Pasta Manufacturer Cited for Ammonia Hazards

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Rana Meal Solutions LLC in Bartlett with 12 safety violations following a complaint inspection alleging workers were exposed to ammonia hazards in July 2012 at the Bartlett plant, which was being retrofitted for use as a pasta production facility. Proposed fines total $54,000.

Eight serious violations of OSHA's process safety management standards were cited for deficiencies in the company's ammonia refrigeration process. These included a lack of written standard operating procedures for the ammonia refrigeration process; no emergency action plan; failing to perform inspections and tests on process equipment; not addressing the hazards of the ammonia refrigeration process; and failing to address the findings and recommendations of the process hazard analysis team.

"OSHA provides guidelines for employers to manage the safety and health of workers associated with processes involving hazardous chemicals. Failing to properly address these issues puts workers at risk for exposure," said Diane Turek, area director for OSHA's Chicago North office. "OSHA is committed to protecting workers on the job, especially when employers fail to do so."

Three additional serious violations involve failing to develop, implement and train employees in hazard communication, provide an emergency eyewash station and provide material data safety sheets for hazardous chemicals present in the workplace. A serious violation occurs when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.

Additionally, one other-than-serious violation was issued for a slip and trip hazard after water was found on the floor of the engine room. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.

Company faces 200K EPA penalty for not following chemical accident prevention procedures

A cold storage and ice manufacturing company in Sandwich, Mass. and E. Providence, R.I. has agreed to pay penalties of $225,000 to settle claims by EPA that the company violated federal Clean Air Act requirements meant to prevent chemical releases of ammonia at facilities located in East Providence, R.I., and Sandwich, Mass.

According to EPA’s complaint, JP Lillis Enterprises, which does business under the trade name Cape Cod Ice, failed to put in place a required “Risk Management Plan” for ammonia used in the refrigeration system at its East Providence facility, in violation of the federal Clean Air Act. EPA also alleged that the company violated the Clean Air Act’s General Duty Clause, which applies to facilities where extremely hazardous substances such as ammonia are present, at its Sandwich location.

Under the General Duty Clause, owners and operators of these facilities are required to identify hazards, design and maintain the facility in a safe manner, taking steps to prevent accidental releases of the extremely hazardous substance, and take steps to minimize the consequences of any accidental releases that occur.

The company had not taken required steps to design and maintain a safe facility or taken precautions that would minimize the consequences of an accidental release of ammonia, if one were to occur, at its Sandwich facility. For example, they failed to provide mechanical ventilation; working ammonia detectors and an emergency shutdown switch for the machinery room; develop operating procedures and a comprehensive mechanical integrity program; and train employees in the proper operation of the system at the Sandwich facility.

Ammonia presents a significant health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs. Exposure to 300 parts per million is immediately dangerous to life and health. Ammonia is also flammable at concentrations of about 15 to 28 percent by volume in air. It can explode if it is released in an enclosed space with a source of ignition present, or if a vessel containing anhydrous ammonia is exposed to fire.

Risk Management Plans required under the Clean Air Act, and steps required under the General Duty Clause, help prevent accidental releases of substances that can cause serious harm to the public and the environment from short-term exposures and reduces the severity of releases that do occur. A company that fails to take these steps can leave the public and environment at risk from accidental releases.

Both Cape Cod Ice facilities are located less than a fifth of a mile from residential homes, and less than a quarter of a mile from retail and office areas.

This case stems from information learned about JP’s facilities following an inspection of the Sandwich facility by EPA in November 2011. After EPA’s inspection, JP developed and submitted a risk management plan for its East Providence facility, and the company is currently working to fix problems identified at the Sandwich facility. For example, the company has installed an ammonia detector at the Sandwich Facility and investigated and corrected pipe corrosion and vibration problems noted by EPA inspectors. JP also plans to install a ventilation fan and an emergency shutdown switch and to prepare and implement an improved maintenance program for the system.

Occupational risks: Police officer sues over chemical exposure

A police officer says he inhaled a lot of
ammonia gas and developed cancer.

In Hammond, Louisiana, a police officer has filed a lawsuit claiming that he developed cancer 10 days after being exposed to a large amount of ammonia gas.

In a Louisiana Record article, the police officer filed the lawsuit against a dairy farm and the associated businesses as well as the insurance and leasing companies.

The claim says that significant quantities of ammonia gas leaked from the dairy processing center or the distribution center on July 11, 2010. When the police officer arrived at the scene, he inhaled large amounts of the ammonia gas and had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for chemical burns to his mouth, nasal passages, lungs and trachea.

The lawsuit alleges that 10 days after the incident, the police officer discovered cancer in his lymph nodes, which according to the claimant metastasized from a small tumor on his tongue as a result of the chemical burns.

The lawsuit charges that the defendants failed to design and build the facilities in a proper and safe manner, and that it wasn’t operated and maintained properly.

The police officer is seeking damages for medical expenses, loss of earnings, loss of earning capacity, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, disability and disfigurement, loss of consortium, court costs and interest.

Source: Louisiana Record


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