Technical Safety BC has introduced a free online Ammonia Safety Awareness Program. The course is designed for owners, managers and supervisors of facilities with ammonia refrigeration, but is open to all refrigeration industry professionals.
The program addresses knowledge gaps in the industry, and was developed due to the increase in ammonia-related incidents, including the 2017 tragedy at the Fernie Memorial Arena in Fernie, B.C.
In that preventable incident, a major ammonia release at Fernie Arena caused three deaths and the evacuation of 55 homes in the area. Technical Safety BC reports that since the Fernie tragedy, there have been 66 reported instances assessed, resulting in 29 hazards and 37 incidents.
Participants will learn the basics of the ammonia plant life cycle, including industry best practices, and why and how equipment and systems should be maintained to prevent safety hazards. and offers downloadable tools and resources to help arenas and recreational facilities operate safely.
The course is a combination of online self-paced learning, plus live instructor-led webinars. For more information or to enrol, visit Technical Safety BC.