Ammonia Common But Deadly If Equipment Not Maintained

One person was killed and several injured at an ice making facility in 2022.

Three arena workers died in Fernie, B.C., in 2018 due to the failure of aging equipment and poor operational and management decisions.

Ammonia is used in may large refrigeration systems such as ice rinks and ice plants. Recent events outline how dangerous it can be if the proper safeguards are not in place and/or adequate maintenance is not performed on this equipment.

Ammonia is an extremely flammable gas, is often used under pressure and may explode if heated.  Ammonia is toxic if inhaled, it is corrosive to the respiratory tract and causes severe skin burns and eye damage.