Remember that Child Labor Laws prohibit teens younger than 16 from performing freezer or meat cooler work.

Teens may be exposed to cold temperatures from working in refrigerator or freezer delivery storage areas.

• Staff can be trapped inside refrigerators or freezers if the door accidentally closes behind them. Trapped workers can be exposed to very cold temperatures and suffer from hypothermia.
  
  
• Condensation inside refrigerators or freezers can cause floors to become wet and slippery, leading to potential slips and falls.
  
  

• Check cold storage areas periodically and at closing time to make sure no one is trapped inside.
  
  
• Wear warm clothing when entering or spending time in a cold-storage area.
  
  
• Wear personal protective equipment for unpacking and sorting meat and other food products in freezers (such as hats, gloves, and rubber-soled non-slip shoes).
  
  
• Keep floors free from slip hazards like spills or clutter, use non- slip matting for potentially slippery surfaces.
   

• Provide a panic bar or other means of exit on the inside of  walk-in freezers to prevent trapping workers inside. Maintenance, Safeguards, and Operational Features for Exit Routes Standard [29 CFR 1910.37].
  • Provide a means of egress for all walk-in storage areas (especially refrigerators or freezers).
• Assess tasks to identify potential worksite hazards and provide and ensure employee use of appropriate personal protective equipment. Personal Protective Equipment Standard [29 CFR 1910.132].
• Keep places of employment clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition. Walking/Working Surfaces Standard [29 CFR 1910.22(a)(1)].
  • Keep floors clean and dry [29 CFR 1910.22(a)(2)].
• Follow Child Labor Laws that prohibit teens younger than 16 from performing freezer or meat cooler work.