Hazardous Materials

An ammonia investigation may involve the form and concentration of the material, containers and piping, valves and transfer equipment, ventilation, storage conditions, monitoring or alarm data, incompatible materials, maintenance records, and the sequence of events surrounding a release. Ammonia can present corrosive, inhalation, reactivity, and pressure-related hazards, so the significance of a condition depends on how and where the material was being stored or used.

These records describe the identity of the chemical, classified hazards, recommended precautions, handling and storage information, exposure controls, physical properties, stability and reactivity, and accidental-release information. An expert can compare that documented hazard information with actual workplace practices and the conditions involved in the incident. OSHA specifies a standardized 16-section structure for Safety Data Sheets and prescribed hazard information for chemical labels.

Materials that are reasonably stable on their own may react when mixed or allowed to contact incompatible substances, including when storage conditions permit unintended contact. The investigation can examine chemical properties, storage segregation, container materials, transfer connections, temperature, contamination, and the sequence of handling activities. The objective is to determine whether an incompatible contact or storage condition is consistent with the observed reaction, release, pressure increase, corrosion, or other physical evidence.