Health, Safety and Workplace Environment Unit - Handling Anhydrous Ammonia

Running head: HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT UNIT
Health, Safety and Workplace Environment Unit
Name of the University:
Name of the Student:
Author Note:

1HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT UNIT
Executive Summary
Ammonia belongs to the class 2 of the regulated dangerous goods; it has received a class 8 foe
being corrosive. While handling anhydrous ammonia, proper protective clothing must be worn
that will cover the whole body including the face. Eyewash and a safety shower must be
available nearby. While handling one must avoid contact with clothing and skin and eyes; and
one must not breathe mist or vapor. The main findings of the assessment revealed that the
employees requires more training and education regarding increasing the awareness and proper
handling of the anhydrous ammonia cylinders and the awareness regarding the personal hygiene
and usage of personal protective equipment. General manager must be more concerned about the
employees regarding the way employees carry out their work. In the monthly maintenance
report, the safety reports and the chemical registers. General manager must work in a way so as
to comply with the legislation, and keep a track of the penalties, incident of risks, and safe
workplace. A closer integration is required between the facilities manager and the head office.

2HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT UNIT
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Background and location.............................................................................................................3
Purpose and scope........................................................................................................................4
Manufacturer’s safe handling instructions-SDS..........................................................................4
Task observation and risk assessment.............................................................................................6
Observation and findings.............................................................................................................6
Discussion of results........................................................................................................................7
Interviews....................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11
Appendix........................................................................................................................................13

3HEALTH, SAFETY AND WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT UNIT
Introduction
Exposure to the hazardous chemicals that are commonly used in the workplaces often
result in to the long- and short-term health effects like the disorders in the liver, kidney, lung
functioning, skin rashes and poisoning. About 1/4th of the Australian employees use the toxic or
the hazardous chemicals like flammable gases and liquids in their workplace. Hazardous
substances exist in different forms such as dust or solid, liquid, powder, and gas. The hazardous
substance can be in diluted or in pure form. There is a legal obligation for both the manufacturers
of the hazardous substances and the importers of the hazardous substances to include Material
Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and warning labels along with the products. It is however important
to note that the MSDS is now known as Safety Data Sheets as per the new occupational Health
and Safety Regulations (Safe Work Australia, 2018). Ammonia is a colorless and a clear liquid
and it is found throughout the water, air, soil, in animals, humans and plants. Ammonia is also
found in majority of the industrial and household cleaners. The workers that are exposed to high
levels of ammonia have the high chances of burning their eyes, lungs, throat, skin, mouth. It has
been found that exposure to very high levels of ammonia can lead to the damage of the lungs and
cause death as well. Exposure to high levels of ammonia depends on the work done, duration and
the dose (Ablis.business.gov.au, 2018). The study here is a basically done through observation
and it is being carried out along with the risk assessment. Handling and storage were assessed
according to the code of practice, interviews and manufacturers safety data sheets. The report is
limited to a single site in a food manufacturing industry. The problem identified is a site-specific
problem. In this report only one chemical will be assessed due to the several concerns raised
against it, ammonia. The report be structured to provide recommendations that will reduce the
hazard
Discussion
Background and location
The report will be focused on a food manufacturing industry, named x. This food
manufacturing industry has several buildings that has both p manufacturing and storage site.
After the food is manufactured it is then transferred to the Storage Area which uses ammonia as
a refrigerant. Maintenance of the Storage Area is done by the onsite facilities manager.