2020 RETA Breeze Jan-Feb

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Don’t Drive Through The Big Smoke

Basic facts about NH3: • It is a natural chemical

Now, as a Certified NH3 Geek, I have a responsibility not only to my employees, but also to the community around my plants. Tragically we have all seen what can happen when NH3 gets out of the pipes and people are seriously injured or killed. With many facilities in this country using NH3 as a refrigerant (and not just the

THIS IS ONE OF EVERY NH3 PROFESSIONAL’S WORST NIGHTMARES external conditions just right, and you end up with a dense vapor cloud that is quickly fatal to all. And, since our vehicles runonoxygen andnot NH3, driving through the cloud is also not a survivable option. When I conduct my NH3 safety training I use that exact phrase - Don’t run through

comprised of Nitrogen and Hydrogen

• It is not a

greenhouse gas, nor does it contribute to global climate change

WHEN PEOPLE ARE PANICKED, THEY MAY THINK THAT IT IS SMOKE OR STEAM. EVEN THOUGH IT IS SELF-ALARMING, IN A PANIC SITUATION SOMEONE MAY NOT DISCOVER WHAT IT REALLY IS UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE.

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• It is a very efficient refrigerant

the big cloud! The reasoning behind that is when people are panicked, they may think that it is smoke or steam. Even though it is self-alarming, in a panic situation someone may not discover what it really is until it is too late. As a long time Safety Professional, it was my job to keep my employees safe at work. Send them home in the same condition they came to work in, except a few hours older!

PSM plants, as even a smaller quantity of NH3 can lead to the same issue), we are all doing a pretty good job of keeping everyone safe. I think we can still do better, and continue to reduce the number of releases through improvements in technology, training, vigilance, and good old fashioned hard work. I look forward to the day when I can realistically stop telling my students: Don’t Run Through the Big Cloud!

• It is inexpensive • It can kill you if you are exposed to it

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