some basic questions and incite ongoing thought and action This is intended to answer some basic questions and incite ongoing thought and action To properly deal any of the topics discussed here could easily require several hours The old and the new Exposure to liquid or high concentrations of vapor can cause painful, instant and possibly irreversible damage to tissue such as conjunctiva, cornea and lens Flush with large amounts of water for at a minimum of 15 minutes Immediately seek medical aid Prolonged contact with high concentrations of ammonia can cause painful tissue damage frostbite serious chemical burns Immediately flush with large quantities of water for a minimum of 15* minutes while removing clothing. If clothing has frozen to skin, thaw with water before removal Seek immediate medical aid Tissue damage Chemical burns Nausea and vomiting can occur Ammonia is a gas under normal atmospheric conditions and ingestion is unlikely Do not induce vomiting! Have victim drink large quantities of water if conscious Immediately seek medical aid Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person Depending on exposure concentration and duration effects can vary from None or only mild irritation Obstruction of breathing from laryngeal and bronchial spasm Edema and severe damage to mucous membranes of the respiratory tract with possible fatal results Latent edema and residual reduction in pulmonary function may occur Remove from exposure If breathing has stopped or is difficult, administer artificial respiration or oxygen as needed Seek immediate medical aid. Inrecent years, it has become evident that longer flushing with water generally results in less injury and more rapid healing. Manyexperts on this field now recommend 30 minutes of flushing with water for eye or skin contact. Whileit is true that longer flushing does remove more ammonia, two things must be remembered 1. Longer flushing time delays treatment by trained medical personnel. 1. Longer flushing time delays treatment by trained medical personnel. 2. Most safety showers in industry are not tempered. Prolongedexposure to water with temperatures significantly below normal body temperature can result in Hypothermia Shock Death. Useextreme caution if extending water flush times. Use extreme caution if extending water flush times. Monitor the injured person for signs of hypothermia and shock. Trapswaiting to snare the unwary, untrained or simply careless The lowest concentration of a gas in air which will explode. AIRGAS MSDS lists the Ammonia LEL as 16% GOTCHA! As documented in a report issued by Don Fenton in 1995 oil contamination can reduce the LEL during a release event. GOTCHA! Fentonsreport indicates LEL could be as low as 10% Ammonia has a vapor density of approximately .6 Ammonia vapor will, therefore rise in a release event, right? An aerosol is a mixture of solid or liquid droplets suspended in a gas An aerosol is a mixture of solid or liquid droplets suspended in a gas An ammonia aerosol is droplets of ammonia liquid suspended in ammonia gas An aerosol is a mixture of solid or liquid droplets suspended in a gas An ammonia aerosol is droplets of ammonia liquid suspended in ammonia gas An ammonia aerosol may be lighter than air, neutrally buoyant or heavier than air, depending on density Common belief is aerosols can only be formed when liquid is part of the release (a release of liquid from the system) Common belief is aerosols can only be formed when liquid is part of the release (a release of liquid from the system) Because compressed gas chills as pressure is reduced ammonia vapor can condense into liquid droplets forming an aerosol Anaerosol can be formed from any release and an aerosol may rise, hover or fall depending on its density. When the temperature of ammonia liquid is increased the liquid expands. When the temperature of ammonia liquid is increased the liquid expands. When contained with no room for expansion (trapped) pressure increases at the rate of 100 to 150 psi per degree temperature increase 20F liquid trapped and warmed to 70F =50F T 20F liquid trapped and warmed to 70F =50F T 50F x 125psi = 6250 PSI GOTCHA 1. I can build you an ammonia refrigeration system that does not need operators 2. I dont need to worry about PSM or RMP if I dont have 10,000 pounds of ammonia on-site Started as a 1 year program Is now a permanent program Changes the entire approach to PSM audits More documentation oriented than previous PQV protocol Willbe triggered by any OSHA visit to covered facility Routine visit Accident Employee complaint Expect a team of 2 to 4 inspectors to spend 40 to 60 hours on-site Compliance must be proven with documentation 3. The only training my operators need is O.J.T., and my senior operator has 20 years experience. He can train the others. 4. This ammonia system is just like your refrigerator at home, you dont have somebody watching it all the time. We have been operating this way for years and havent killed anybody yet. That proves we are OK, right? Threepurposes 1. Protect people Threepurposes 1. Protect people 2. Protect product Threepurposes 1. Protect people 2. Protect product 3. Protect property Protectpeople Very low alarm level Located where people are 4 to 6 off floor In work areas Protect product Still low concentration alarm Located where product is Low and elevated locations Protect property High concentration alarm Located high and low, throughout areas where ammonia is present Tied to ventilation system Possibly tied to select power systems (shunt trip) Eachpurpose has different requirements Each purpose has different requirements Each purpose uses different placement and function strategy Each purpose has different requirements Each purpose uses different placement and function strategy There are no effective, simple, one alarm does it all answers Totalautomation of alarm response can cause a more serious release Shutting down compressors due to a leak in the low pressure part of the system can cause higher pressure and a larger release Shuttingdown condensers during a release from the high pressure area can cause higher pressures and a larger release. Response to ammonia alarms must be planned, but with flexibility to allow adaptation to the actual situation Requires procedures for handling small releases Must define a small release Steps to handle those defined small releases During a release, when should we shut down everything, and when should we leave at least part of it running? When your well trained, experienced operator evaluates the proper response