Refrigerant Handling and Environmental Policy

Purpose. This policy sets how the business handles, recovers, stores and records refrigerants and manages the environmental impact of its work.

1.Scope

This policy applies to every worker who handles fluorocarbon, hydrocarbon, ammonia or carbon dioxide refrigerants, and to the disposal of refrigerants, lamps, batteries, cable and electronic waste generated by any department.

2.Licensing

Only workers who hold a current refrigerant handling licence appropriate to the work will decant, charge, recover or otherwise handle refrigerants. The business holds a refrigerant trading authorisation and will purchase refrigerant only from authorised suppliers. Licences are recorded on the training matrix and checked before a worker is allocated refrigeration work.

3.Recovery and venting

Refrigerant must never be vented to the atmosphere. Before any system is opened, refrigerant must be recovered into a suitable cylinder using recovery equipment listed in the instrument register. Recovered refrigerant will be returned for reclamation or destruction through the approved scheme.

4.Records

Every job that involves refrigerant must be recorded in the refrigerant handling log with the system, refrigerant type, quantity recovered, quantity charged, cylinder identification and technician. The log will be reconciled against cylinder stock monthly.

• Refrigerant type and system charge
• Quantity recovered and quantity charged
• Cylinder identification and mass before and after
• Leak test method and result
• Technician licence status

5.Flammable and toxic refrigerants

Work with hydrocarbon, ammonia or carbon dioxide refrigerants must follow the specific safety requirements in the relevant procedure, including gas detection, ventilation, ignition source control and the personal protective equipment listed in the safety data sheet.

6.Waste and sustainability

Fluorescent lamps, batteries, cable off-cuts and electronic waste will be separated and sent to the recycling contractor. The business will recommend energy efficient and low global warming potential options to customers where they are suitable.