Ammonia detection is most needed in food industries where refrigeration leaks can threaten worker safety. The tech industry, chemical manufacturing and pretty much every boiler room in the country can also pose this threat. When you face this possibility, you must ensure your ammonia detection is up to the challenge. Here are five reasons why you need better ammonia detection in San Jose, CA:
- OSHA penalties: OSHA is serious about protecting workers from ammonia. In 2015, it issued a levy against Reinhart Food Service, LLC after ammonia leaks resulted from a malfunctioning check valve. The order admonished the company for falling behind on repair and maintenance, while also indicating ammonia sensors were inadequate. Since you likely do not want to face fines on top of any repair costs, detecting ammonia when it becomes a problem is vital to staying on OSHA’s good side.
- EPA sanctions: The EPA also takes ammonia poisoning very seriously. In fact, new standards look to remove anhydrous ammonia from the ice and cold storage process altogether. When an ammonia leak also causes environmental effects on land and water, that is another way to collect sanctions and face an economically nervous situation. Sensors find the problem before it threatens to poison the public. This is not only good for saving costs, but also for being a good corporate citizen.
- Worker productivity: Ammonia fumes cause headaches, nausea, skin and eye lesions and lung irritation. People also report losing their sense of smell. Your employees cannot work well while suffering these symptoms, and if they develop health consequences, the responsibility will be on you and your workers’ compensation insurance. Rather than risk reducing protectivity and morale, install sensors so you can focus on prevention rather than on damage control.
- Lawsuits: The fumes from ammonia are especially dangerous to asthma sufferers. It is not a stretch to imagine a wrongful death happening at your site because an asthmatic employee or customer reacts to the fumes. Ammonia exposure will not affect healthy individuals right away, but one who suffers respiratory limitations is likely to be a liability disaster in the making. You never know who will visit your site or work for you, so it is better to be overly cautious and make this effort to keep everyone safe.
- Objective evidence: Ammonia has a strong odor and is easily detected at less than 10 times the OSHA permissible exposure level. However, since people have various degrees of smell sensitivity, there is a tendency to ignore complaints about odors until it is too late. The sensors act as a backup; even if visitors and workers cannot distinguish between safe and dangerous ammonia concentration, the sensors have that ability. However, we recommend that you listen to your employees on these complaints, especially if ammonia fumes are not normal in your workplace.
For new and effective ideas in ammonia detection in San Jose, CA, contact MDC Systems Inc. today. We are leaders in gas detection and can keep your premises safe and productive.