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SAFETY AND HEALTH ALERTS AND GUIDANCE
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DEALING WITH AMMONIA RELEASES Ammonia (NH3) is naturally produced in small quantities through the decomposition of organic matter and is commonly used in household cleaning products.
Liquid ammonia can create freezing temperatures causing cold burns if in contact with skin. Chemical and cold burns may result in necrosis of impacted body tissue.
Industrial scale production of ammonia is used in manufacture of fertilisers, explosives and sodium cyanide. It is used as a refrigerant gas, in water supply purification, in nickel refinement and in the manufacture of plastics, textiles, pesticides, dyes and other chemicals.
Acute exposure to gaseous or liquid ammonia from any source may lead to serious injury or potential fatality.
The widespread use, production, transport and transfer of ammonia means an increased likelihood of exposure to people and the environment when an uncontrolled release occurs.
HEALTH HAZARDS Ammonia is a pungent, colourless gas which is toxic, corrosive and flammable. On contact with water vapour, ammonia forms visible fumes which are denser than air and will remain at ground level for some time. The gaseous ammonia interacts immediately upon contact with moisture in the skin, eyes, oral cavity and respiratory tract to form ammonium hydroxide, a strong caustic substance which can cause chemical burns. It causes stinging to the eyes and nose, watering of eyes, the generation of excessive mucus (i.e. nose running) and potentially cell damage. The effects on the eyes, nose and lungs could lead to difficulty with vision and breathing.
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Workers who might be exposed to ammonia should be provided with information, instruction and training about its hazards, safe use, potential control measures and emergency procedures. Signs, labels or placards may also be required.
DIRECT EXPOSURE – ACTIONS REQUIRED Following exposure to ammonia, and once the person is brought to a safe place, decontamination is necessary. This requires enough clean water for a sustained period of 20 minutes or more of flushing to minimise serious health effects. medical assistance should be obtained as soon as possible. To minimise the risks of exposure to ammonia, undertake the relevant checks.
Check 1 – Emergency response •• Do any personnel, including emergency responders, wear contact lenses? If so, an exposure may be absorbed by and caught behind the lenses which can trap the ammonia solution, causing eye damage and reducing the effect of decontamination with water.
