NATION PIZZA PRODUCTS, INC. - Executive Summary |
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The following RMP has been wrtten with the assistance of Occupational Health & Safety, Inc., Rockford, IL (815)962-1195. This is to imform all interested persons, including employees that Nation Pizza Products is comploying with OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard (PSM) 1910.119 and EPA's Risk Management Program (RMP or RM Program). In this way Nation Pizza Products promotes overall plant, worker and public safety. These programs enable our facility to prevent the occurence, and minimize the consequences, of significant releases of toxic substances (anhydrous ammonia). These programs are applied to any acitvity involving anhydrous ammonia (refrigeration system). Chemical on site: Anhydrous Ammonia used for the refrigeration system Amount on Estm. on Site: 44,500 lbs. Ammonia usage in this facility is for a refrigerant (R717), for decades has been the mainstay refrigerant in the frozen food industry. The majority of breweries, soft drink plants, dairies, meat packin g and commercial fishing fleets continue to favor ammonia as a primary refrigerant. LEADING FEATURES AND ADVANTAGES OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA Self Alarming - No refrigerant loss without warning. If a leak occurs, on-duty personnel immediately will be alerted to needs for corrective action before hundreds of pounds of refrigerant are lost, or product temperature rises to damaging heights. Lowest Cost - Cost mujch les than any halocarbon refrigerant. Easy to use- Encourages simplicity in design of systmes and controls. Highly Efficient - Exhibits greatest net refrigerating effect of all commonly used industrial refrigerants. Realtively Safe- Hard to ignite. Limited explosive potential. Non-Polluting- When released to atmosphere. Made of all natural elements. At room temperature and atmospheric pressure, ammonia is a pungent, colorless gas approximately 40% lighter than air. Compressed and cooled, ammonia gas condenses to a colorless liquid about 68% as heavy as water. At atmospheri c pressure, the ammonia liquid will boil at -28F. General Characteristics Health Hazards Material Recommendations A colorless, nonflammable and liquified gas with a strong smell A Toxic Product, highly irritating to the mucous membranes and eyes. Contact with the skin causes severe burns. Use iron and steel. Avoid copper, tin and zinc TLV-TWA Flammable Limits DOT Class / Label / 25 ppm 15 - 28% 2.2 / Nonflammable Molecular Weight Specific Gravity Specific Volume 17.03 0.597 @ 70 F 22.7 cu.ft./lb @ 70 F CGA Valve Outlet CAS Registry No. UN Number 705/110 Anhydrous 660 Electronic 7664-41-7 1005 Flash Point: NOT APPLICABLE Lower Explosive Limit: 16 Upper Explosive Limit: 25 Extinguishing Media: WITH SOURCE OF IGNITION AMMONIA WILL BURN IN RANGE OF 16-25% IN AIR.USE WATER FOG OR SPRAY TO EXTINGUISH FLAMES. Special Fire Fighting Proc: STOP GAS FLOW;MOVE CNTNR FRM FIRE ZONE IF POSSIBLE. STAY CLEAR OF TANK HEADS. USE WATER TO COOL FIRE-EXPO CNTNR/PROT PERSONNEL. USE WATERSPRAY TO CNTRL VAP(SUPPLE) Unusual Fire And Expl Hazrds: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER. SAFETY ACTION AT NATION PIZZA PRODUCTS * Annual "Right-to-Know" Hazard Communication & Ammonia Awareness Training (English & Spanish) * Annual HazMat Responder Training * Annual Lockout Program Review * Dedicated personnel to maintain refrigeration system * Ammonia Alarm Systems designed throughout the facility * Majority of piping on roof by design to reduce the hazard of a release * PSM & RMP programs on-site * Ammonia hand held gas detector * PPM on ammonia equipment ACCIDENT HISTORY IN LAST FIVE YEARS 1996 Sept - Valve failed and 40lbs went into the air from the roof. Wrong valve was installed orginnally and the ammonia acted as a corrosive for the type of metal used and the valve failed. The system was shut down and the valve replaced. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGES WORST CASE SCENARIO Failure of the high pressure receiver containing about 4,000 pounds of ammonia with the receiver quantity limited to 4,000 pounds of the vessel capacity by facility procedures resulting in ten minute release. Under the worst case ammonia cloud would travel in the air 2.6 mile before dispersing enough to no longer pose a hazard to the public. This scenario is unlikely fo the following reasons: worst case weather conditions are uncommon; The vessel is enclosed in outside in restricted area, industry standards for the manufacture and quality control of pressure vessels; ammonia is not corrosive in this service; pressure safety valves limit operating pressure in this vessel; the accident prevention program in place at the facility including the mechanical intergrity program for regular maintenance, inspection and testing, and replacement of equipment, if necessary; installed ammonia sensors in the system to warn operating personnel of process upsets; and the emergency response plan and equipment in place at the facility. |