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Anhydrous Ammonia & A little about HazCom
Anhydrous
Ammonia, anyone know what that is? I’m
Marty T Hawkins with Warehouse and Operations as a Career and we appreciate you
checking in with us! My apologies, I’m a
bit horse today but let’s have some fun anyway! I brought up the words
Anhydrous Ammonia a few weeks ago and had gotten a few questions about it so
lets look it up today! Merriam Webster
tells us that Anhydrous means free from water.
And they explain that Ammonia is a pungent colorless gaseous alkaline
compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH3 that is very soluble in water and can
easily be condensed to a liquid by cold and pressure. So, looking up Anhydrous Ammonia we learn it
is ammonia in its pure form that contains no water. https://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/toolstemplates/entertainmented/tips/AnhydrousAmmonia.html
we learn Anhydrous ammonia, a colorless gas with pungent, suffocating fumes, is
used as an agricultural fertilizer and industrial refrigerant.
When handled
improperly, anhydrous ammonia can be immediately dangerous to life or health.
As liquid anhydrous ammonia is released from its container into the air, it
expands rapidly, forming a large cloud that acts like a heavier-than-air gas
for a period of time. Because the vapors hug the ground initially, the chances
for humans to be exposed are greater than with other gases. Symptoms of
anhydrous ammonia exposure include:
eye, nose,
and throat irritation
breathing
difficulty, wheezing, or chest pain
pulmonary
edema, pink frothy sputum
burns,
blisters and frostbite.
Exposure can
be fatal at high concentrations.
My
experience with it has been in foodservice distribution facilities. Your larger broadline’s and concept
distribution centers may use it for their refrigeration systems for their
cooler and freezer vaults. If you’ve
ever visited one of them upon signing in at the lobby, they’ll usually have you
sign in and give you a sheet that explains that they have anhydrous ammonia on
the premises and describes their evacuation procedures. Of course, it’s safe when used properly, just
one of the many things in our industry that we need to treat with respect
though. I’ve had two run ins with it
across my career, once a facility I was working in had been doing some work on
one of the units up on the front cooler dock and there was a small leak when
bringing the unit back on line. After
being allowed back in the building we had to clear all the product off the
dock, actually ended up throwing it away, really just with an abundance of
caution. Ended up being only that
pungent smell that triggered its disposal, it was determined that there was not
really a leak but some of the gas left in a closed off pipe. We had a plan, and
everyone knew it so we’d have all been safe if there had actually been a
leak! A few years later I was asked to
go to a sister company and help them clean up after they had an actual issue
with it. A forklift driver had hit one
of the pressured ammonia lines which triggered an evacuation. It was an actual release or spill and all the
product had to be removed and properly destroyed. It was quite the expensive mess.
Anyway, when
working at a facility that uses it for their refrigeration you’ll be briefed or
taught a lot about it and learn how to evacuate and stay away from it once
outside. Ever see one of those wind
socks out front or on the corners of a building? There located in positions of site, so you
know which way the winds blowing and you don’t run into the gas while exiting. Again, very dangerous stuff but like every
other tool in our industry, treat it with respect, know how to handle it safely
and adhere to all your safety procedures and it is safe and efficient to
use.
So, talking
about all this makes me think of our HazCom or Hazardous Communication training. We all remember the hazcom talks at our facilities,
right? Hazard communication, also known
as HazCom, is a set of processes and procedures that employers and importers
must implement in the workplace to communicate any hazards that are associated
with chemicals during handling, storing and the shipping of and any kind of
exposure we could run into. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/HCSFactsheet.html
has a really good fact sheet, and I’ll add the link in todays show notes, you
ought to check it out, I’m pretty sure you’ll find it interesting! I won’t read the whole thing to you but I
would like to hit on a couple of the high points real quick. I think the first paragraph of the standard
wrap’s it up pretty well. It states “New
changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard
Communication Standard are bringing the United States into alignment with the
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS),
further improving safety and health protections for America’s workers. Building
on the success of OSHA’s current Hazard Communication Standard, the GHS is
expected to prevent injuries and illnesses, save lives and improve trade conditions
for chemical manufacturers. An I think this next sentence spells it out for us
as employees. The Hazard Communication Standard in 1983 gave the workers the
‘right to know,’ but the new Globally Harmonized System gives workers the
‘right to understand.’” The four major
changes were:
- Hazard classification: Chemical manufacturers and
importers are required to determine the hazards of the chemicals they
produce or import. Hazard classification under the new, updated standard
provides specific criteria to address health and physical hazards as well
as classification of chemical mixtures.Labels: Chemical manufacturers and
importers must provide a label that includes a signal word, pictogram,
hazard statement, and precautionary statement for each hazard class and
category.Safety Data Sheets: The new format requires 16
specific sections, ensuring consistency in presentation of important
protection information.Information and training: To facilitate
understanding of the new system, the new standard requires that workers be
trained by December 1, 2013 on the new label elements and safety data
sheet format, in addition to the current training requirements.
Again, this is a pretty informative read, pull it up if you have a moment
and check it out!
https://www.red-on-line.com/our-core-activities-chemical-hazardous-materials-classification-of-chemicals-employers-guide-to-oshas-hazard-communication-standard/ is another good site I found on the
subject too.
I liked this
site as it breaks the wording down into something us as employees &
employers can understand. For todays
discussion I’d like to talk a little more about the Safety Data Sheets.
As we know,
or I hope we all know, we have to know where the SDS stations or books are kept
at our facility. I feel it’s our
responsibility to even ask if no one has shown them to us. It should be part of our orientation, but if
it’s not, ask, and please know how to use them and be able to understand what
your looking at or looking for. As we’ve
learned every chemical in our building should have an SDS sheet. Many of you may still be calling the an MSDS
sheet, and that’s ok, there the same thing these days, but SDS or Safety Data
Sheet is the proper name for them now.
Anyway, understand them please!
So, the SDS
sheet is broken down into 16 Sections:
Section 1 is
Identification or what it is, name, product type SDS number and usually the supplier’s
details
Section 2
gives us the products OSHA status, its classification, GHS labels and hazards
statements and storage and disposal information
Section 3
Composition and information on ingredients
Section 4,
this is an important one to us, or 1 of two sections that I always talk
too. I feel we need to understand
sections 4 & 8 for every chemical in our buildings. So, section 4 explains all the first aid
measures to us and how to handle any exposures.
That’s an important one ladies and gentlemen.
Section 5 discusses
Fire Fighting measures
Section 6
explains Accidental release measures
Section 7
talks about the handling and storage of the product
And section
8, remember, this is an important one to us covers Exposure controls and
personal protection!
Section 9
lists the Physical and chemical properties
Section 10
talks to the chemicals Stability and reactivity
Section 11
Toxicological information
Section 12
is the Ecological Information
And section
13, I think we should look at it too when we’re just looking up a chemical,
it’s on Disposal considerations.
Section 14
Transport Information, it gives us the DOT and TDG classifications and any
transport hazard classes
Section 15
list its regulatory information
And Section
16 is for Other Information
Our
employers must make these sheets readily available to its employees and we as
associates have a responsibility to know where there located and how to use
them. If you have any questions, please
go ask your management. It maybe you or
a peer that needs them sometime.
Well, we’re
out of time again, I want to thank you for checking in with WAOC today and urge
you to send us an email to [email protected]
if you have any comments or topic suggestions!
If you are finding any value with the Podcast please share it with a
friend and ask them to subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, iTunes or
really just about any podcatcher out there. Until next week, be Safe out there & if
you don’t know where your SDS books are kept, please go in tomorrow and find
out!
View all episodes
By Warehouse and Operations as a Career
4.8
1212 ratings
Anhydrous
Ammonia, anyone know what that is? I’m
Marty T Hawkins with Warehouse and Operations as a Career and we appreciate you
checking in with us! My apologies, I’m a
bit horse today but let’s have some fun anyway! I brought up the words
Anhydrous Ammonia a few weeks ago and had gotten a few questions about it so
lets look it up today! Merriam Webster
tells us that Anhydrous means free from water.
And they explain that Ammonia is a pungent colorless gaseous alkaline
compound of nitrogen and hydrogen NH3 that is very soluble in water and can
easily be condensed to a liquid by cold and pressure. So, looking up Anhydrous Ammonia we learn it
is ammonia in its pure form that contains no water. https://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/toolstemplates/entertainmented/tips/AnhydrousAmmonia.html
we learn Anhydrous ammonia, a colorless gas with pungent, suffocating fumes, is
used as an agricultural fertilizer and industrial refrigerant.
When handled
improperly, anhydrous ammonia can be immediately dangerous to life or health.
As liquid anhydrous ammonia is released from its container into the air, it
expands rapidly, forming a large cloud that acts like a heavier-than-air gas
for a period of time. Because the vapors hug the ground initially, the chances
for humans to be exposed are greater than with other gases. Symptoms of
anhydrous ammonia exposure include:
eye, nose,
and throat irritation
breathing
difficulty, wheezing, or chest pain
pulmonary
edema, pink frothy sputum
burns,
blisters and frostbite.
Exposure can
be fatal at high concentrations.
My
experience with it has been in foodservice distribution facilities. Your larger broadline’s and concept
distribution centers may use it for their refrigeration systems for their
cooler and freezer vaults. If you’ve
ever visited one of them upon signing in at the lobby, they’ll usually have you
sign in and give you a sheet that explains that they have anhydrous ammonia on
the premises and describes their evacuation procedures. Of course, it’s safe when used properly, just
one of the many things in our industry that we need to treat with respect
though. I’ve had two run ins with it
across my career, once a facility I was working in had been doing some work on
one of the units up on the front cooler dock and there was a small leak when
bringing the unit back on line. After
being allowed back in the building we had to clear all the product off the
dock, actually ended up throwing it away, really just with an abundance of
caution. Ended up being only that
pungent smell that triggered its disposal, it was determined that there was not
really a leak but some of the gas left in a closed off pipe. We had a plan, and
everyone knew it so we’d have all been safe if there had actually been a
leak! A few years later I was asked to
go to a sister company and help them clean up after they had an actual issue
with it. A forklift driver had hit one
of the pressured ammonia lines which triggered an evacuation. It was an actual release or spill and all the
product had to be removed and properly destroyed. It was quite the expensive mess.
Anyway, when
working at a facility that uses it for their refrigeration you’ll be briefed or
taught a lot about it and learn how to evacuate and stay away from it once
outside. Ever see one of those wind
socks out front or on the corners of a building? There located in positions of site, so you
know which way the winds blowing and you don’t run into the gas while exiting. Again, very dangerous stuff but like every
other tool in our industry, treat it with respect, know how to handle it safely
and adhere to all your safety procedures and it is safe and efficient to
use.
So, talking
about all this makes me think of our HazCom or Hazardous Communication training. We all remember the hazcom talks at our facilities,
right? Hazard communication, also known
as HazCom, is a set of processes and procedures that employers and importers
must implement in the workplace to communicate any hazards that are associated
with chemicals during handling, storing and the shipping of and any kind of
exposure we could run into. https://www.osha.gov/dsg/hazcom/HCSFactsheet.html
has a really good fact sheet, and I’ll add the link in todays show notes, you
ought to check it out, I’m pretty sure you’ll find it interesting! I won’t read the whole thing to you but I
would like to hit on a couple of the high points real quick. I think the first paragraph of the standard
wrap’s it up pretty well. It states “New
changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Hazard
Communication Standard are bringing the United States into alignment with the
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS),
further improving safety and health protections for America’s workers. Building
on the success of OSHA’s current Hazard Communication Standard, the GHS is
expected to prevent injuries and illnesses, save lives and improve trade conditions
for chemical manufacturers. An I think this next sentence spells it out for us
as employees. The Hazard Communication Standard in 1983 gave the workers the
‘right to know,’ but the new Globally Harmonized System gives workers the
‘right to understand.’” The four major
changes were:
- Hazard classification: Chemical manufacturers and
importers are required to determine the hazards of the chemicals they
produce or import. Hazard classification under the new, updated standard
provides specific criteria to address health and physical hazards as well
as classification of chemical mixtures.Labels: Chemical manufacturers and
importers must provide a label that includes a signal word, pictogram,
hazard statement, and precautionary statement for each hazard class and
category.Safety Data Sheets: The new format requires 16
specific sections, ensuring consistency in presentation of important
protection information.Information and training: To facilitate
understanding of the new system, the new standard requires that workers be
trained by December 1, 2013 on the new label elements and safety data
sheet format, in addition to the current training requirements.
Again, this is a pretty informative read, pull it up if you have a moment
and check it out!
https://www.red-on-line.com/our-core-activities-chemical-hazardous-materials-classification-of-chemicals-employers-guide-to-oshas-hazard-communication-standard/ is another good site I found on the
subject too.
I liked this
site as it breaks the wording down into something us as employees &
employers can understand. For todays
discussion I’d like to talk a little more about the Safety Data Sheets.
As we know,
or I hope we all know, we have to know where the SDS stations or books are kept
at our facility. I feel it’s our
responsibility to even ask if no one has shown them to us. It should be part of our orientation, but if
it’s not, ask, and please know how to use them and be able to understand what
your looking at or looking for. As we’ve
learned every chemical in our building should have an SDS sheet. Many of you may still be calling the an MSDS
sheet, and that’s ok, there the same thing these days, but SDS or Safety Data
Sheet is the proper name for them now.
Anyway, understand them please!
So, the SDS
sheet is broken down into 16 Sections:
Section 1 is
Identification or what it is, name, product type SDS number and usually the supplier’s
details
Section 2
gives us the products OSHA status, its classification, GHS labels and hazards
statements and storage and disposal information
Section 3
Composition and information on ingredients
Section 4,
this is an important one to us, or 1 of two sections that I always talk
too. I feel we need to understand
sections 4 & 8 for every chemical in our buildings. So, section 4 explains all the first aid
measures to us and how to handle any exposures.
That’s an important one ladies and gentlemen.
Section 5 discusses
Fire Fighting measures
Section 6
explains Accidental release measures
Section 7
talks about the handling and storage of the product
And section
8, remember, this is an important one to us covers Exposure controls and
personal protection!
Section 9
lists the Physical and chemical properties
Section 10
talks to the chemicals Stability and reactivity
Section 11
Toxicological information
Section 12
is the Ecological Information
And section
13, I think we should look at it too when we’re just looking up a chemical,
it’s on Disposal considerations.
Section 14
Transport Information, it gives us the DOT and TDG classifications and any
transport hazard classes
Section 15
list its regulatory information
And Section
16 is for Other Information
Our
employers must make these sheets readily available to its employees and we as
associates have a responsibility to know where there located and how to use
them. If you have any questions, please
go ask your management. It maybe you or
a peer that needs them sometime.
Well, we’re
out of time again, I want to thank you for checking in with WAOC today and urge
you to send us an email to [email protected]
if you have any comments or topic suggestions!
If you are finding any value with the Podcast please share it with a
friend and ask them to subscribe on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, iTunes or
really just about any podcatcher out there. Until next week, be Safe out there & if
you don’t know where your SDS books are kept, please go in tomorrow and find
out!