Danger, Danger
PS Magazine, Sept / Oct 2009 You may have seen on ESPN’s show E:60 a scary story regarding the hospitalization of a number of high school hockey players allegedly due to high carbon dioxide levels in the rink from a poorly maintained ice resurfacer. As quoted at ESPN.com, "E:60 conducted its own series of tests at 34 rinks in 14 states. Of the 28 rinks that used propane or natural gas resurfacers, nearly one-third were found to have dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, or ultrafine particles.” Did you know that Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are the only states to require arenas to monitor the air in their facility and to maintain specific levels? Do you know if your arena is one of the “clean air” buildings? Does your rink have its resurfacer tuned up regularly? To me, while carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide are extremely hazardous, the most dangerous safety issue could end up being ammonia. Ammonia is a common refrigerant and with the government