Locked inside a cold room!

[Airconandy]

Watcha! chaps and chappesses.
Can any one inform me whether there is any legalities involved with being locked inside a fridge ? for instance if your company supply a packaged cold room, is it their responsibilty to fit either; 1) a panic bell (switch inside) or 2) an internal release mechanism? or is that down to the client? or is it only advisory?, also are there any protocols for Locking cold rooms? this is a good debate over morning coffee as i found this morning.

[install monkey]

the coldroom door should have a push button to exit,and also a panic alarm which shuts off the kit and creates an audible alarm with strobe light too

[sedgy]

hi , I beleve in the UK that cold rooms have to have a crash button < to unlock the door<from the inside, and its not legal to sell a domestic fridge with a automatic lock door < cos a youngster died in one in the 1960 s = sedgy,

[Brian_UK]

I think you will find that it is the responsibility of the cold store owner/operator to ensure a "safe working environment" for their staff under the dreaded Health and Safey at Work Act.

A sensible installer would recommend the fitting of the right door closers/openers.

[Grizzly]

Watcha! chaps and chappesses.
Can any one inform me whether there is any legalities involved with being locked inside a fridge ? for instance if your company supply a packaged cold room, is it their responsibilty to fit either; 1) a panic bell (switch inside) or 2) an internal release mechanism? or is that down to the client? or is it only advisory?, also are there any protocols for Locking cold rooms? this is a good debate over morning coffee as i found this morning.

Hi Andy.
I could get in trouble for posting the following.
But It may well help.
Its an extract from en378 part 1.
Which is a legal requirement, basically whoever supplied the cold room should comply and is therefore liable.
Just as IM and Sedgy have stated.


(informative)

Protection for people who are inside cold rooms

D.1 General

In order to minimize the hazard for people who get locked in cold rooms, sometimes along with strong currents of air, measures as described in the following clauses should be taken. Care should be taken to ensure that no personnel are locked in cold rooms at the end of the working day. The annex is limited to coldrooms operating at sub zero level.

D.2 Operation of doors and emergency exit doors

It should be possible to leave a cold room at all times. Therefore it should be possible to open doors both from the inside and the outside.

D.3 Emergency switch or signal

According to the operating conditions, the following devices should be provided in cold rooms with a volume of more than 10 m

3:a) alarm switch operated by illuminated push buttons near the floor or by chains hanging near the floor, installed in a suitable place in the cold room, the operation of which initiates an audible signal and a visual signal, in a place where the permanent presence of a person is guaranteed. It should not be possible to stop this signal except by means of a specific operation;b) signal devices connected to an electric circuit with a voltage of at least 12 V. Batteries for this purpose shall have an operating time of at least 10 h and be connected to a mains supplied automatic charging device. If a transformer is used, it should be supplied with current from a different circuit to the one used for other equipment in the cold room. Furthermore, the device should be of such design that it does not cease to function due to corrosion, frost or the formation of ice on contact surfaces;c) light switch in the cold room in parallel with light switches located outside this room so that the lighting turned on by means of the inside switch cannot be turned off by means of the outside switch;d) plug switch or other systems giving the same result for the fans located in the cold room in series with the switches located on the outside so that the fans turned off by means of the inside switch cannot be turned on by means of the outside switch;e) light switches should have permanently illuminated buttons;f) in the event of failure of the lighting, the routes towards the emergency exit (and/or alarm switch) should be indicated by independent lighting or by other approved means;
g) permanent emergency lighting system.

Grizzly

[cold.man]

http://www.coldstore.biz/resources-coldstore-safety-checklist.htm

SAFEGUARDS AND PRECAUTIONS
1.Cold stores should meet the standards in BS4434 ‘Specification for safety aspects in the design, construction and installation of refrigerating appliances and systems’ (1989)
2.Precautions against locking in to include:
* Only authorised and fully instructed people allowed in
* ‘No unauthorised entry’ signage
* At least 1 emergency exit, adequately signed and unobstructed
* A trapped-person alarm, mains operated with battery back-up, suitably marked and located
* Emergency lighting (battery operated)
* Maintenance and testing of devices provided
* Working practices to include thorough check before locking

Work in cold environments will therefore require risk assessment under the Management of Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1999.

[install monkey]

so thanks to legislation u cannot lock an apprentice in the freezer as in the olden days-now theyd just walk out the fire exit and prob nick the torch!

[monkey spanners]

Trapped in a box,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DccmKKnizFY&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL9FE82F56C81277B1

[Grizzly]

Trapped in a box,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DccmKKnizFY&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL9FE82F56C81277B1

You need to get away from the farms my friend.. Either that or cut down on the dairy produce?
Grizzly