Safety and Health Program- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Maintenance Upgrade Chapter

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Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Maintenance

Policy:

Refrigeration and air conditioning maintenance personnel, as with many other mechanical contractor activities, perform duties in many different locations and environments. Not only must these workers be aware of the hazards of the tasks they are performing, but also tasks being performed around them. Potential hazards include hazardous noise, electrical hazards, exposure to refrigerants, lifting hazards, and compressed gases and cylinders.

Potential physical and health hazards can be effectively controlled by proper work procedures and controls, and by using the required personal protective equipment.

Procedures:

Equipment rooms where air conditioning equipment is installed shall be kept free and clear of all trash and clutter which could present tripping or fire hazards. Refrigerant piping shall be properly insulted, both to improve operating efficiency and to prevent injury to workers who may accidentally come in contact with it. Equipment rooms are not normally designed for, nor intended for, storage of materials.

All belts, pulleys, and rotating shafts shall be guarded to prevent accidental contact. Large valve handle stems which can present a bump or trip hazard shall be marked (color coded) for easy recognition.

Electrical parts of the equipment and controls shall have all covers and plates in place.

Wiring shall be properly secured to the equipment or structure.

Storage and Handling:

Storage and handling of cylinders of compressed gas refrigerants can be a source of injury to workers.

Workers shall ensure that containers are legibly marked with the type of gas contained and stored with minimum intermingling of types of refrigerant.

Cylinders shall be stored separately from flammable gases and oxygen.

Where caps have been provided for valve protection, they shall be kept in place at all times until the cylinder is actually in use. Valves shall be kept closed at all times except when the cylinder is in use.

Cylinders shall not be used as rollers or supports. Their only use is to contain the gas.

Non-refillable containers, such as Department of Transportation (DOT) -2P, DOT 2Q, and DOT 39 containers, shall not be refilled with any material after use of the original contents. They shall be disposed of in accordance with the container manufacturer's or filler's instructions.

Cylinders shall not be dragged, slid, dropped, or allowed to strike each other or solid objects violently. Whenever possible, a suitable hand truck or roll platform shall be used.

Containers shall never be lifted by the valve. Cylinders shall not be suspended by chains, ropes, or slings unless the manufacturer has provided appropriate attachment points.

Storage areas shall be legibly marked with the names of the gases being stored. Full cylinders and empty cylinders shall be segregated and the full ones arranged so the oldest stock can be removed first with a minimum of handling. The storage area shall be kept as dry as possible and away from exposure to salt or other corrosive chemicals or materials. Cylinders shall be secured by a metal securing device or rack specifically designed to prevent damage.

The rules above apply to all refrigeration and air conditioning maintenance work centers that use and store compressed gases.