This is a perfect (and sad) example of why releases of hazardous materials need to be DEFINED and QUANTIFIED so that personnel know their LIMITATIONS in responding to said releases. This exercise is part of our PRE-PLANNING, starting with using the Tier II forms we submit each year. Just understand, the Tier II forms are simply a great starting point, but recognize that we may have HHCs/EHSs on site that are below the TQs for Tier II’s and yet could create a hazardous atmosphere.
At 4:30 p.m. on July 23, 2023, an employee found the deceased lying face down near the entrance door into the computer room of an anhydrous ammonia refrigeration facility.
The employee, 55, responded twice to an ammonia sensor alarm alert and went to check inside engine room #1. The employee was able to exit after the first entry but was unable to survive his second entry into the ammonia engine room.
A worker of an outside contractor observed and encountered ammonia leaking from equipment inside the engine room when he conducted an entry after the incident, wearing a Level A hazmat suit. The contract worker was able to stop the ammonia leak after closing five (5) valves on the ammonia refrigeration room equipment.
| Violations/Penalties | Serious | Willful | Repeat | Other | Unclass | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Current Violations | 3 | 3 | ||||
| Initial Penalty | $42,750 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $42,750 |
| Current Penalty | $42,750 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $42,750 |
| FTA Penalty | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| # | Citation ID | Citaton Type | Standard Cited | Issuance Date | Abatement Due Date | Current Penalty | Initial Penalty | FTA Penalty | Contest | Latest Event | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 02001 | Serious | 5144(D)(2)(A) | 12/08/2023 | 12/22/2023 | $18,000 | $18,000 | $0 | 02/12/2024 | C – Contested | |
| 2. | 03001 | Serious | 5192(Q)(3)(D) | 12/08/2023 | 12/20/2023 | $18,000 | $18,000 | $0 | 02/12/2024 | C – Contested | |
| 3. | 04001 | Serious | 3203(A)(7) | 12/08/2023 | 12/22/2023 | $6,750 | $6,750 | $0 | 02/12/2024 | C – Contested |
5144(D)(2)(A) Respirators for IDLH atmospheres.
(A) The employer shall provide the following respirators for employee use in IDLH atmospheres:
- A full facepiece pressure demand SCBA certified by NIOSH for a minimum service life of thirty minutes, or
- A combination full facepiece pressure demand supplied-air respirator (SAR) with auxiliary self-contained air supply.
5192(Q)(3)(D)
Employees engaged in emergency response and exposed to hazardous substances presenting an inhalation hazard or potential inhalation hazard shall wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) while engaged in emergency response, until such time that the individual in charge of the ICS determines through the use of air monitoring that a decreased level of respiratory protection will not result in hazardous exposures to employees.
Source: https://www.osha.gov/ords/imis/establishment.inspection_detail?id=1686310.015