Cold Storage & Freezer Work
Cold storage warehouses and walk-in freezers often run at 0°F or colder. Workers face cold stress, frostbite, slippery floors, forklift traffic in fogged aisles, and the danger of being trapped inside.
- General Industry
- Warehousing
- Food Processing
Dress for the cold
- Layers: a moisture-wicking base, an insulating middle and an insulated freezer suit or jacket and bib overalls.
- Insulated, waterproof boots with slip-resistant soles.
- Insulated gloves (with liners) and a hard-hat liner or warm hat that covers your ears.
- Keep spare dry gloves and socks; change damp ones right away.
Employers must generally provide required PPE, though some ordinary cold-weather clothing may be the worker’s. Ask what your employer provides.
Work-warm-up schedules
Limit continuous time in the freezer and take regular warm-up breaks in a heated area. Breaks should be longer and more frequent at colder temperatures and for heavy, sweaty work. New workers need time to adjust. Use the buddy system so someone notices early signs of cold stress. See Cold Stress.
Warning signs
- Heavy shivering, clumsy hands, confusion or slurred speech (hypothermia)
- Numb, white or waxy skin on fingers, ears, nose or cheeks (frostbite)
Floors, doors and forklifts
- Clean up ice and frost build-up at doorways and under coils; use mats and grit.
- Make sure every freezer and cooler door can be opened from the inside, with a working light and an alarm or phone inside.
- Use forklifts and batteries rated for cold; watch for fog at doorways and reduced visibility.
- Keep warm-up areas near the cold work.
- Use eye protection that won’t fog, or anti-fog treatments.
Never get trapped. Check the inside release before you go in, tell someone when you enter a freezer, and never block the door or the inside release with product.
Refrigerant leaks
Many large cold storage plants use ammonia refrigeration. Know the alarm sounds and evacuation routes, and leave immediately if you smell ammonia. See Ammonia Refrigeration.
Shift checklist
- Freezer clothing, dry gloves and spares ready
- Inside door release and alarm tested
- Floors at doors checked for ice
- Warm-up break schedule known
- Buddy assigned
Standards & references
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