Many industries and commercial buildings rely on ammonia refrigeration management (ARM) to control temperature and humidity in their facilities. Food and beverage, petrochemical plants, and the pharmaceutical sector, depend on cold storage facilities to store, process, and ship perishable products around the world.
While these systems are effective and widely used in various applications, it's important to keep a few things in mind when considering implementing an ARM system at your facility. Ammonia is hazardous and must be handled carefully to prevent serious health and safety risks for your employees and the environment.
Authorities have developed the Ammonia Refrigeration Management (ARM) Program to help reduce these risks and prevent accidents caused by improper handling of ammonia refrigerants in cold storage facilities. This is not only important for the safety of employees but also to protect the environment and safeguard the community as a whole. Before hiring a safety consultant, read on to learn more about Ammonia Refrigeration Management Program and its elements!
ARM Program and Requirements
According to EPA's Risk Management Program and OSHA's Process Safety Management, cold storage facilities that deal with ammonia refrigeration with more than 10 thousand pounds or more of ammonia are required to comply with the requirements of the ARM program.
However, if your facility's refrigeration systems handle less ammonia than that, you may still want to consider enrolling in the program to ensure that you're complying with all regulations and industry. Such companies can simply refer to general duty clauses by EPA and OSHA. These programs will help promote better safety practices among employees and reduce the risk of costly accidents that could lead to serious injury or casualties.
Hazards of Ammonia Refrigeration Systems
Anhydrous ammonia is a hazardous substance that is flammable, toxic, and corrosive. It can cause severe injuries Employees that work with anhydrous ammonia are exposed to a number of health risks, including irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin; difficulty breathing; coughing; chest pain; nausea; vomiting; dizziness; fatigue; muscle and joint pain; headache; irregular heartbeat; fainting; and reduced vision.
If inhaled at high concentrations, it can also cause coma or death. Chronic exposure to high ammonia concentrations can result in lung damage or even respiratory failure. Therefore, maintaining ammonia in cold storage facilities is of utmost importance.
IIAR Guidelines
The International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) has developed a set of guidelines that recommend steps to reduce risks and prevent accidents related to the handling of ammonia. Here are 14 elements of the ARM program you must know about!
Employee Participation
The most important mandate is for employee to be involved in every aspect of the program in their respective worksite. They must be present in all the meetings and other program-related places where a formal plan is created or discussed regarding PSM.
Documentation
This element consists of documents and protocols that support the ARM program and facilitate training and implementation. From hazard review to documentation on best practices, this set of documents will be critical for successfully adopting the program. The owner and operator must maintain the documentation for the systems, including the guidelines, protocols, data sheets, design codes, etc.
Hazard Analysis
The analysis of ammonia refrigeration hazards includes the identification and evaluation of the risks posed by the use of ammonia as a refrigerant and how owners can mitigate the risks.
Maintenance and Operating Procedures
Guidelines for proper maintenance practices to prevent equipment failure and increase energy efficiency must be provided by the contractors installing the equipment or the manufacturer. In case of changes in the recommended practices or guidelines, the owner will be responsible.
Employees Training
Although most equipment is designed to operate without operational checks, the service-providing staff should be trained to identify potential problems and prevent failures before they occur.
Contractors
The contractors and the employees must have sound knowledge of the ARM standards and how EPA and OSHA rules apply to the facility.
Preventative Maintenance
Maintaining an ammonia refrigeration system must be done using the guidelines of IIAR's best practice manual for ammonia refrigeration plants.
Management System
The ARM program is managed and carried out by trained and experienced personnel from the management committee of participating organizations, the ARM team, and technical specialists. Employees may also become involved depending on their roles and expertise.
Incident Investigation
In case of an incident, an investigation will be conducted by the owner to determine the cause and take corrective measures to eliminate the cause of the incident and prevent recurrences.
Contingency Plan
After installing ammonia refrigeration equipment, the owner must have an action plan designed to ensure that operations continue in the event of a major disaster.
Compliance Audits
Audits evaluate the current compliance status of the ammonia refrigeration facilities against the rules and regulations specified by regulatory bodies such as the owners.
Environmental Safety
Manufacturers and contractors must ensure that the installed equipment meets environmental safety standards such as VOC emissions, soot production, and environmental impact.
Change Management Program
In the last element, the change management program will ensure that the changes made to the equipment do not affect the operation of other systems or the performance of other equipment in the facility. It provides guidelines for changes regarding equipment modifications, maintenance procedures, and safety procedures.
Trade Secrets
Some companies tend to keep certain details of the PSM program from workers which can put their safety in jeopardy. Trade secrets help them understand their rights and protect them.
Looking for Process Safety Professionals?
Ice Cold Consulting has a team of professionals trained and experienced in offering ARM Program services to clients in the food and beverage industry, pharmaceutical sector, and petrochemical plants under the general duty clause. They can guide you through the entire program, from the development of the action plan to its implementation and maintenance.
They also specialize in conducting compliance audits for mechanical integrity and process safety management program. Contact them or visit their website for details.
