A refrigeration failure can affect food, operations, and equipment. Start with your site emergency and food-safety procedures, then gather information for a qualified service provider. This is general guidance, not a substitute for local requirements, the equipment manual, or your food-safety plan.
Address immediate safety concerns
If you notice smoke, a suspected gas leak, exposed wiring, or another immediate hazard, keep people away and follow your site emergency procedure. Do not investigate behind panels or attempt electrical, gas, or refrigerant repairs. Contact emergency services when your procedure requires it.
Protect product and document conditions
- Keep doors closed when practical and safe, and limit unnecessary access.
- Record the time, displayed readings, alarms, and any change in sound, odor, water, or visible ice. Do not reset the system repeatedly if the fault returns.
- Follow your food-safety plan and local guidance to determine whether product should be isolated or moved to suitable alternate storage. Do not rely on appearance or a general online time limit to decide whether food is safe.
- Tell the person responsible for food safety and operations what was observed and what steps were taken.
Contact qualified service
Share the model and serial number, alarm codes, when the issue began, recent maintenance, and the equipment’s current behavior. Ask whether the provider can perform the required type of service and when they can attend. Emergency labels do not guarantee immediate availability, so confirm response and coverage directly.
After service
Keep the work order and any instructions about restart, cleaning, or monitoring. Follow the manufacturer’s procedure for returning the equipment to use and your site’s food-safety process for product decisions. Continue recording conditions until the person responsible for the unit confirms normal operation under the applicable procedures.