Ammonia Nitrate and Ag NH3 Facilities be aware:
The purpose of this Notice is to establish a Regional Emphasis Program (REP) to reduce injuries, illnesses, and fatalities related to workers’ exposures in fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate (FGAN) and agricultural anhydrous ammonia facilities. This REP will provide the authority to evaluate the employers’ workplace(s) at all programmed, unprogrammed, or other limited-scope inspections pertaining to fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate and agricultural anhydrous ammonia operations to assure that employees are being properly protected. Area Offices will normally conduct inspections for all complaints, formal or non-formal, which contain allegations of potential worker exposure to hazards associated with FGAN and agricultural anhydrous ammonia unless there are significant resource implications. In addition, and where applicable, all unprogrammed inspections will be expanded to include all potential hazard areas addressed by this emphasis program.
Workers employed in the fertilizer storage, mix/blend, and distribution industry face many hazards that can lead to serious injury, illness, and death, including fire, explosions, and hazardous chemicals.
The intent of this Regional Emphasis Program is to encourage employers to take steps to address hazards, evaluate facilities to determine if the employer is in compliance with all relevant OSHA requirements, and to help employers correct hazards, thereby reducing potential worker injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
OSHA in Region VII proposes to accomplish this through outreach and enforcement activities. Outreach activities will include letters to employers, training sessions with stakeholders, electronic information-sharing activities, public service announcements, and news release broadcasts. Enforcement activities will begin not earlier than three months after outreach is initiated and will include, but not be limited to, the inspection and review of production operations, and working conditions; injury and illness records; safety and health programs; and chemical handling and use, to identify and obtain corrections of workplace hazards at all applicable inspection sites.
