Case Study: What’s that Smell? Unanticipated Ammonia Emissions From Landfill Materials During Landfill Upgrades

What’s that Smell?  Unanticipated Ammonia Emissions From Landfill Materials During Landfill Upgrades
During relocation and reburial of landfilled wastes during an upgrade, an unknown irritating vapor was released, sickening workers and causing operations to cease.  Interviews suggested that the odor’s origin was a release of ammonia vapor.  Historical documents and waste placement maps available at the time of the investigation were inconclusive in identifying a source of ammonia.  Workers at the scene reported a blue-speckled grey mass of material in the vicinity of the reported ammonia odor; however, no additional information was available.  No comprehensive health and safety plan for dealing with the release of specific hazards associated with landfill materials was in place, nor were there worker and/or management training in place for working around such materials.
During site investigation activities, historical maps and current resistivity studies were consulted and the location of a cell where the material was staged was identified. Test excavations were conducted under conditions similar to the live-loading incident.
The affected area of the landfill was identified and ‘worst case’ exposures were evaluated.  A comprehensive HASP and advance planning were completed in order to protect workers in the excavation, loading and reburial of this and similar materials. Workers received site-specific hazard communication information and training in likely hazards and managing unknown materials. Work continued while special handling procedures, PPE, and other practices were instituted to comply with the new HASP where similar material was discovered. No further incidents were reported, landfill reopened on schedule.