A refrigerated warehouse has a total of 59 employees and a refrigeration system that uses Anhydrous Ammonia (NH₃) as a refrigerant. The system has an NH₃capacity of 17,000 pounds. This scenario is fairly simple in that the processes involved do not include chemical reactions. NH₃is basically compressed and allowed to return to the gaseous phase, and then the process starts all over again. Changing to the gaseous phase will result in a decrease in temperature due to gas laws.

These systems are closed systems; that is, the NH₃stays within the system and is not released to the outside. The cooled refrigerant runs through coils, and the air is forced to blow through the coils. If the NH3is vented to the outside due to an incident, however, the substance takes on its gaseous form and is extremely corrosive and capable of causing chemical burns.

Research on how large refrigeration systems operate.

1. Explain why, given some of the OSHA PSM requirements discussed in your readings, a PSM metrics program would be helpful to an organization. For instance, why would it be important to measure the efficacy of a company's Process Hazard Analysis efforts?
2. Brainstorm how you might measure whether the Process Hazard Analysis conducted for this facility is appropriate for the complexity of the systems. What role does leading and lagging indicators play in measuring the efficacy of the company's Process Safety Management program?

Assume your target audience includes a skeptical executive who thinks process safety metrics are just the latest buzzword developed by safety people who are always increasing costs for the organization. Your job, by the end of this course, is to have a convincing argument as to how a PSM program is helpful to this organization.