WorkSafe Victoria released a new handbook this month, containing guidelines for working in cold storage facilities.

Numerous risks - particularly with regard to the use of forklifts - have been highlighted such as visibility with high-risk examples including:
* poorly designed and positioned general or task lighting in traffic or work areas;
* product storage that is in or across designated walkways or roadways;
* blind spots created by the temporary or permanent storage of product pallets adjacent to roadways or traffic areas; and
* pedestrian, forklift and vehicle traffic intersections that create blind corners.

Another risk highlighted relates to the design and layout of the facility, with a high risk occurring when aisles:
* are not wide enough to easily and safely manoeuvre forklift trucks or other equipment;
* terminate at blind corners and intersect with roadways or forklift traffic areas;
* have product or material stored across or within aisles;
* are used by both pedestrian and vehicular traffic at the same time; or
* have inadequate lighting due to position or type of lighting.

Structural supports can also pose a risk when they are positioned in or adjacent to vehicle or forklift traffic areas, are not clearly visible and easily defined, impede or restrict the movement of forklift and pedestrian traffic and increase thermal conduction.

Poor flooring systems can also be a high risk, particularly if it results in tripping hazards created by uneven, cracked or broken concrete; excessive number, size, and position of expansion joints; and unsafe internal forklift traffic areas and roadways created by an uneven floor surface.

Environmental factors also play a role with poorly ventilated spaces such as cool stores, freezer rooms and controlled atmosphere rooms presenting hazardous atmospheres. A poorly ventilated space may become dangerous if there is an unsafe level of atmospheric contaminants or the oxygen level is unsafe.

An example of dangerous work in poorly ventilated places includes the use of liquid petroleum gas (LPG), petrol or diesel forklift trucks in cool stores or freezer rooms as dangerous levels of carbon monoxide may build up where poorly tuned LPG, petrol or diesel forklift trucks operate and ventilation is insufficient.

For more information on the handbook, visit the website: www.worksafe.vic.gov.au