O'Toole Inc. - Executive Summary |
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OToole Inc submits this Risk Management Plan as an ongoing effort to maintain the safety and confidence which our community has placed with us to coexist safely within the neighborhood. We strive to keep all storage and mobile equipment up to the latest state codes. Our facility is inspected by the Iowa Department of Agriculture at the minimum of once a year and sometimes twice. As a part of our continuing effort to maintain safety we change all pressure relief valves when the dates stamped on them by the manufacturers expire. These valves are all stamped with the date of manufacture ,the expiration date & flow capacity. There are no shutoff valves between these reliefs and the tank. These valves act to keep the pressures in the storage facility well under the designed strength of the tank. They are set to relieve the pressure at 250psi.and there are 4 of them on the storage tank. The design test pressure of the storage tank is 375psi at 115 degrees F. Pressure in the storage ta nk is monitored by an external 0-400 psi gauge on the dial end of the tank. The shell thickness of our tank is 15/16 thick and the ends are over 1/2 thick. The storage tank is built to 1965 AMSE code Sec II,VII,Ix Par UWSI with 5 pc. head beads spot x-rayed per Par UW52A. The tank was also heat treated per Par UW40&UCS56. It was manufactured in Memphis Tennessee especially for anhydrous ammonia use by Flint Steel Corporation and inspected by a commissioned inspector of the National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspectors of the state of Tennessee. All outlets of the tank vapor and liquid contain excess flow valves which are spring loaded . These valves function if a pipe were to be compromised the flow of ammonia would close these valves thus preventing a massive outflow of ammonia. The storage tank is located 60 from our water supply. All plumbing on the storage facility was professionally installed by Dales Petroleum Service of Fort Dodge Ia. All piping is schedule 80 and rated for anhydrous ammonia and protected from traffic by two cement filled pillars 4 foot in the ground. Safety measures included in the plumbing include hydrostatic relief valves which are placed anywhere in the system which ammonia is confined between two valves with no place to escape. These valves will vent the pressure in these pipes to prevent pipe failure. Other safety measures include a cable operated shutoff valve which can be accessed at the opposite end of the tank from all other plumbing this valve was installed after the plant was built as soon as they became available. The pump itself can be shutoff at 4 locations within the plant site. The pump is equipped with a 0-400psi pressure gauge on the pressure side and a bypass line which returns product to the suction side of the pump. Hoses on the loading dock are all rated for anhydrous ammonia and carry dates of manufacture and pressure ratings stamped at a minimum of every 5 foot intervals for the length o f hose. These hoses are replaced on or before their stamped expiration dates. Where these hoses connect to plant piping special breakaway valves are installed which are designed to uncouple in the event of someone driving away while hoses are still connected with a loss of less than 1 oz. of liquid anhydrous being released. In addition the hoses are protected by hydrostatic relief valves to keep trapped ammonia from building pressures over their rated capacity. Ends of hoses are hung in lockable racks which prevents unauthorized access. OToole Inc. has annual training for employees for the safety and handling of anhydrous ammonia. They are required to view a state approved video on the safe handling of anhydrous ammonia which is done on site. OToole Inc keeps two anhydrous ammonia gas masks on site with anhydrous ammonia rated canisters including one extra canister for each mask. The canisters are replaced on or before the expiration date stamped on them by the manufacturer. Employees are trained not to fill any nurse tanks or the storage tank to over 85% full at any time. During any transfer of anhydrous there is always an employee present. OToole Inc. maintains 2 water tanks located in transfer areas for load-in and load -out operations and also has a shower in the office nearby for any exposure to anhydrous needing water applied immediately. Goggles and gloves are furnished for all employees and growers free of charge and are required apparel during transfer operations. The Letts Fire Department has been on site for instruction on how to shutoff pumps and to the basic operation of the plant . Each year the facility undergoes a checklist inspection of all hoses,relief valves,guages,and all other safety related equipment. These safeguards and preventive maintenance are all in an all out effort by OToole to be as safe as humanly possible. |