PROCEDURES PROCEDURES STORAGE, USE AND MAINTENANCE OF REFRIGERATORS, COLD ROOMS AND FREEZERS

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1 PROCEDURES Title : PROCEDURES STORAGE, USE AND MAINTENANCE OF REFRIGERATORS, COLD ROOMS AND FREEZERS Descriptors : 1) 2) 3) 4) Category : OS&H Purpose Organisational Scope Policy Statement Definitions Principles Content References Contact Information 1. Title Procedures Storage, Use and Maintenance of Refrigerators, Cold Rooms and Freezers 2. Purpose The purpose of this document is to ensure: 1. That the correct refrigeration equipment is selected based on the required application. 2. That refrigeration equipment is used in a safe manner. 3. That refrigeration equipment is maintained and tested in accordance with relevant safety standards. 4. That staff and students receive appropriate instruction and training. 5. That staff and students can feel confident that their use of this equipment conforms to all relevant safety standards. 3. Scope The purpose of the document is to provide information relating to the selection, use and maintenance of refrigeration equipment, and the training of staff and students who may use them. All operating procedures shall conform to relevant government legislation and Australian Standards, especially AS Medical refrigeration equipment For the storage of blood and blood and products and SAA HB The Australian refrigeration and air-conditioning. Code of practice Part 1. Any refrigeration equipment purchased should conform to the design and manufacture standards - SAA HB The Australian refrigeration and air-conditioning. Code of practice Part 1. Refrigeration Policy Version Date: 28/7/03

2 4. Content INFORMATION AVAILABILITY 1. Relevant safety and storage instructions must be posted on refrigeration equipment and these must be visible at all times. Relevant information may include an inventory of items stored, appropriate hazard symbols, spark free sign, etc. 2. In particular, where relevant, a copy of the following reference documents is to be kept at each site where refrigeration equipment is used: AS Medical refrigeration equipment For the storage of blood and blood and products. SAA HB The Australian refrigeration and air-conditioning. Code of practice Part 1. Any safety information related to the storage of a chemical (MSDS, etc). 3. For specialised storage e.g., organic solvents, genetic material (RNA and DNA samples), the selection of refrigeration equipment will depend on the chemical nature of the material and the duration of storage. TYPES OF REFRIGERATION EQUIPMENT Cold rooms Domestic refrigerators / freezers Commercial Freezers Freezer rooms Portable refrigerators / freezers (car type) Spark free refrigerators / freezers COLD ROOMS Cold rooms are used for the storage of large quantities of materials and products, and for certain procedures that need to be performed at low temperatures. Cold rooms shall not be used to store flammable chemicals unless they are spark free. DOMESTIC REFRIGERATORS / FREEZERS Domestic refrigerators/freezers are used for the storage of moderate quantities of materials/products. Domestic refrigerators/freezers shall not be used to store flammable chemicals unless they are spark free. COMMERCIAL FREEZERS Commercial freezers are used when the necessary storage temperature is below 15C. Commercial freezers shall not be used to store flammable chemicals unless they are spark free. Refrigeration Policy Version Date: 28/7/03

3 FREEZER ROOMS Freezer rooms are used when large quantities of materials/products need to be stored at a temperature below 15C. Freezer rooms are also used when certain procedures need to be performed in a 15C environment. Freezer rooms shall not be used to store flammable chemicals unless they are spark free. PORTABLE REFRIGERATORS / FREEZERS (CAR TYPE) Portable refrigerators/freezers are used for the temporary cold transport of perishable samples/products. The materials must be correctly labeled and relevant transportation documents must accompany the goods if they are of a hazardous nature. Portable refrigerators shall not be used to store flammable chemicals unless they are spark free. The transport of chemicals must follow transport and storage protocols. SPARK FREE REFRIGERATORS / FREEZERS Spark free refrigerators / freezers are used when storing flammable chemicals. These refrigerators/freezers: Must not be of the frost-free or auto defrost variety. Must have the internal light source removed or replaced with a spark free variety. Must have the thermostat positioned outside the storage space not inside the refrigerator/freezer. - 80C FREEZERS WITH BACK UP CO 2 CYLINDER These type of freezers use a back up cylinder for emergency cooling. The use and storage of these cylinders must conform with the University Gas Cylinders policy and Laboratory Information Sheet Number 9 Handling and Use of Gas Cylinders Instructions for Students FOOD REFRIGERATORS / FREEZERS Where food or drink is stored for human consumption, a separate designated unit must be available and clearly labeled. Items that may alter the human consumption status should not be stored in this unit. INVENTORY All refrigerator/freezers must have a description of all items that are contained within and this must be clearly displayed on the outside of the unit. Where chemicals are stored in these units, the appropriate hazardous symbols must be displayed on the outside of the unit. Refrigeration Policy Version Date: 28/7/03

4 TRAINING All staff and students will receive appropriate instruction on the storage protocol for each unit. The Faculty will provide appropriate training on request. PURCHASE AND ACQUISITION Prior to purchase and acquisition the following points must be considered: A risk assessment shall be performed to determine the size, number of units, types of chemicals, associated hazards and the nature of activities to be carried out within the refrigerators/freezers. This will determine the selection of either a standard or spark proof variety or a combination of both. The siting should be considered preferably in the initial planning stages of a new building or before modification of an existing building Any refrigerators/freezers purchased by the University should comply with Code of Practice SAA HB For medical refrigeration equipment please refer to Australian Standard AS Alarms should be considered for those units containing valuable or irreplaceable materials. TESTING AND MAINTENANCE The refrigerators/freezers shall be subject to periodic inspection and maintenance. Staff engaged in maintenance operations shall be advised, through the Laboratory Manager, of the presence of potentially hazardous substances and the need for any decontamination procedures, which shall be implemented before any maintenance is commenced. Biannual inspections, servicing and repairs must be completed by a suitably qualified person, e.g. registered refrigeration electrician. Inspections and testing must be completed in accordance with Australian Standards AS A record of all testing, maintenance, servicing and repairs must be maintained and must be available for inspection. The Laboratory Manager is to provide an annual report to Faculty Occupational Safety and Health Committee on purchases, testing, maintenance and inventory of all refrigeration equipment. USE OF RERIGERATORS/FREEZERS Prior to the use of refrigerators/freezers: Check that the refrigerator/freezer is suitable for intended use (spark-free for flammables, etc). Check that a risk assessment has been completed on the activity being carried out. Check seals are intact. Check temperature gauge is accurate. Refrigeration Policy Version Date: 28/7/03

5 5. References 6. Contact Information Contact Person: Chair, Faculty of Computing, Health and Science Occupational Safety and Health Committee Telephone: 5710 Facsimile: Refrigeration Policy Version Date: 28/7/03