North Park Swimming Pool - Executive Summary |
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To ensure employee safety and reduce the potential for exposure to the public, Allegheny County - North Park Pool takes several steps. All employees are trained on the hazards of chlorine and safe handling of hazardous materials in the facility. The stationary engineers (operators) working with the chlorine gas are trained in safe operating procedures, proper safety equipment use and care and maintenance operations. Chlorine gas is used to treat the pool. The gas is kept on-site for the summer months only (June - August of each year). The process is only in operation during the day, only when the Stationary Engineer is present. Chlorine gas is used rather than solid form due to the unusually large size of the pool. The chlorine is located inside the pump room in four one ton cylinders. Two cylinders are used for chlorination and two are kept off-line in reserve. In the case of a catastrophe, the worst case scenario would involve the release of the contents of two cylinders in a twenty minute period. According to the EPA's RMP Guidance for Waste Water Treatment Plants Reference Tables, the contents of one cylinder would be released in ten minutes at a rate of 200 lbs per minute. The release would have an impact on the environment and population up to a distance of 1.3 miles in an urban setting. Since the cylinders are located in an enclosed building, the impact would be less. A more likely occurrence would involve a leak in the cylinder, valves, connectors or piping involved in the process. According to the RMP Guide, if damage was done to a cylinder during the loading or unloading procedure, the impact would cover 0.1 miles. North Park Pool has implemented a prevention program to reduce the potential for an accident. The process equipment is measured against best practices and complies with OSHA and NFPA guidelines. Equipment manuals are used to set up maintenance and inspection schedules. Operators are trained on procedures, safe handling of chl orine, and inspection and testing procedures. Operators inspect the process and calibrate chlorine detectors regularly. The Stationary Engineers are trained in the use of SCBA and repair kits. All employees are also trained in evacuation procedures, use of safety equipment, and public notification procedures. Currently, a more intensive training program is being implemented. Employee training and retraining will be conducted and documented according to SARA Title III requirements. Scheduled and preventative maintenance procedures will also be documented to ensure that the potential for failures is reduced. The facility emergency response plan has been approved by the Local Emergency Planning Committee of Allegheny County. A chlorine gas detector is installed to notify the operators of a leak. This detector also has a direct phone line to the fire department, which notifies the hazmat team immediately. An audible/visual alarm will notify employees of an emergency. William Co oke, Lead Stationary Engineer, may be contacted at (724) 935-1950. In the case of an emergency, he will notify the: Allegheny County Police Department, McCandless Township Fire Department, Allegheny County Hazmat Silver Team, SARA, PA Emergency Response Commission, Emergency Medical Services, and National Response Center, if necessary. Chlorine gas is used to treat the pool. The gas is kept on-site for the summer months only (June - August of each year). The process is only in operation during the day, only when the Stationary Engineer is present. Chlorine gas is used rather than solid form due to the unusually large size of the pool. The chlorine is located inside the pump room in four one ton cylinders. Two cylinders are used for chlorination and two are kept off-line in reserve. In the case of a catastrophe, the worst case scenario would involve the release of the contents of two cylinders in a twenty minute period. According to the EPA's RMP Guidance for Waste Water Treat ment Plants Reference Tables, the contents of one cylinder would be released in ten minutes at a rate of 200 lbs per minute. The release would have an impact on the environment and population up to a distance of 1.3 miles in an urban setting. Since the cylinders are located in an enclosed building, the impact would be less. A more likely occurrence would involve a leak in the cylinder, valves, connectors or piping involved in the process. According to the RMP Guide, if damage was done to a cylinder during the loading or unloading procedure, the impact would cover 0.1 miles. North Park Pool has implemented a prevention program to reduce the potential for an accident. The process equipment is measured against best practices and complies with OSHA and NFPA guidelines. Equipment manuals are used to set up maintenance and inspection schedules. Operators are trained on procedures, safe handling of chlorine, and inspection and testing procedures. Operators inspect the process and ca librate chlorine detectors regularly. The Stationary Engineers are trained in the use of SCBA and repair kits. All employees are also trained in evacuation procedures, use of safety equipment, and public notification procedures. Currently, a more intensive training program is being implemented. Employee training and retraining will be conducted and documented according to SARA Title III requirements. Scheduled and preventative maintenance procedures will also be documented to ensure that the potential for failures is reduced. The facility emergency response plan has been approved by the Local Emergency Planning Committee of Allegheny County. A chlorine gas detector is installed to notify the operators of a leak. This detector also has a direct phone line to the fire department, which notifies the hazmat team immediately. An audible/visual alarm will notify employees of an emergency. William Cooke, Lead Stationary Engineer, may be contacted at (724) 935-1950. In the case of an emergency, he will notify the: Allegheny County Police Department, McCandless Township Fire Department, Allegheny County Hazmat Silver Team, SARA, PA Emergency Response Commission, Emergency Medical Services, and National Response Center, if necessary. |