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Anhydrous Ammonia Emergency Response
Learn how NRC, a recent Republic Services acquisition, responded to an anhydrous ammonia release at a food processing facility.Byline: BTB Author
September 26, 2016 / Time to read: 5 minThe Challenge
When a food processing facility in Grandview, WA caught fire, the anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system collapsed, requiring a long, complex cleanup.
The Solution
NRC, a recent Republic Services acquisition, responded to the scene swiftly. During the initial phases of the response, NRC personnel provided perimeter air monitoring for the first responders as they fought the fire. They were also responsible for containing the runoff from the firefighting operations.
Once the fire was suppressed, NRC personnel conducted site surveys to test for ammonia. Many of these assessments were conducted using Level B Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), as some of the areas were well over OSHA’s Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH) permissible limits. The NRC team employed many mitigation techniques to remove and secure the heavily damaged refrigeration system, including:
- Vapor sparging
- Liquid removal with pumps
- Valve and pipe securement or removal
- Removal of the entire refrigeration system, including all of the condensers, receiving/storage tanks, pumps and valves
The Outcome
During this month-long project, NRC personnel continued monitoring air for the on-site personnel and the surrounding community. There were no recordable injuries or exposures during this very complicated response and demolition project.
