OSHA Inspection: HOLIDAY TWIN RINKS

Issued

Aug 30, 1993

Abate by

Oct 29, 1993

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $750

General-duty citation text

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970:  The
employer did not
furnish employment and a place of employment which were free from
recognized hazards that
were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to
employees in that employees
were exposed to severe respiratory irritation, respiratory arrest and
possible death from the
potential release of anhydrous ammonia from the ice rink refrigeration
system in that
tightfitting
self-closing doors between the compressor room and ice rink area
were not installed as
required by ANSI B9.1-1971 Sections 11.13.1 and 11.13.5a; walls and
ceilings in the
compressor room were not tight as required by ANSI B9.1-1971 Section
11.13.5b; no assurance
was made that the exhaust fan provided in the compressor room is capable
of discharging at
least 2,2000 cfm of air from the compressor room as required by ANSI
B9.1-1971 Section
11.13.4; and, as required by ASHRAE Section 13.9, a card was not placed
near the refrigerant
compressor giving directions for the operation of the system, including
precautions
to be
observed in case of a breakdown or leak:
a) Compressor Room.  on or about 4/12/93, employees were exposed to
potential
releases of up to 1,200 lbs. of anhydrous amonia utilized in an ice
rink refrigeration
system.
Among other methods, feasible and acceptable methods of abatement to
correct this hazard are
to institute the following:
1. Install tight-fitting self-closing doors between the compressor
room and ice rink area;
2. Close all gaps between the walls and ceiling of the compressor
room to prevent the
passage of escaping ammonia to other parts of the building;
3. Assure that the exhaust fan in the compressor rom is capable of
discharging at least
2,200 cfm of air from the compressor room.  if the ventilaiton
system is either modified
or replaced, insure that the preferred ventilation rate is provided
as
required by
ASHRAE 15-92 Section 11.13.7, which uses the following formula:
Q=100 X G
Where Q=the required air flow in cubic feet per minute and G=the
mass of the refrigerant
in pounds;
4. Post outside the compressor room, adjacent to each door,
directions for the operation
of the system, inlcuding precautions to be observed in case of a
breakdown or leak as
follows:
(a) Instruction from shutting down the system in case of emergency;
(b) The name, address, and day and night telephone numbers for
obtaining service;
(c) the name, address, and telephone number of the municipal
inspection department
having jurisdiction, and instructions to notify the said department
immediately in case
of emergency;
5. Provide at least one self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
for emergency use as
required by ASHRAE 15-92 SECTION 13.7.  This requirement would be in
lieu
of
airpurifying
respirators if employees will respond in emergencies to
control releases of
ammonia in areas of unknown ammonia

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jun 30, 1993

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $390 Reduced

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 12, 1993

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $390 Reduced

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 6, 1993

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $390 Reduced

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 28, 1993

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $488 Reduced

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 28, 1993

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $390 Reduced

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 28, 1993

Penalty

Initial $600 · Current $390 Reduced

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 28, 1993

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 28, 1993

Penalty

Initial $450 · Current $293 Reduced

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 28, 1993

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $488 Reduced

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 28, 1993

Penalty

Initial $750 · Current $488 Reduced

Issued

Jun 25, 1993

Abate by

Jul 12, 1993