Aimed at facility owners, emergency planners, first responders
The EPA, OSHA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) issued a chemical advisory that provides information on the hazards of ammonium nitrate (AN) storage, handling and management. AN, which is widely used in fertilizers, was the material believed responsible for the massive explosion in West, Texas in April 2013 that killed 15 people and leveled dozens of buildings.
The advisory provides lessons learned for facility owners and operators, emergency planners and first responders from recent incidents involving AN -- including the explosion in West, Texas -- in order to prevent similar incidents.