Nestli USA - FoodService Division Inc., Othello - Executive Summary |
|
A. Describe the Accident Release Prevention and Emergency Policies It is the intent of Nestle to provide a safe work environment for every employee and to protect them from injury and illness resulting from unsafe acts or conditions during hours of employment. Nestle will also comply with all federal, state and local laws. The Plant Manager has the responsibility for leadership of the safety and health program, for its effectiveness and improvement and for providing the safeguards required to ensure safe conditions. Ammonia safety programs are key items in the plant safety and health program. Nestle takes many precautions to prevent or minimize accidental releases of ammonia. These precautions include safety controls (alarms and automatic shutdown devices) which are designed to identify and prevent potentially unsafe conditions like pressure increases that could cause a system failure, a preventive maintenance program designed to maintain the on-going integrity of the systems. A training program designed to ensure that the systems are operated by qualified personnel, and emergency response procedures which enable trained personnel to respond quickly to system upsets. The Boiler and Refrigeration Supervisor is responsible for the management of the ammonia safety programs. B. Stationary Source and Regulated Substances Handled Nestle's Othello Plant produces frozen potato products for sale to the public. The facility operates an ammonia refrigeration system to cool and feeze the food products and the production areas. The maximum ammonia inventory at the plant is approximately 87,600 pounds. Ammonia is the only regulated substance handled at the Othello Plant. C. Summary of Worst-Case and Alternative Release Scenarios The worst-case toxic release scenario at the Othello Plant involves the release of 24,300 pounds of ammonia over a 10 minute period due to the failure of an ammonia receiver. This maximum inventory reflects the written administrative proce dures in place at the plant to limit the amount of ammonia stored in the receiver to 85 percent. Under worst-case conditions, the resulting vapor cloud could have off-site impacts. The alternative toxic release scenario at the Othello Plant involves the release of 11,037 pounds of ammonia over a 13 minute period due to a release from a pressure relief valve. The release duration was assumed to be limited by the time it would take to empty the ammonia receiver under normal operating conditions. Under alternative release conditions, the resulting vapor cloud could have off-site impacts. The worst-case and alternative toxic release scenarios are unlikely for the following reasons: o The weather conditions that were used for the worst-case release scenario do not occur, while those used for the alternative case are uncommon; o Industry standards are followed for the design and manufacture of the equipment in the ammonia refrigeration system; o The ammonia receivers are well protected from vehicular traffic; o Pressure safety valves on the ammonia receivers should limit any pressure increases inside the receivers; o Ammonia detectors should readily detect releases from the pressure relief valves on the ammonia receivers; o Ammonia is not corrosive in this service; o The facility has a preventive maintenance program in place to maintain the on-going integrity of the ammonia refrigeration equipment; o The facility has a training program designed to ensure that the systems are operated by qualified personnel; and, o The facility emergency response procedures that enable trained personnel to respond quickly to isolate any potential releases. D. Description of the Accidental Release Prevention Program The facility has a program level 3 accident release prevention program for the ammonia system that complies with OSHA's Process Safety Management Standard and EPA's Risk managemnet Program Regulation. The ammonia prevention program consists of the following elements: o Employee Participation Program o Process Safety Information o Process Hazard Analysis o Operatin Procedures o Training Program o Contractor Safety Program o Pre-Startup Safety Review Procedures o Mechanical Integrity Program o Hot Work Permit Procedures o Management of Change Procedures o Incident Investigation Procedures o Compliance Audit Procedures E. Five-Year Accident History There have not been any ammonia-related incidents at the Othello Plant during the previous five years that resulted in significant on-site or off-site consequences. F. Description of the Emergency Response Program An emergency response program has been implemented at the Othello Plant. This program contains procedures describing how the facility will respond to fires, ammonia leaks and other emergencies, including evacuation procedures. The emergency response program includes the following elements: o Fire Plan o Ammonia Leak Procedures o Evacuation Procedures o Responsibilities of the Emergency Respo nse Team G. Planned Changes to Improve Safety Changes were recommended to improve the equipment and the system operating procedures when the ammonia refrigeration system was analyzed in 1998. The recommended changes have been evaluated and will be implemented as required. |