Employees #1 and #2 were draining refrigerant oil from anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system oil traps in fruit cold storage warehouse(s). They were working approximately 24 feet above floor level on a mobile scissor lift personnel platform using hand tools including a wrench, a flashlight, and a bucket. The cause of the unexpected ammonia release is […]
On December 26, 1989, Employee #1 was attempting to replace a leaking oil valve on a minus 30-degree freezer when a tank inside the freezer exploded. The company uses anhydrous ammonia to manufacture ice cream. The liquid ice cream mixture (at 50 degrees) is added to the tank. When the liquid ammonia changes to a
An oil separator on a two-stage ammonia refrigeration system became overpressurized and exploded, killing Employee #1. While looking for Employee #1 after the accident, Employee #2 fell into a drain. Ammonia that had been uncovered as a result of the explosion had flowed into the drain. Employee #2 was hospitalized.
At approximately 3:15 pm on May 9, 1986, employees started to charge the number 1 line Carbo-Cooler, using a cylinder containing 150 pounds of anhydrous ammonia at 129 psi (room temperature). Employee #1, in an effort to speed the charging process, was running hot water (132 degrees F) over the ammonia cylinder (to raise the internal
A pressure vessel in an ammonia refrigerator system at an ice plant ruptured under pressure of 170 psi. The explosion caused extensive physical damage and released dense clouds of ammonia gas. Employees #1 through 4 died of acute ammonia inhalation.
Employee #1 was exposed to ammonia gas on November 20, 1984, during an ammonia leak from refrigeration piping in a compressor room. A threaded joint weakened due to excess vibration and cracked. When it failed, ammonia was released. An unapproved gas mask was used by the employee. Employee #1 died the following December 16th from
Car Seal programs have gained some attention in the refrigeration industry over the years, but there is still a significant debate over whether such a program is needed in the industry. A past incident at a client’s facility and the root cause of that incident shine a bright light on the need for a Car Seal
At 3:00 p.m. on January 11, 2018, an employee was working with two coworkers with clearing a blockage in the product discharge system in the Polypropylene Unit. The employee and coworkers opened the process piping at a sample catching location and a flash fire occurred. The employee who made the line opening received first and
At approximately 10:00 a.m. on May 25, 2018, three employees were working for a firm that disposed of waste and operated solid waste landfills. They were working at an oil and gas site. Three tanks were being decommissioned. They had been assisting in containing a spill during the decommissioning. The tanks were moved from the
To provide a glimpse of what kind of fun I get to have in process safety, I wanted to start a series of chemical profiles of some of the nasty hazardous materials I work with and why so many of my clients are such sticklers for meeting all of the different codes/standards/RAGAGEPS to the letter in
On April 15, 2014, Employee #1, a maintenance technician employed by Solarworld Industries America Inc., and Coworker #1, a tool operator in the plant’s fabrication area, was working at the employer’s solar cell manufacturing facility. Coworker #1 had submitted a work order to repair a leak of liquid hydrofluoric acid (HF). HF is used in
A Reminder to Minimize Process Shutdown Related Releases and to Report Releases In a Timely Manner Introduction Unlike some other natural disasters, the onset of a hurricane is predictable and, as a result, lends itself to early preparations for minimizing its effect on a facility. Before hurricane force winds and associated storm surge flooding can damage industrial processes and cause uncontrolled releases of hazardous chemicals, owners/operatorstypically
