Over the past few years and all throughout the United States there have been reports of walk in freezer related deaths. Sometimes an employee will get locked on the inside or other times toxic gasses from dry ice have cut off the oxygen supply for those who walk into the freezer.
Here are a few safety and health tips on how to avoid death or injury if you use a walk in freezer in your workplace:
- Staff under the age of 16 should not use the freezer.
- Check periodically throughout the day for people inside the freezer.
- Always check freezer areas before closing to make sure no one is inside.
- Wear warm clothing when entering a freezer area.
- Wear rubber-soled or non-slip shoes when going into a freezer to prevent slips and falls.
- Keep floors clean and free of clutter.
Employers should provide the following if using a walk in freezer:
- A panic bar should be included on the inside to allow employees to get out if the door shuts behind them.
- Training should be provided for ALL employees.
- Area should be clean enough to meet the walking/working standards.
- Child labor laws should be met. There should never be any employees under 16 in the freezer.
