Ammonia

Overview

Ammonia is one of the most commonly produced industrial chemicals in the United States. It is used in industry and commerce, and also exists naturally in humans and in the environment. Ammonia is also produced naturally from decomposition of organic matter, including plants, animals, and animal wastes. In pure form, it is known as anhydrous ammonia.

Ammonia is irritating and corrosive. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia in air causes immediate burning of the nose, throat and respiratory tract. Ammonia's odor provides adequate early warning of its presence; its odor becomes less noticeable with prolonged exposure, though its adverse effects on health do not diminish. Ammonia can explode if released in an enclosed space with a source of ignition present, or if a vessel containing ammonia is exposed to fire.

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Publications

Fact sheets
- Estación de lavado de ojos y duchas de seguridad
  Eyewash and Safety Showers
  Explica los requisitos para las estaciones lavaojos y duchas en lugares de trabajo donde los empleados están expuestos a sustancias que podrían dañar sus ojos, con orientación sobre la evaluación de peligros y la selección de equipos.
  Spanish 12/02/2024
- Eyewash and safety showers
  Explains requirements for eyewash stations and showers in workplaces where employees are exposed to substances that could injure their eyes, with guidance on hazard assessment and equipment selection.
  English 08/15/2023
- Personal protective equipment
  Details when employers must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers, with an example of a hazard assessment, and descriptions of appropriate PPE for various tasks.
  English 08/24/2023
- Respiratory protection
  Describes general industry respiratory protection requirements and answers provides some questions with answers
  English 01/19/2005
References
- Rules with requirements
  We get many calls and emails from employers asking the same question. It begins: “Which of your rules have requirements for…” You can finish the sentence with words like “recordkeeping,” “employee training,” and “written documents.” To answer those questions, we’ve organized these rules requirements into a filterable, sortable, searchable table.
  English 05/10/2019

Education and training

Rules and rule-related

Final Rules
- Division 2, Subdivision H, Hazardous Materials (including Hazardous Waste Operations & Emergency Response, PSM)
  3-2019 Word version
- Division 2, Subdivision Z, 1910.1200, Hazard Communication
  4-2013 Word version
- Division 2, Subdivision Z, 437-002-0382, Oregon Rules for Air Contaminants
  Administrative Order 11-2021 Word version
- Division 3, Subdivision D, Occupational Health and Environmental Controls
  3-2019 Word version
- Division 3, Subdivision Z, Toxic and Hazardous Substances
  Administrative Order 11-2021 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision H, Hazardous Materials
  3-2014 Word version
- Division 4, Subdivision Z, Chemical/Toxins
  Administrative Order 4-2022 Word version
Interpretations
- Anhydrous ammonia
  10/01/1993
- Anhydrous ammonia in agricultural farm supply businesses
  10/15/2010
- Loading/unloading of anhydrous ammonia
  09/05/1980
- Silane gas (silicon tetrahydride)
  03/21/1994
Program Directives
- Eyewash and Safety Showers
  Purpose: This directive provides guidelines for determining when an eyewash and/or safety shower is required and for assessing the adequacy of such facilities.
  A-063 01/24/2011
- Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response: Post-Emergency Response Operations
  Purpose: This instruction provides procedures for ensuring uniform application of training requirements under the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard for employees involved in post-emergency response operations.
  A-160 10/10/2012
- Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response: Responding to Hazardous Substance Releases
  Purpose: This directive updates policies and provides clarification to ensure uniform enforcement of paragraph (q) of the Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response standard (HAZWOPER).
  A-206 03/01/2008
- National Emphasis Program (NEP): Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals
  Purpose: This program directive establishes uniform policies, procedures, standard clarifications, and compliance guidance for enforcement of the standard for Process Safety Management (PSM) of Highly Hazardous Chemicals, 1910.119 and amendments to the standard for Explosives and Blasting Agents, 1910.109.
  A-177 07/24/2024
- Respiratory Protection: General Guidelines
  Purpose: This instruction establishes agency interpretations and enforcement policies, and provides instructions to ensure uniform enforcement of the Respiratory Protection Standard, 1910.134.
  A-233 12/22/2014

Ammonia

Overview

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Education and training

Rules and rule-related

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