OSHA Inspection: NORWICH ICE RINK

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $640.00 · Current $320.00 Reduced

General-duty citation text

31-372-101
Section 31-370(a) of the Connecticut Occupational Safety and Health Act:
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, including, but not limited to maintenance employees, were
exposed to the hazards
of an accidental release of ammonia liquid and gas:
Location:
(A)Norwich Municipal Ice Rink
(1)The employer did not ensure the mechanical room and related
refrigeration equipment and alarms were designed and maintained in
accordance with recognized and generally accepted good engineering
practices, such as those published by the International Institute of
Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR), the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-
Sonditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE).
(2)The employer did not ensure each employee who operates and maintains
refrigeration equipment is provided with information and training
regarding the safe operation of the equipment, including, but not limited
to, schematic drawings, information about the basic operation and function
of each component, information identifying normal operating pressure and
temperature ranges of the system components, and indications of system
malfunction.
Feasible and useful abatement methods must include:
*Providing equipment operators and maintainers with information and
training in
order to ensure sufficient knowledge to operate the system safely, to
understand
the basic operation and function of each component of the system, to
identify
normal operating pressure and temperature ranges of system components, and
to
recognize indications of system malfunction.
*Providing a schematic drawing or panel giving directions for the
operation of the
system at a location that is convenient to the operators of the equipment.
*Ensuring the signage posted on the refrigeration system identifies the
correct
information regarding the refrigerant charge.
*Establishing a time schedule for testing of the ammonia detectors, alarm
systems,
and mechanical ventilating systems.  The manufacturer's recommendations
should
be followed or modified based on documented experience.  Where no
recommendations are provided, these devices shall be tested on an annual
basis.
*Displaying emergency shutdown procedures on a conspicuous card located as
near
as possible to the refrigeration compressor.  When a refrigerating
machinery
room is used the emergency procedures shall be posted outside the room,
immediately adjacent to each door.  Procedures shall include persons
responsible
for activation clearly shown on the plan.
*Installing at least two refrigerant detectors that actuate an alarm and
mechanical
ventilation.*Providing alarms that annunciate visual and audible alarms
inside the refrigerating
machinery room and outside each entrance to the refrigerating machinery
room.
The meaning of each alarm shall be clearly marked by signage near the
annunciators.
*Providing detailed operating procedures for oil draining operations.
Safety and
personal protective equipment shall be specified.
*Ensuring oil draining is performed only by trained technicians.
*Providing a readily acessible emergency eyewash station and deluge body
shower
inside the machinery room and external to the machinery room.
Feasible and usefule abatement methods may include:
*Reviewing and becoming familiar with recognized and genally accepted good
engineering practices for ammonia refrigeration systems, such as those
published
by the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR), the
American
National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE).
*Appointing a representative responsible for compliance with all
refrigeration
safety requirements.
*Developing and implementing a preventive maintenance program in accordance
with manufacturers' specifications and recognized and generally accepted
good
engineering practices for ammonia refrigeration systems.
*Maintaining a current log of all maintenance and repair work performed on
the
refrigeration system.
*Maintaining a current log of all oil added to and removed from the
refrigeration
system.
*Examining system components, including, but not limited to, pipes and
valves,
for corrosion.  Where corrosion is identified, ensuring the integrity of
the system
components has not been compromised.

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-23 00:00:00

Penalty

Initial $560.00 · Current $280.00 Reduced

Issued

2013-10-16 00:00:00

Abate by

2013-12-23 00:00:00