Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 001 Hazard:

29 CFR OSH ACT of 1970 Section (5)(a)(1): 5(a)(1): The employer did not furnish to each employee, employment and a place of employment, which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Location: Workplace Employees entering into the machine room were exposed to toxic and inhalation hazards associated with anhydrous ammonia, in that, the mechanical ventilation was not designed appropriately. 1. ANSI/IIAR 2-2014 (Addendum A American National Standard for Safe Design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems) 6.14.1: Continuous airflow was not provided to supply occupants with the minimum amount of outside air. Ventilation for Occupants. During occupied conditions, outdoor air shall be provided at a rate of not less than 0.5 cfm/ft2 (0.0025 m3/s m2) of machinery room area or 20 cfm (0.009 m3/s) per occupant, whichever is greater. 2. ANSI/IIAR 2-2014 (Addendum A American National Standard for Safe Design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems) 6.14.3: The emergency ventilation exhaust fans failed to meet the minimum discharge velocity requirements. Machinery room exhaust shall discharge vertically upward with a minimum discharge velocity of 2,500 ft/min (762 m/min) at the required emergency ventilation flow rate. 3. ANSI/IIAR 2-2014 (Addendum A American National Standard for Safe Design of Closed-Circuit Ammonia Refrigeration Systems) 6.14.7: The emergency ventilation system failed to provide the machine room with the minimum amount of air changes per hour. Emergency mechanical ventilation systems shall provide not less than 30 air changes per hour based on the gross machinery room volume.