Grand Rapids Waste Water Treatment Plant - Executive Summary |
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Company Policy The City of Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission recognizes the intrinsic value for the well being of their employees and customers, the Public Utilities Commission proclaims that their "safety" is a primary objective. The utility will provide for a safety program committed to: developing safe work practices and procedures to maintain property and equipment in a safe condition; providing training to its employees to enable them to work without accident; and ensuring that all employees comply with all safety rules, regulations, practices and procedures. All aspects of the safety program will be administered with fairness and consistency. The supervisor/manager will be held accountable and responsible for, and actively support and participate in the program, including communication of, understanding and compliance with, and monitoring of safety performance. Stationary Source Information The City of Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission installed two chlorination systems at their secondary treatment plant during 1975 and 1980. The system and storage area is comprised of 12 one-ton cylinders of liquid chlorine, regulators, piping and eductors. The chlorine building is centrally located in the secondary treatment plant. The secondary plant is located east of the municipal airport. The closest residential area is located 1,200 feet northeast of the chlorine building. Gaseous chlorine is introduced under vacuum to an eductor to make a chlorinated water solution. This chlorinated water solution is introduced to the effluent stream to control fecal bacteria and the aeration basin to control filamentous bacteria. Scenarios and Controls This Risk Management Plan addresses the potential off-site impacts from a catastrophic release of chlorine from the chlorination process at the waste water treatment plant. Two scenarios are considered in this plan. The first scenario considered is the full release of the contents from one 2000 pound vessel of c hlorine in a ten minute time period. The second scenario considered is the Accidental Release Prevention Program The City of Grand Rapids has developed a Process Safety Management Plan and work procedures and controls to ensure that an accidental release of chlorine gas does not occur from the waste water treatment plant. The employees have been trained to ensure familiarity with these processes and procedures. Periodic and refresher training is also conducted to review these procedures and any new procedures that have been developed and implemented. These procedures are also reviewed with contractors who may be used to perform work at the waste water treatment plant. 1.1. Company Policy The City of Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission recognizes the intrinsic value for the well being of their employees and customers, the Public Utilities Commission proclaims that their "safety" is a primary objective. The utility will provide for a safety program committed to: developing safe work practices and procedures to maintain property and equipment in a safe condition; providing training to its employees to enable them to work without accident; and ensuring that all employees comply with all safety rules, regulations, practices and procedures. All aspects of the safety program will be administered with fairness and consistency. The supervisor/manager will be held accountable and responsible for, and actively support and participate in the program, including communication of, understanding and compliance with, and monitoring of safety performance. 1.2. Stationary Source Information The City of Grand Rapids Public Utilities Commission installed two chlorination systems at their secondary treatment plant during 1975 and 1980. The system and storage area is comprised of 4 one-ton cylinders of liquid chlorine, regulators, piping and eductors. The chlorine building is centrally located in the secondary treatment plant. The secondary plant is located east of the municipal airport. The closest residential area is located 1,200 feet northeast of the chlorine building. Gaseous chlorine is introduced under vacuum to an eductor to make a chlorinated water solution. This chlorinated water solution is introduced to the effluent stream to control fecal bacteria and the aeration basin to control filamentous bacteria. 1.3. Scenarios and Controls This Risk Management Plan addresses the potential off-site impacts from a catastrophic release of chlorine from the chlorination process at the waste water treatment plant. Two scenarios are considered in this plan. The first scenario considered is the full release of the contents from one 2000 pound vessel of chlorine in a ten minute time period. The second scenario considered is the more likely release scenario for a release of chlorine from the waste water treatment plant. This scenario assumes that a hose leaks chlorine at a rate of 2.2 pounds per minute for a five minute period. This rate is realist ic for the 0.25 inch hoses used and given the chlorine detectors in the chlorine building would alert employees to a release who would then take corrective actions. 1.4. Accidental Release Prevention Program The City of Grand Rapids has developed a Process Safety Management Plan and work procedures and controls to ensure that an accidental release of chlorine gas does not occur from the waste water treatment plant. The employees have been trained to ensure familiarity with these processes and procedures. Periodic and refresher training is also conducted to review these procedures and any new procedures that have been developed and implemented. These procedures are also reviewed with contractors who may be used to perform work at the waste water treatment plant. 1.5. Five-Year Accident History The City of Grand Rapids Waste Water Treatment Plant has not experienced a release of chlorine gas from the covered process in the five years preceding the preparation and submittal of this R isk Management Plan. The City of Grand Rapids Waste Water Treatment Plant will respond appropriately as outlined in our Emergency Management Plan in the event of a release of chlorine gas from this process. In addition, the implementation of the Process Safety Management Plan and this Risk Management Plan will help ensure that a release of chlorine gas does not occur from this process. 1.6. Emergency Response Program The City of Grand Rapids Public Utilities has prepared an Emergency Response Plan that is designed for timely, safe, and efficient response actions to minimize hazards t human health and safety, the environment, and property in situations involving releases of chlorine from the covered process at the waste water treatment plant. This plan is reviewed periodically to ensure that the information is accurate. Local response authorities have been provided a copy of the plan in the event that they would be required to respond to an emergency at the facility. 1.7. Safety Imp rovements Planned During the safety inspection performed as part of the Process Safety management Plan preparation, several action items were identified to improve the safety and accurate tracking of chlorine at the waste water treatment plant. Action items identified include but were not limited to proper movement and adjustment of the chlorine cylinders, maintenance procedures for equipment, proper operating limits of control systems, use of personal protective equipment by employees, and non-destructive testing of pipeline. Each of these items are the responsibility of the Waste Water Treatment Plant Manager to ensure that they are addressed and procedures revised when appropriate. |