2 employee deaths
• Wengs Cold Storage Shanghai, China
• High pressure ammonia line ruptured
• 15 deaths
• 26 hospitalizations

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Definitions

• Definitions
• Anhydrous Ammonia
• Pure ammonia. Ammonia that is without water
  added to it
• Non-Responding Employee
• Employees who work in a facility that uses or
  stores ammonia, but who has no planned
  interactions with equipment or containers using
  or storing ammonia
• Responding Employee
• Employees who are responsible and trained to
  complete work in a facility that uses or stores
  ammonia

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Definitions

• Definitions (continued)
• Emergency Action Plan
• A plan put in place to outline expectation of all
  employees during an emergency situation

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Uses of Ammonia

• Ammonia is
• Found naturally in the atmosphere
• 80 of manufactured ammonia is used as a
  fertilizer
• Used in a solution with water for cleaners for
  households and commercial use
• Used in the production of several manufactured
  goods including dyes, plastics and other
  chemicals
• Used as a refrigerant gas in cooling systems

www.southernvacuumcooling.com
www.fertilizer101.org
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Uses of Ammonia

• Ammonia in the packing areas
• Used in the refrigeration process
• Found in the rear of the vacuum cooling unit
• Generally, the rear of the unit is isolated from
  the general working population
• Can also be used as the refrigerant for the
  cooling units in the warehouses and packing areas

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Characteristics of Ammonia

• Properties
• EASILY ABSORBED BY WATER
• Lighter than air (0.6 specific gravity)
• Gas at room temperature
• Akaline properties/corrosive
• Forms a liquid when compressed
• Rapidly expands from liquid to gas
• Pressure in a contained vessel increases as
  heated

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Characteristics of Ammonia

• Properties
• EASILY ABSORBED BY WATER
• This ONE item affects all other characteristics
  of ammonia!

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Characteristics of Ammonia
AMMONIA
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Characteristics of Ammonia
AMMONIA
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Characteristics of Ammonia

• Properties
• EASILY ABSORBED BY WATER
• This ONE item affects all other characteristics
  of ammonia!
• Ammonia actively tries to find water in
• The atmosphere
• Your eyes
• Your skin
• Your lungs
• Etc.

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Characteristics of Ammonia
Exposure Level Description
5 ppm Odor Threshold (OSHA)
25 ppm 8 Hour Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) (NIOSH)
25 ppm 8 Hour Threshold Limit Value (TLV) (ACGIH)
35 ppm 15 Minute Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL) (NIOSH)
35 ppm 15 Minute Threshold Limit Value - Short Term Exposure Limit (TLV-STEL)(ACGIH)
50 ppm 8 Hour Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) (OSHA)
300 ppm Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) (OSHA)
300 ppm Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) (NIOSH)
300 ppm Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) (ACGIH)
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Characteristics of Ammonia

• Symptoms of exposure
• Pungent, suffocating smell at low concentrations
• Eye, nose and throat irritation
• Burns and frostbite from contact with liquid form
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of consciousness

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Emergency Action Plan

• This section must be customized
• Each facility is unique
• Each facility should have a custom emergency
  action plan
• Ammonia should have a separate response than any
  other emergency in the plan
• Employees must be trained on the plan

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Emergency Action Plan

• Alarms
• Should there be an ammonia release
• Ammonia is monitored by
• An alarm will sound
• A call will be made
• You will hear this sound
• When heard, emergency actions must be taken

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Emergency Action Plan

• Evacuation
• When the alarm sounds
• Stop working IMMEDIATELY!
• Proceed to
• Exit quickly
• If someone is overcome, do not go back in for
  them
• Wait for instructions from

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Emergency Action Plan

• Gathering
• While evacuated
• Pay attention to wind direction
• Remember that ammonia searches for moisture
• Emergency crews will be coming from
• Make sure you are accounted for and dismissed
  properly

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Emergency Action Plan

• All Clear
• Do not return to work until
• All clear comes from
• Emergency crews give the all clear
• Asked to return by

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Emergency Action Plan

• Drills
• Procedures for emergency drills
• Preparation is the key to avoiding catastrophe
• Failure to participate will result in
  disciplinary action
• Drill will be conducted (time frame)
• Results of the drills will be recorded and
  reviewed by

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Conclusion

• Conclusion
• 1.) The potential for exposure to ammonia is
  isolated
• 2.) Preparation is key in the case of an
  accidental exposure
• 3.) Ammonia must be taken seriously and
  considered dangerous
• 4.) Ammonia will seek out water in the
  atmosphere
• 5.) Preparation is the difference between an
  accident and a disaster

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• Questions and Discussion

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• Thank You!

John S. Hillard, CSP Risk Control
Consultant jhillard_at_murrayins.com 717-606-5904