Coolrooms don’t look all that dangerous. It’s freezing cold in there, especially inside a walk-in freezer, but the chill passes rapidly. The staff member gets in, collects or drops food, and is out again in no time at all. What about worst-case scenarios? They exist. And what about general precautions? They’re needed if the employee is to operate under an appliance-mandated umbrella of safety.

Warehouse Coolroom Safety

Sometimes the work area isn’t confined to a walk-in enclosure. Sometimes the chill is all around you. In some distant industrial complex, it’s a meat processing environment that’s feeling the chill. Plastic curtains are swinging as a ceiling-mounted refrigeration unit roars in the background. In front of the employees, a stainless steel conveyor system is transporting joints of beef. Of some concern, the damp and freezing conditions are hampering productivity. Chilblains, a circulatory problem, are slowing down the work. Another staff member is labouring hard, but his hands are trembling badly. Floor-installed warming plates and radiant heaters protect workers. Reinforce that move by shortening the work shifts. A ten-minute break could make all the difference.

Walk-in Coolroom Protection

Walk-in units carry a unique set of risk factors. What if you’re in there alone? The door is damaged, it hasn’t been reported to maintenance, and now the exit is jammed. As said mentioned earlier, a quick dip inside the frosty chamber won’t cause any problems, but an extended stay definitely will. Avoid this situation by always working with a co-worker. If that rule is broken, then you need to know that you have options. A high-quality door mechanism minimizes such incidents. Furthermore, a panic button, alarm indicator, or intercom, should be in place inside the insulated coolroom. Armed with this precautionary measure, the employee can always call for assistance when the door fails. Even if the door is functioning properly, a patch of ice or some other unforeseen event could render the worker incapable of action. Without a co-worker, an alarm system is an essential measure.

Finally, there are hygiene and technical risk factors. If an electrical system is damaged, perhaps the wires are exposed, then you must never touch those exposed parts. The ice and steel in there could function as a strong grounding path, so an electrical shock could prove fatal. Similarly, patches of mold or bacterial-laced growths are unlikely inside a space that’s designed to arrest biological development. Still, if these growths are detected, report them immediately, fill in an incident report, and wash your hands. Above all else, always dress warmly when working in this setting.

Businesses need to understand the health and safety prerequisites for a coolroom environment, before installing or refurbishing one in their establishment. They need to know that these rooms must stay at the right temperature for the items that will be stored in them. This will influence which type of coolroom that they need to install in their establishment. Also, these businesses need to train their employees of the dangers of these rooms in order to prevent issues and injuries. Refer to the following explanation for further facts about these and other prerequisites.

Install the Right Size of Unit for Your Needs

Select the size of unit that you will need to accommodate your needs in a non-crowded manner. For one thing, this will make it easier to locate the items that you require when the time comes, and for another thing, food or other items will cool in a more thorough manner when they are not all crammed together.

The Coolroom Must Stay at the Correct Temperature to Safeguard the Enclosed Elements

When you choose your coolroom style and size, you need to ensure that it will reach and maintain the correct temperature to keep your items safe and fresh for use. The desirable temperature will be dependent upon the elements that you need to refrigerate in it. After all, many types of businesses require the use of coolrooms and range from food-service ones to wineries and laboratories.

Train Your Employees About Proper Coolroom Operation and Any Risks

You have a responsibility to train your employees of the proper way to operate, maintain and access your coolroom setup. Through this, you will prevent unnecessary issues and even injuries from occurring. Training needs to include all pertinent regulations, and you should do it on an ongoing basis to ensure that new employees receive all of the instructions as well as refresh the memories of the present employees.

Your Coolroom Must Adhere to OH&S Standards

A coolroom of any type must adhere to OH&S standards in order for a business to use it without issues. These standards govern the construction of it along with the range of temperatures that it can reach and maintain. This is especially vital if you are refrigerating food or medical items.

For additional health and safety prerequisites for a coolroom environment, consult with C&M Coolroom Services. We not only install, renovate, repair and maintain quality coolrooms, but we also do the same with controlled environments, blast-freezers and freezers for factories, restaurants, stores, laboratories, supermarkets and food preparations or processing facilities.

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