Shaw's Southern Belle Frozen Foods - Executive Summary |
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SHAWS SOUTHERN BELLE FROZEN FOODS RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. General accidental release and prevention policy of Shaws Southern Belle Frozen Foods. In this frozen food product manufacturing facility we handle ammonia which is considered hazardous by the EPA. The same properties that make ammonia a valuable refrigerant also makes it necessary to observe certain safety precautions during it's use to prevent human exposure, reduce the threat to our workers personal health, the surrounding community and the environment. It is our policy to adhere to all applicable federal and state regulations. Safety depends directly on our proper handling of ammonia combined with the safety devices that are incorporated in our facility and the safe handling procedures that our personnel are trained in. 2. Stationary source and regulated substance handled. Shaws Southern Belle Frozen Foods, 821 Virgini a Street, Jacksonville, Florida, is responsible for the manufacturing of frozen seafood. There are approximately 90 employees at this facility which includes hourly and salary personnel. The plant manufactures product from 6:00 am to 4:30 pm, (5) five days a week. Shaws Frozen Foods is located on the north west side of Jacksonville. The residential receptors in the community are predominantly located to the west and south-west of the plant. The potentially hazardous chemical used at the Shaws Southern Belle Frozen Foods facility is ANHYDROUS AMMONIA. The dominant characteristic of ammonia vapor is it's pungent, distinct odor. Persons exposed to ammonia will not voluntarily stay in areas of even small concentrations, although these levels would not result in any health risks. Risks from accidental exposure to ammonia in a vapor state are irritations to the eyes, nose and throat. The extent of irritation depends on the exposure amount and length of exposure time. Ammonia is cl assified non-flammable by the Department of Transportation. It will burn, but only in a very narrow, high concentration level with a constant ignition source. The normal operating level of ammonia that is used at the Southern Belle Frozen Foods facility is 11,000 pounds. The anhydrous ammonia is used as the refrigerant chemical in the manufacturing and storage process. The possible hazards that could lead to an accidental release include, but are not limited to, equipment failure, damage to piping, damage to equipment, human error, etc. 3. Worst and Alternate Case Release Scenarios. Worst case release scenario criteria for Shaws Southern Belle Frozen Foods facility: Worst case scenario depicts continuous source leak from the High Pressure Recirculator (HPR) located inside the machine room. This vessels normal operating level is 3,600 pounds of liquid ammonia, approximately 60% of it's total capacity. Although it's maximum capacity is 5,800 pounds, engineered l imit switches and administrative procedures prevent it from exceeding an 80% operating level at any time. Potential Ammonia Release Quantity: 3,600 pounds Rate of Release: 360 lbs / min. (10 min. release) LOC (Level of Concern): 200 ppm (EPA ERPG-2) Physical State: Gas Type of Area: Urban Wind Speed: 1.5 meters per second Distance to Endpoint 1.2 miles Alternate case release scenario criteria for Shaws Southern Belle Frozen Foods facility: Alternate release scenario is represented by the release of ammonia vapor from a safety relief valve (SRV) due to an over-pressurization condition on a vertical vessel located within the Shaws Southern Belle Frozen Foods facility machine room. SRV would be performing exactly as it is designed to do. Although the actual valve would open on the vessel in the machine room, it would vent into the atmosphere via the vent piping on the machine room roof. Ammonia Quantity: 150 pounds Rate of Release: 22 pounds/min. (10 min. release) Wind Speed: 3.0 meters per second Distance to Endpoint: 154 yards The following administrative and engineering controls are in place at the Shaws Southern Belle Frozen Foods facility to limit the distance for the reported scenarios. * Electronic ammonia detection in the machine room.. Detector control system activates local alarms to alert refrigeration operators and personnel in the immediate area that a leak has been detected. * High liquid level switches are configured to pressure vessels (intercoolers, recirculator and subcooler) to alert refrigeration personnel in the event of a deviation from normal operating levels. * Safety relief valves are installed on pressure vessels and condensers to el iminate a possible over pressurization condition in the associated vessel. * Refrigeration operators on duty 18 hours a day (6:00 am - 12:00 pm), Monday - Friday. Operators make periodic rounds and log entries each shift to monitor equipment status. * Periodic Maintenance Program is conducted by a refrigeration contractor to ensure all refrigeration components are kept in optimum operational and mechanical status. 4. Five-year accident history. Shaws Southern Belle Frozen Foods has had no accidental releases over the last five years. 5. Emergency Action Program The purpose of the Shaws Southern Belle Frozen Foods Emergency Action Program is to: 1. Minimize exposure to our employees and the surrounding community in the event of a hazardous material release or spill. 2. Assure the safe emergency evacuation of the plant in the instance that it is required. 3. Provide for prompt medical attention to any employees who become ser iously injured or ill at work. 4. Manage an emergency response system and coordinate response of the internal and external resources required to provide efficient and effective response to any type of emergency that may occur at Shaws Frozen Foods. The Emergency Action Plan currently meets requirements as set forth in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38. |