Alliant Foodservice, Inc. - Executive Summary |
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Executive Summary Risk Management Plan submission for Alliant Food Service, Canton, MA Alliant Food Service operates a new facility in Canton, MA which distributes food products. Most large refrigerated facilities use a chemical called anhydrous ammonia as a vital part of the refrigeration system. Ammonia performs the same functions as the Freon refrigerants used in home air conditioners,refrigerators, and automobiles. Ammonia is also widely used as a fertilizer and because of its moderate toxicity and slight flammability, it is considered a hazardous material. Alliant Food Service is committed to maintaing a safe distribution operation for our employees and the surrounding community. This committment includes the ammonia refrigeration system. To further safety in our facility, the refrigeration system is constructed under permit from local authorities, such as the building and fire departments.Additionally, we adhere where appropriate to industry codes and standards, including the ASHRAE Safety Code for Refrigeration ans the IIAR-2 standard of the International Instute of Ammonia Refrigeration. Finally, to comply with requirements of OSHA and the USEPA,we implement a method called Process Safety Management to ensure that the refrigeration system is operated and maintained safely. Alliant Food Service uses a variety of methods to ensure that accidental releases of hazardous materials are prevented to greatest extent possible. In addition to professional design and installation to accepted engineering standards, our Process Safety Management program includes elements addressing: Employee participation Process Safety Information Process Hazards Analysis Operating procedures Mechanical integrity Training Management of change Contractors Hot work permits Pre-startup safety review Emergency response Compliance audits Trade secrets Management system As required by the EPA, we have analyzed worst case and alternative ammonia release scenarios and their consequences. The worst case scenario involves the loss of the contents of the high pressure receiver vessel over ten minutes. As required, this scenario has offsite impact, meaning that a level of 200 ppm of ammonia is reached beyond the property line. The alternative scenario involves a serious leak in a liquid ammonia line, which would have offsite impact. We used EPA Guidance programs to estimate the offsite impacts. Alliant Food Service relies upon the Canton Fire Department to respond in the unlikely event of an ammonia release.Through our Process Safety Management program, we continually look for possible improvements. We plan to continue to monitor the system for improved operation. |