Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: CHEMICAL

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer did not furnish employment and a place of employment that were free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees, in that employees were exposed to inhalation hazards associated with anhydrous ammonia. Machinery room - On or about January 15, 2008, employees were not adequately protected against the potential release of anhydrous ammonia in that: a. The space containing the refrigeration machinery was not separated from other occupancies (such as the boiler room) by tight construction with tight fitting self-closing doors. b. Remote control of the mechanical equipment in the refrigerating machinery room was not provided immediately outside the machinery room door solely for the purpose of shutting down the equipment in an emergency. c. Ventilation fans for the machinery room did not have a control switch located immediately outside the machinery room door. d. Pipes piercing the interior walls of the machinery room were not all tightly sealed to the walls through which they pass (such as the shower pipe). e. Durable signs were not provided designating all valves or switches for controlling the refrigerant flow, the ventilation, and the refrigeration compressors, and the kind of refrigerant contained in exposed piping outside the machinery room (such as the piping in the new smoke house area). f. A schematic drawing or panel giving directions for the operation of the refrigeration system was not provided at a location convenient for the operators of the equipment. g. Entrances to the refrigerating machinery room were not provided with legible permanent signs, securely attached and easily accessible, reading "Machinery Room--Autorized Personnel Only" and further communicating that entry is forbidden except by those personnel trained in emergency procedures when the ammonia alarm has been activated. h. Emergency shutdown procedures, including precautions to be observed in case of a breakdown or leak, were not posted outside the machinery room, immediately adjacent to each door. Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods to control these hazards are to adhere to the safe design, installation and operation of anhydrous ammonia refrigeration systems as prescribed by ANSI/ASHRAE15-2004, "Safety Standard for Refrigearation Systems", specifically: a. Separate the space containing the machinery room from other occupancies by tightconstruction with tight-fitting doors. (Section 7) b. Provide a remote control of the mechanical equipment in the refrigerating machinery room immediately outside the machinery room door. (Section 8.12) c. Provide a control switch for the ventilation fans immediately outside the machinery room door. (Section 8.12) d. Seal all pipes piercing the interior walls of the machinery room tightly to the walls. (Section 8.12) e. Identify/label all controls and piping in anhydrous ammonia service. (Section 11.2) f. Provide a schematic drawing or panel giving directions for the operation of the refrigeration system in a location convenient for the operators. (Section 11.7) g. Provide legible permanent signs, securely attached and easily accessible, reading "Machinery Room--Authorized Personnel Only" and communicating that entry is forbidden except by personnel trained in emergency procedures when the ammonia alarm has been activated. (Section 11.7) h. Post emergency procedures outside the machinery room immediately adjacent to each door. (Section 11.7)