Implementing OSHA’s New Regional Emphasis Program to Reduce Worker Exposure to Ammonia Compounds

In late September, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced it had launched a new program to address hazards from exposure to fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate and agricultural anhydrous ammonium.
 
The Regional Emphasis Program (REP) is effective in the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. The program targets workers employed in the fertilizer storage, mixing/blending, and distribution industries. These workers can face hazards that can lead to serious injury, illness, and death. Potential hazards include fires and explosions, as well as exposure to toxic gases and hazardous chemicals reports OSHA.
 
According to Kimberly Stille, OSHA Regional Administrator, “This program is an enforcement tool to emphasize the obligations under existing OSHA standards. The 90-day outreach period is an opportunity for employers to proactively seek compliance assistance to ensure they are adequately protecting workers.”
 
“The REP began on October 1^st with a 3-month period of education and prevention outreach from OSHA to encourage employers to bring their facilities into compliance with standards,” said Jeffrey Miller, PhD, CIH^® and Chair of ABIH^®. “REP enforcement activities begin in January and run through September 30^th of next year.”
 
Available to assist companies in their efforts to implement and comply with this Regional Emphasis Program are Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs). These dedicated professionals are trained to identify and mitigate occupational exposure hazards. CIHs are knowledgeable and experienced in workplace assessments, air sampling, risk analysis, chemical hazards, community exposure, personal protective equipment, and engineering and exposure controls. These and other core competencies that are central components of the Certified Industrial Hygienist^® program are critical for establishing and maintaining a safe and healthy work environment for workers involved with fertilizer-grade ammonium nitrate, agricultural anhydrous ammonium, and other agricultural and industrial chemicals.
 
The expertise of Qualified Environmental Professionals (QEP^®) and Environmental Professionals In-Training (EPI), with their broad understanding of environmental issues, can also be instrumental for protecting the environment from agricultural and industrial chemicals.
 
To learn more about the American Board of Industrial Hygiene^®, the Certified Industrial Hygienist^® credential, or to locate a CIH^® to perform industrial hygiene services, please visit www.ABIH.org or email abih@ABIH.org .  For information about the Qualified Environmental Practitioner (QEP^®) credential or Environmental Professional In-Training (EPI) designation, visit www.IPEP.org or email ipep@IPEP.org .  Please call (517) 321-2638 for questions about ABIH or its credentials and designations.
 
About the American Board of Industrial Hygiene ^®
Since 1960, ABIH^®, a not-for-profit corporation, has been the world’s largest organization for certifying professionals in the practice of industrial hygiene. ABIH^® is the premier credentialing body responsible for ensuring high-quality certification including education, experience, examination, certification maintenance, and ethics enforcement. ABIH^® also administers the Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP^®) credential for established environmental practitioners and the Environmental Professional In-Training (EPI) designation for early-career practitioners. Currently, more than 7,600 people around the world hold the CIH^® credential, QEP^® credential, or EPI designation. 
 

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Paul Cochrane

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