The dangers of coldrooms and the pressures on employers to make supermarkets a safer place are constantly increasing. Shaun Evers, md of Stonegate Instruments offers advice on how to comply with the latest H&S rules
BEING locked in a cold room is a genuine risk in environments like supermarkets and of course it is something which employers have to take action to prevent. The pressures on employers to comply with health and safety legislation and treat the welfare of their staff with the highest possible priority are constantly increasing.

For supermarkets with cold rooms there is an additional set of rules to abide by concerning working in confined spaces. One company that paid the price for lack of safety measures was Esso. The oil company was fined $75,000 in Australia when a chef on an oil platform was trapped in a walk-in-freezer when the door jammed. When the chef entered the freezer the door closed behind him, immediately triggering the refrigeration fan.

The dangers of coldrooms are clearly evident and according to the Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, it is every employer’s duty to ensure that its workplace is safe and all staff are given relevant information, instruction, training and supervision with regard to health and safety. In the UK it is the responsibility of employers to assess any health and safety risks that staff may be vulnerable to and make arrangements for the necessary measures to be implemented. If a company employs five or more staff they also have to draw up a H&S policy statement, set up emergency procedures and make sure the workplace satisfies health, safety and welfare requirements for the provision of ventilation, temperature and lighting facilities. It is also the responsibility of employers to provide the necessary protective clothing or equipment where risks are not adequately controlled by other means, to ensure that safety signs are provided and maintained, and that employees are correctly using work items provided such as personal protective equipment.

Supermarkets using coldroom refrigeration should also be aware of The Confined Space Regulations 1997. Dangers can arise in confined spaces because of lack of oxygen and, in the case of coldrooms, through low temperatures.



Employers should identify any hazards present in confined spaces and ensure safe systems exist where staff have to work in such areas. Risk assessments should be carried out to identify necessary precautions and reduce the risk of injury. Safe systems of work should be developed, put into practice and everyone involved should be properly trained and instructed to make sure they know what to do and how to do it safely.

When it comes to ensuring the safety of employees using coldrooms in supermarkets and to prevent employees becoming trapped inside, Stonegate Instruments provides the Trapped Personnel Alarm monitor. Designed to monitor latching emergency push-buttons located inside coldrooms and give audio as well as visual alarms if someone is trapped, the alarm monitors can be panel-, door- or wall-mounted; they are backed up by batteries; and have mains failure alert mechanisms and mute and repeat features. Trapped Personnel Alarm monitors can also operate a Stonegate instruments annunciator, a dial-out or other remote alarm. It has a prominent mushroom head push-button mounted on a tough industrial enclosure. To find it in the dark, the push button has a bright red pulsing LED. Someone accidentally trapped in a coldroom will strike the emergency alarm button. This alerts colleagues by audio and visual alarms on the display panel outside the coldroom. The display also sets a volt-free relay to repeat the call to a siren or dial-out or any other remote alarm. The Personnel Alarm measures 122mm x 122mm x 65mm and comprises 5mm pitch screw terminals and maximum cable size of 2.5mm2.

Stonegate Instruments 0113 262 8280