There have been several Ammonia incidents so far this year across the U.S. and in Canada. Here are some tips to be prepared.
Plan of action: Identify hot zone by geographic boundaries and monitor as wind or weather changes, establish the following Groups-Hazard Group: Oversee hazmat portion of incident, Recon, Research, Decon, Entry & Backup, Safety, Medical. Attempt an entry to plug, patch, stop the leak.
Establish a Research team and their job is to:
- Get weather conditions including wind speed & direction.
- Establish PPE for Recon and Entry.
- Fill out chemical worksheet for Ammonia.
- Research these vessels and get info on, valving, composition, volume, design etc..
- Get aerial map of area to identify exposures.
- Print Plume overlay on map.
- Identify health issues (signs & symptoms of exposure) work with medical.
PPE level: Recon:Turnout & SCBA will work fine, their objective is to identify a hot zone, perhaps 10% of the IDLH (30ppm) and not move any further than that.
PPE for Entry Level A.
Decon is required to set up. Dry decon with fans may work but metering has to be done on the Entry personnel and if still contaminated move through technical decon. I like a full wet decon, especially if we are going to the trouble to do a Level A entry.
Use the Research group to find incompatibilities, find things you may be able to use for plugging or patching (wood plugs, rubber patches etc) if you have an A or B chlorine kit, they may have parts you can use such as patches chains etc.
If we can’t patch it, can we let it just do its thing? I say yes, that is a tactic. With Ammonia gas (VD) at 0.60 it will rise and disseminate in the atmosphere. This is where Research has to do their work. Constantly monitor weather (wind) check where wind is blowing and identify exposures. Perhaps a constant, unmanned monitoring downwind with a remote meter, identify volume of tank and attempt to calculate how long the release will take etc. Make certain the path the ammonia is traveling will not come in contact with any populous.
Ammonia as a colorless gas, the ammonia blends with the moisture in the air to form the white cloud but this only does it in large amounts somewhere around 40,000 ppm so seeing this cloud lets you know that you, at least, have a large amount of vapor (above IDLH). (See More HERE)
Related incidents: Ammonia Leak four hospitalized ,CSB releases safety video on ammonia release, Hazmat Teams Respond To Ammonia Leak In Frankford CBS Philly
