WORKING IN A COLD STORE

ENVIRONMENT
ADVICE FOR EMPLOYEES

This guidance aims to provide

workers within a cold store
environment advice on some
of the health issues associated
with working within this cold
environment. For the purposes
of this guidance a cold store is
defined as a warehouse storing
goods at temperatures below
zero degrees C.

This guidance has been produced by the

British Frozen Food Federation and is a revision of earlier guidance
drawn up in consultation with the Health and Safety Executive.
This guidance has also been reviewed by our Primary Authority partner
who has approved the content / information provided.
Your employer is required to look after your health, safety and welfare. For a cold store
environment, your employer must provide:
• suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) – selection of PPE should take account of the temperature,
length of exposure, type of operation and personal preference. (see guide to the recommended PPE at the
end of this document)
• a heated rest room. Suitable and sufficient breaks must be taken in a warm area. The length of time you
are required to work in the cold is dependent on several factors including the type of work you are doing,
air temperature, the risk of wind chill and the type of clothing you are wearing. Breaks should be arranged
based on a comprehensive risk assessment.
• task rotation to higher temperature tasks for workers where practicable within the job remit
• adequate supervision
• training for employees on cold hazards and how to recognise the early symptoms of cold stress
and provide the appropriate level of first aid
• suitable First Aid facilities
• local heating in vehicle cabs where practicable
• easily accessible warming areas and drying rooms for PPE
• a means of escape following entrapment (accidental lock in) within the cold store

It is also recommended that employers:

• undertake pre-employment self-assessment health questionnaires where the questions asked are intrinsic
to the job. For example, questions relating to working in a cold store environment where a specific health
condition may be adversely affected by the cold. This may require referral to an occupational health
professional.
• provide regular health monitoring specifically designed for the cold storage environment.
• provide free health assessments to new and existing night workers. A night worker is a person working
between 11pm and 6am for a period of no less than seven hours and includes workers on shift rotation.
Employees also have responsibilities to look after their own health, safety and welfare. For the cold
environment there are 3 main risks to be aware of:
Freezing injuries including frost nip, frostbite or skin damage when in contact with cold surfaces. Follow the
‘Keep Warm’ guidance shown below. Avoiding contact with metal and plastic surfaces with bare skin can prevent
these injuries. When there is prolonged exposure to temperatures of -20̊C or below, exposure to bare skin
should be avoided.
Non-Freezing and chronic injuries may be less obvious, but are usually marked by prolonged numbness,
pain, swelling, and sensitivity to the cold, in the hands or feet. They occur when tissues remain cold for many
hours but do not freeze, and are best prevented by ensuring that you warm up thoroughly during breaks, and by
keeping your body warm (but not too hot). Report these problems early so they can be addressed.
Hypothermia which is a drop in body temperature. This is unlikely in occupational circumstances however you
should follow the ‘Keep Warm’ guidance within this document and be aware that cold hands and feet indicate a
drop in body temperature.

Pre-existing medical conditions

• Cold exposure can be a trigger for certain diseases and aggravate the symptoms of prevailing chronic
diseases. People working in cold stores should be physically fit for work. Medical conditions that are likely
to be adversely affected by the low temperature include:
• asthma or other respiratory conditions (freezer air is very dry). It may not be necessary to exclude
people who suffer from allergic asthma, which is not cold induced.
• cardiovascular and circulatory conditions such as angina, Raynaud’s disease etc
• hand-arm vibration syndrome
• arthritis
• musculoskeletal diseases
• skin diseases
• metabolic disorders e.g. thyroid and also diabetes (whether controlled by tablets or injections)
Pre-existing medical conditions (continued)
If you suffer from any of the above medical conditions, employees should bring this information to the attention
of your employer via their occupational health provider with ‘informed consent’ before work starts. In these
situations your employer should arrange for you to be assessed by an occupational health professional to assess
whether the disease or its severity is a significant risk to your health in this environment. You should also notify
your employer via their occupational health provider if there has been a change in your health, either through
accident, illness or if you are taking medication for a chronic or acute condition that affects your body’s ability
to control its temperature even if this is only temporary. Note that if you are on medication for management of
high blood pressure you should consider discussing this with the occupational health professional if this poses a
risk when working in a cold environment. If you become an expectant mother you should inform your employer
so they can carry out with you a specific assessment of the work you are able to do in order to minimise risks
to your unborn child.

‘Keep Warm’ advice

A cold environment can be a health hazard. When properly managed it should cease being a hazard. As
such keeping warm is fundamental for all employees. This is a short and simple guide to keeping warm
and safe in a cold store environment:
• Use the special low-temperature clothing provided by your employer. Choose clothes according to the
job, not only the temperature. Report to your employer any loss or obvious defect with the personal
protective equipment supplied to you. Ensure your clothing is kept clean and in good repair so that it
will work properly.
• Avoid excessive sweating. Reduce the numbers of layers you are wearing when highly active and add
layers when you are less active. Also, when you are on your break, dry your clothes both inside and
out. Open or adjust cuffs and closures on your clothing to allow moist air to vent out; wearing a size
larger rather than snug / tight clothing can help this venting.
• Don’t wear clothing that is too small or too tight as this restricts blood flow, preventing warm blood
entering your extremities.
• Drink enough water and cut down on tea and coffee as they contain caffeine which acts as a diuretic
and can dehydrate you. Instead, drink water, soup or hot chocolate.
• Smoking and drinking alcohol can affect the blood flow to your hands and feet. You should avoid
consuming alcohol as it affects the body’s ability to retain heat and places you at greater risk of
developing hypothermia (and accidents); smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and increases the
risk of freezing and non-freezing cold injuries.
• Employees should also be aware that prescriptive, non-prescriptive and recreational drugs might
affect your ability to regulate your body temperature in cold environments.
• Consider your diet, weight and fitness. Good general health is important when working in the cold. If
you are either under or overweight, working in the cold can place extra demands on your body which
may make it harder to work and may place your body at greater risk of developing serious medical
problems.
• Protect bare skin. Cover all areas that may become exposed to cold temperature or wind.
• Do not touch cold metal or plastic objects and surfaces with bare hands or skin.
• Pay attention! Cold hands and feet indicate a drop in body temperature. Get out of the cold if you
experience extreme drowsiness, loss of balance, extreme shivering or slower than normal breathing,
as these are early signs of hypothermia.
• Always consider safety first – the safety of you and your colleagues is paramount.
• Help others. Keep an eye on your colleagues and tell them if you are concerned for their health and
safety. Freezing cold injury of the face can be hard to notice in yourself, and hypothermia is only ever
spotted by others. If you are worried about any health or safety issue, including the safety of others,
let your supervisor know of your concerns.
 A guide to the recommended Personal
Protective Equipment to be worn in a cold store
environment.

Chill environment down to -5̊C, 150 gm chill

protective clothing including:
• thermal undergarments to personal
preference;
• jacket and trousers or quilted all-in-one
coverall;
• lightweight gloves;
• safety boots or shoes; and
• head protection – baseball cap or thinsulate
hat or safety helmet.

Frozen environment -5̊C and below, 235 gm

frozen protective clothing including:
• thermal undergarments to personal
preference;
• jacket and salopettes or all-in-one coverall,
both with knee protection
• cold-store gloves with thermal liners;
• insulated safety boots with thermal socks;
• safety helmet with thermal liner, thermal
balaclava and thermal hood.

It should be noted that the clothing weights given

are a recommendation. The exact requirements
should be determined by risk assessment.

It is important to note that this guidance offers employees within a cold store
environment with advice on only the health issues associated with working in
this environment. There are other hazards that can cause adverse affects when
working in this environment that will be highlighted to you by your employer.

If you have trouble complying with any of the above advice or suffer from any
of the effects mentioned, speak to your employer.

British Frozen Food Federation

Warwick House, Unit 7
Long Benington Business Park
Main Road, Long Bennington
NEWARK, Nottinghamshire NG23 5JR
Tel: 01400 283090 Fax: 01400 283098
www.bfff.co.uk

Revision 2, September 2014