WASHINGTON – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is renewing a partnership aimed at protecting workers from exposure to hazardous chemicals commonly found in refrigerated warehouses.

OSHA and the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) will provide training to OSHA staff on ammonia safety, and develop materials related to ammonia safety and PSM. Anhydrous ammonia is widely used as a refrigerant in many industrial facilities including meat, poultry and fish processing facilities, dairy and ice cream plants and cold storage warehouses. Ammonia ranks as a high health hazard because it is corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs. Spills and releases of anhydrous ammonia can pose a fire risk or cause explosions.


"We look forward to our continued alliance with GCCA and working together to protect worker safety and health," said Dr. David Michaels, assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.

GCCA comprises 1,650 employers in the temperature-controlled products industry. GCCA members employ about 300,000 workers, which accounts for 90 percent of public refrigerated warehouse facility workers.