THE TOWN OF OSOYOOS
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY PROGRAM
EXPOSURE CONTROL PLAN FOR AMMONIA
USED AT THE SUN BOWL ARENA
PREPARED BY CONSULTANTS OF
DW MCMULLEN & ASSOCIATES LIMITED
NOVEMBER 2016
LIST OF CONTENTS
1. PREAMBLE
2. TERMS OF REFERENCE
3. APPLICABILITY
4. POLICY STATEMENT
5. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
6. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
7. RISK ASSESSMENT
8. AMMONIA FACT SHEET
9. EXPOSURE LIMITES FOR AMMONIA
10. RISK CONTROL (ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL)
11. WORKER EDUCATION AND TRAINING
12. AMMONIA COMPRESSOR ROOM PROCEDURES
i. STORAGE
ii. ALARMS
iii. RESPONSE
iv. WORKING ALONE
13. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
14. RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT
15. FIRST AID
16. HEALTH MONITORING
17. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN
i. CONTACT INFORMATION
ii. EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
iii. AMMONIA LEAK
iv. EVACUATION PROCEDURE
v. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
18. RECORDS AND STATS
19. INCIDENT REPORTING AND INVESTIGATION
20. WRITTEN SAFE WORK PROCEDURES
21. ANNUAL REVIEW
APPENDICES
1. COMPRESSOR ROOM ORIENTATION CHECKLIST
2. LEAK RESPONSE FLOW CHART
3. MSDS FOR ANHYROUS AMMONIA
4. TECHNICAL SAFETY BC REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
5. TECHNICAL SAFETY BC INCIDENT INVESTIGATION FORM
1. PREAMBLE
Ammonia is commonly used in mechanical refrigeration systems, including those found in ice rinks. Ammonia is used in liquid form in these systems; however, it becomes a gas once released into the ambient air. This may happen through leaks in the system or a system failure that allows ammonia gas to be released into the atmosphere
Ammonia is a corrosive, toxic gas with a very pungent odor. It is slightly lighter than air and it can mix with water vapor to become heavier than air, collecting in pockets at floor level. It is not normally flammable, but at extremely high concentrations and can create an explosive mixture with air.
2. TERMS OF REFERENCE
Anhydrous Ammonia / Gas that has been compressed into a pure liquefied form for use in refrigeration systems.NH3 / The chemical formula for ammonia
Ppm / Parts per million
Uncontrolled leak / Release of gas where the immediate cause of the leak is unknown or when maintenance work is being done and a release of gas occurs that cannot be quickly remedied, corrected or controlled.
Qualified person / A person who is knowledgeable of the work, associated hazards and an understanding of the measures to control the hazards by reason of education, training, experience or a combination thereof.
WHMIS / Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
3. APPLICABILITY
This exposure control plan meets requirements outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and has been prepared for implementation at the Sun Bowl Arena, Osoyoos, BC.
4. POLICY STATEMENT
The Town of Osoyoos is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its Attendants and all who use its facilities.
To this end, as a component of its Occupational Health and Safety Program, this exposure control plan aims to prevent releases and mitigate the risk of injury from ammonia exposure for Attendants, contractors, facility patrons and residents in surrounding areas.
5. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As the Employer, the Town of Osoyoos has made provision for the development and implementation of this exposure control plan at the Sun Bowl Arena.
The Department Head (Director) is responsible to ensure this exposure control plan is implemented and reviewed on an at least annual basis or following an incident.
The Lead Hand at the Sun Bowl Arena is responsible to become familiar with the contents of the exposure control plan and ensure all requirements are met.
Attendants are responsible to follow all established procedures, use and store their personal protective clothing and equipment properly, and participate in all education, training and instruction activities required by this exposure control plan.
6. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
Routes of Entry
Eyes:
Exposure greater than 700 ppm may result in temporary or permanent blindness. Liquid contact can cause corneal damage and blindness.
Skin:
Liquid ammonia can cause severe frostbite and permanent skin damage upon contact.
Inhalation:
Concentrations less than 300 ppm may cause irritation to eyes, nose and throat. Concentration greater than 300 ppm is established as the vapor concentration immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH).
Delayed effects such as chemical pneumonitis and pulmonary edema may develop several hours after exposure. Effects may be more pronounced at lower concentrations in persons with impaired lung function.
Ingestion: Corrosive to mouth and throat tissue if swallowed, however unlikely due to physical state (compressed gas).
7. RISK ASSESSMENT
The following Attendants at the Sun Bowl arena have been identified as having a low risk of exposure to ammonia in excess of 50% of the established exposure limit:
i. Tom Snoek, Arena Lead Hand
ii. Mike Douglas, Arena Attendant
iii. Mike Kostynuk, Arena Attendant
iv. Part-time Attendants, when on-duty
This risk determination takes into account exposure severity, likelihood and frequency when the controls outlined under Section 9 have been fully implemented.
8. RISK CONTROLS
ü Worker education and training in safe work procedures is provided and documented by the Arena Lead Hand
ü Attendants receive regular and ongoing instruction relating to safe handling of ammonia via the Town’s Crew Talk Program
ü Easy to follow supplementary (written) instructions relating to ammonia have been made readily available to Attendants
ü Written safe work procedures for specific tasks and activities performed at the Arena have been developed. These are reviewed with Attendants and copies made readily available
ü Appropriate levels of worker supervision are provided to all staff working at the Arena
ü Emergency plans, evacuation and response procedures have been implemented and documented drills are conducted annually
ü A disciplinary procedure for non-compliance by Attendants and contractors has been implemented
ü Regular documented workplace inspections are conducted
ü The plant is overseen by a Refrigerant Operator (5th Class Power Engineer equivalent) and all current 5th Class Power Engineer’s and/or Ice Facility Operator certificates are in date and prominently posted in the Arena office
ü Installation of efficient exhaust fan systems and requirements for their use (Typically, the exhaust ventilation will run at low speed whenever the compressor is powered up. Attendants have been instructed to turn exhaust fan to the highest speed setting when entering the Compressor Room.)
ü In an emergency, exhaust ventilation can be activated remotely from a switch located in the Vestibule outside the Compressor Room.
ü Ammonia circulation can be stopped by shutting down the supply at one of two Emergency Shutdown Switches, one of which is located outside the Compressor Room above the east emergency exit and another by the door leading into the Vestibule from the ice.
ü Critical plant controls are tagged to match a schematic of the ice plant (posted outside the Compressor Room)
ü Plant switchgear is clearly labeled
ü Annual maintenance of the plant is carried out by Complete Climate Control, a qualified contractor, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. A copy of the maintenance manual is kept in the Compressor Room.
ü First aid supplies and arrangements are in place
ü Emergency washing facilities have been installed in accordance with regulated requirements and Attendants have been trained in their proper use
ü Posting of information and warning signage. Typically, signage restricting entry to authorized employees
ü Work in the Compressor Room has been limited to certified operators
ü Appropriate PPC&E has been selected, provided and maintained in accordance with the Town’s PPC&E Program
ü The Ammonia Plant is of safe construction and includes sealed shafts containing ammonia lines;
ü A Critical Environment Technologies constant monitoring system supported by an alarm system is in place
ü Incident reporting and investigation procedures have been established as required
ü An effective WHMIS Program is in place
ü This exposure control plan, and specifically the effectiveness of the above controls, is reviewed annually in consultation with the Town’s Joint Health and Safety Committee
ü Liaison with Technical Safety BC as applicable
9. AMMONIA FACTS
Ammonia releases from refrigeration systems can cause injuries to employees, emergency response personnel, any public using the facilities and those living in communities surrounding the facilities. When released from a refrigeration system, ammonia vaporizes into a toxic gas. It is very corrosive, and exposure to it may result in chemical-type burns to skin, eyes, and lungs. It may also result in frostbite, since liquid ammonia’s boiling point at atmospheric pressure is -28°F. Ammonia has a high affinity for water and migrates to moist areas like the eyes, nose, mouth, throat, and moist skin. Exposure to low concentrations can cause headaches, loss of the sense of smell, nausea, and vomiting. Higher concentrations result in irritation to the nose, mouth, and throat causing coughing, wheezing and damage to the lungs. Very high concentrations of ammonia can be immediately fatal.
Ammonia is readily combined with other chemicals to form other potentially harmful substances or explosive mixtures. Material commonly found in refrigeration machinery rooms such as oils can react with ammonia increasing the fire hazard. In addition, strong oxidizers, such as chlorine or bleaches, can form explosive mixtures when they come into contact with ammonia.
Ammonia is flammable in air at concentrations of 15% to 28% by volume, requiring a temperature of 450 - 500ºC Auto-ignition will occur above 630ºC.
The Department Head (Director) is responsible to ensure the above information is reviewed periodically as a crew talk to ensure worker knowledge and awareness levels specific to ammonia, remain effective.
10. EXPOSURE LIMITS AND TOXIC EFFECTS
Exposure Limit(Parts per million) / Description
25 ppm / Maximum allowable concentration averaged over 8 hour period
35 ppm / Maximum allowable short-term (15 minutes) exposure limit
300 ppm or more / Immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH)
Ammonia Concentration
(Parts per million) / Toxic Effects
2 - 55 ppm / Range of odor threshold for a person NOT desensitized to the smell of ammonia
70 ppm / Stinging or burning eyes nose and throat. Headache, sneezing and coughing.
300 ppm / Severe irritation to eyes, nose and respiratory tract. Difficulty breathing with burning in lungs
2000 ppm or more / Fatal after a few breaths
11. EDUCATION AND TRAINING
This exposure control plan makes provision for at least the following as it relates to education and training of Attendants and their Supervisors:
· Fifth-Class Power Engineer, Tom Snoek and Mike Douglas
· Ice Facility Operator, Mike Kostynuk
· Technical Safety BC (TSBC) certificate of qualification for all Attendants, including the Lead Hand.
· Specific training on operational and maintenance procedures
· WHMIS education and training
· Training in emergency procedures and documented drills
· Fit testing for respirator use
· Instructions on proper use and care of PPC&E and respirators
· Training in use of portable firefighting equipment
· Training in use of emergency washing facilities
· Level 1 First Aid tickets, Tom Snoek and Mike Kostynuk
12. AMMONIA COMPRESSOR ROOM
STORAGE
835lbs of liquefied ammonia is stored inside the plant in sealed storage tanks. The refrigeration system is a closed system that continuously uses and reuses the ammonia inside the tanks. Town staff is not required to add or remove ammonia at any time.
Correction to ammonia levels in not routine and will not be undertaken by Town staff.
AMMONIA ALARM INFORMATION
A visible and digitally displayed alarm is located immediately outside the Vestibule and activates when the ammonia concentration in the Compressor Room reaches 25 ppm. This is called a low alarm. The display flashes and a klaxon is activated.
An audible, visible and digitally displayed alarm activates at the display panel, which is located in the vestibule, when the ammonia concentration in the Compressor Room reaches 200 ppm. This is called a high alarm. Audible alarms can be heard inside and outside the Compressor Room and a strobe is activated outside the Compressor Room’s rear emergency exit and outside the vestibule.
AMMONIA ALARM RESPONSE
ONLY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL ARE AUTHORIZED TO RESPOND TO AMMONIA ALARMS.
· A copy of the leak response safe work procedure is posted at on the wall in the Compressor Room. Attendants Tom Snoek, Mike Douglas and Mike Kostynuk have been trained to follow this procedure.
In the event the ammonia concentration on the alarm monitor is above 200 ppm, evacuation procedures will be initiated. A copy of the evacuation procedure is posted on the door in the Compressor Room and on the notice board in the Staff Room.
AMMONIA COMPRESSOR ROOM CONTINUED…
WORKING ALONE
The Town of Osoyoos has implemented a Working Alone Program that makes provision for ensuring the health and well-being of Attendants working alone.
At the Sun Bowl Arena, a second worker will stand-by and be ready to call for assistance, if:
· The Ammonia Compressor Room is in an alarm state (concentration of ammonia is between 25 ppm and 199 ppm;
· A worker enters to drain the ammonia oil pots.
A worker may work alone if entry into the Ammonia Compressor Room is:
ü during a non-alarm state (less than 25 ppm) and
ü not for the purpose of draining the oil pots or
ü investigating a leak.
However, the worker entering the Compressor Room under the above conditions must:
ü inform a co-worker prior to entry and
ü provide information about the estimated duration and
ü make arrangements for subsequent contact with that person when they exit the Compressor Room.
Where a co-worker is not available, contact procedures outlined in the Town’s Working Alone Program must be followed.
13. PERSONAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Given the corrosive effects of ammonia, it is necessary to protect exposed skin while performing certain tasks and activities by wearing boots, gloves and coveralls as applicable.
The attached safe work procedures specify PPC&E requirements for each task or activity.
Grease, lubricants and some cleaners react violently with ammonia gas and may cause severe burns. It is very important therefore that clothing worn by Attendants entering the Compressor Room is free of these products.
When eye protection is required, a full-face respirator must be worn. Attendants entering or working in the Ammonia Compressor Room must not wear contact lenses.