Guide launched to help businesses with cold store safety challenges

A new guide, which aims to help cold chain businesses keep on top of the specific health and safety challenges posed to employees operating in cold environments, has been published.

The Cold Chain Federation’s Keeping People Safe in a Cold Store provides an overview of the major risks in a typical cold storage warehouse, such as a frozen food manufacturer, bringing industry advice into one place.

“Cold facilities are an inherently high-risk environment with unique challenges to be factored into health and safety planning and management,” said Cold Chain Federation’s Chief Executive, Shane Brennan.

“As the first health and safety guide of its kind specifically aimed at cold stores, this resource will save businesses time and help them with health and safety compliance in an efficient and structured way. Its publication also opens a new channel for the Cold Chain Federation to respond to specific compliance queries on behalf of our members. Keeping people safe is not just a moral responsibility, it is good for business.

“Ice build-up, freezing surfaces, condensation, the unsafe use of refrigerants and the impacts of exposure to low temperatures on workers can all increase the risk of accidents or ill health. The Cold Chain Federation is committed to driving safety standards in our industry. This guide is the foundation for all our future health and safety advice,” Brennan added,

“Keeping our people safe while they are operating is of primary importance to the Ice Co Storage and Logistics, and this new Cold Chain Federation guidance will be a valuable tool in helping us to maintain the highest levels of health and safety. By acting as a checklist of all the different risks that a cold store business needs to consider, it will be easier for us to make sure that our processes, knowledge and training stay right up to date,” commented Kerry Broadhead, Health and Safety Manager at the Ice Co Storage and Logistics, and Chair of the Cold Chain Federation’s Technical and Safety Expert Group.