Cool rooms are a necessity for any business that has to store
food or medical supplies, or keep anything else at a cold temperature. However,
working in an extremely cold environment isn't an easy task.
Working in a cool storeroom poses a few potential
health and injury risks for employees. This includes cold-related illnesses as
well as dealing with slippery and cold surfaces. To look after yourself and
your employees in a cold storage room follow the below tips and precautions.
What are the risks?
To best implement precautions and safety procedures,
you need to understand the risks and hazards.
In a cool room, the following risks are
often present:-
- Extremely cool or cold environment
- Slippery surfaces
- Poor lighting
- Confined spaces
- Chemical storage
- Icy build-ups
- Potential to be locked in
Preventing risks in coolrooms
While some risks can never be fully prevented, you can minimize their likelihood.
Wear correct clothing
When working in areas with low temperatures, all
workers should have appropriate and protective clothing to prevent slipping and
cold-related medical problems. Ensure workers wear warm, layered clothes,
including gloves with grip and steel-toe shoes with non-slip soles.
Regularly maintain the cold room
Keep your cold storage
room clean. Make sure ice does not
build up and clean up any rubbish or food spills.
Maintenance should also include taking regular
readings of the temperature inside the cold room. Look for any fluctuations
that could indicate the cold room is not working efficiently and may need to be
serviced.
Install safety equipment
It can set a person’s heart racing to imagine being
locked in a cold room. To avoid this dreaded incident, install safety equipment
and have safety rules in place.
Safety equipment can include a battery-operated alarm
and lighting system that an employee can trigger if they are accidentally
locked in. You should also ensure there is at least one exit that opens from
the inside.
Establish rules like only authorized workers can go
into the cool room and they must do so in a pair. Make it clear that
before shutting and locking the cold storage room, workers must check that no
one is inside.
You can also provide workers with regular drills to
keep them up to date on safety procedures and what to do in an emergency.
Follow proper operating procedures
Always follow safety guides when using large tools or
machinery, like pallet converters or racking tools, in an enclosed space like a
cold room. This can help to avoid unexpected machine failures and potential
personal injuries.
Conduct regular health screenings
All cold storage room workers should be seen by a
medical professional and tested regularly throughout the year. This screening
is to guarantee they're physically fit enough to work in a cold environment. Those
who are not fit to work in this kind of environment pose an unnecessary risk to
themselves and others.
Ensure all stock is properly
stacked, shelved, stored and secured
Make sure any stock in a cool room is stored correctly and secured. If any packages are leaking or damaged, remove them
immediately as it can affect nearby products.
Set time limits
Set time limits for cold storage room workers. This can
help to prevent injuries and health issues brought on by long periods in a cold
environment.
Also, make sure workers have easy access to warm rooms
with heaters and hot beverages to take regular breaks.
Provide appropriate training
Additionally, you can provide proper training to your employees
working in cold storage rooms. Working in this different environment and with specialized equipment can be difficult for the inexperienced. That's why training is vital
before sending new workers into the cold storage room.
The training can also be provided to more experienced
workers to remind them from time to time about the risks posed by a chilly
workplace. This training will help them to remain cautious during their shifts and
while handling equipment or tools as well as stored products.
Working in a cold room, in
an inappropriate manner or wearing inappropriate clothes, can lead to a number
of serious illnesses and injuries, including frostbite and hypothermia. These
illnesses can have serious long-term effects for workers. This is why safety
should be at the forefront of everyone’s mind when it comes to cold rooms.
You can reduce the risks
in cool rooms by ensuring workers are properly dressed, including wearing
layers of warm clothing; maintaining the cold storage room, including making sure the temperature is correct;
installing safety equipment and making sure workers are aware of and follow rules
to protect them; regularly checking worker’s health; making sure any stock is
properly stacked in a safe way; setting time limits for anyone entering the
cold room; and ensuring anyone who works in the cold storage room is
appropriately trained
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