• Gryphon Login
  • MyCourses
  • UCLA Health
  • Contact Us
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
  • Patient Care
    • UCLA Health Mission & Vision
    • Discover Patient Stories
    • Search Locations
    • Find a Provider
    • Medical Services
    • UCLA Health Careers
    • UCLA Health Mission & Vision
    • Discover Patient Stories
    • Search Locations
    • Find a Provider
    • Medical Services
    • UCLA Health Careers
  • Research
    About DGSOM Research
    • Breakthroughs
    • Excellence in Research
    • Faculty Search
    • Research Leadership
    • Seminar Calendar
    Departments, Centers & Institutes
    • Basic Science Departments
    • Clinical Departments
    • UCLA Research Centers
    • UCLA Research Institutes
    Unified Research Themes
    • Cancer
    • Cardiovascular
    • Health Equity & Translational Social Science (HETSS)
    • Immunity, Inflammation, Infection, and Transplantation (I3T)
    • Metabolism
    • Neuroscience
    • Regenerative Medicine

    Innovation and Entrepreneurship

    Clinical Trials
    Research Training & Career Development
    • Faculty Research
    • MD Student Research
    • PhD & Postdoctoral Trainees
    • Residents & Fellows

    Researcher Resources
    • Core Technology Centers
    • Policies and Procedures
    • Safety Resources
    • Visa and Licensing Office
  • Education
    MD Education
    • Prospective Students
    • DGSOM HEALS Curriculum
    • Current Students
    • Visiting Students
    • MD Alumni
    • Admissions
    • Financial Aid & Scholarships
    • David Geffen Medical Scholarships
    • Educational Evaluation & Assessment
    • Legacy Curriculum 
    • Student Website Change Request
    Residency Education
    • Incoming Residents
    • Current Residents
    • GME Community
    • GME Programs
    • STAR Program
    • Policies
    • Credentials Verification
    • Educational Evaluation & Assessment

    Postdoctoral Education

    Graduate Education
    • Programs in Bioscience
    • Biomathematics
    • Molecular Toxicology
    • Search UCLA Graduate Programs
    • Graduate Student Association

    Continuing Education

    • Live Courses
    • Online Courses
    • Resources
    • Prospective MD Students
    • Current MD Students
    • Residency Education
    • Postdoctoral Education
    • Educational Research & Evaluation
    • Graduate Education
    • Graduate Student Association
    • Continuing Education
  • Community
    Outreach
    • Community Engagement
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Service Opportunities
    • Global Health
    Student Life
    • Life at UCLA
    • MD Student Organizations
    • Annual Student Events
    • Peer Mentoring
    • Photo Galleries
    • Medical Student Council
    • Around Campus
    • Day in the Life
    • Medical and Research News
    • Search Campus and Health News
    • Geffy Guide
    • Global Health Program
    • Goals of Community Engagement
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Project Highlights
    • Happy Feet Clinic
    • Mobile Clinic Project
    • Allied Healthcare Career Guide
    • Community Partners in Care
  • Faculty
    Development
    • Faculty Professional Development
    • Faculty Executive Committee
    • Medical Education Committee
    • Faculty Handbook
    • Faculty & Staff Website Change Request
    Faculty Resources
    • Faculty Opportunities & Resources
    • Faculty Search
    • Departments
    • Room Reservations
    • Awards for Education
    • The Mellinkoff Award
    • Educational Affairs
    • My Courses
    • Gryphon
    • UCLA Simulation Center
    • EDI Resources
    • Academic Affairs
    • Biomedical Library
    • Industry Relations
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Academy for Excellence in Medical Education
    • Faculty Professional Development
    • Evaluation & Assessment
    • Faculty Executive Committee
    • Medical Education Committee
    • Faculty Handbook
    • Faculty Profiles
    • Faculty & Staff Website Change Request
    • Faculty Opportunities & Resources
  • Equity and Diversity Inclusion
    Overview
    • About
    • Anti-racism Roadmap
    • Communities
    • Events
    • Health Equity
    • Resources
    Communities
    • For Faculty
    • For MD Students
    • For PhD Trainees
    • For Postdoctoral Trainees
    • For Residents and Fellows
    Events
    • Professional Development
    • EDI Journal Club
    • First Gen Welcome
    • Lecture Series
    • Road to Residency

    SEE FULL CALENDAR

    • About
    • Anti-racism Roadmap
    • Communities
    • Events
    • Health Equity
    • Resources
  • About Us
    Culture & Mission
    • Cultural North Star
    • Dean's Corner
    • Equity and Diversity Inclusion
    • History
    • Leadership
    • Reporting and Support Resources
    • Social Media
    • Why Choose UCLA: Medical School and Residency
    Visiting Campus
    • Contact Us
    • Coronavirus Information
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Geffen Hall
    • Maps & Directions
    • Virtual Campus Tours: Medical School and Residency
    Departments & Accreditation
    • Academic Affairs
    • Academic Departments
    • Academic Job Opportunities
    • Curricular Affairs
    • Flexwork at DGSOM
    • Financial Affairs
    • LCME Accreditation
    • Strategic Plan
    • History
    • Contact Us
    • Dean's Corner
    • Executive Leadership
    • Financial Affairs
    • Flexwork at DGSOM
    • Geffen Hall
    • IT Connect
    • LCME Accreditation
    • Maps & Directions
    • Social Media
    • Strategic Plan
    • Best Medical Schools Rankings
  • Giving
  • Gryphon Login
  • MyCourses
  • UCLA Health
  • Contact Us

Laboratory

Laboratory

Laboratory

  • Where to Report Laboratory Emergencies
  • Medical Emergency
  • Suspicious Package
  • Radioactive Spill
  • Chemical Spill
  • Insurance Claim
  • Freezer meltdown
  • Ventilation Failure
  • Hazardous Gas Leak
  • Biological Spill
  • Lab Fire
  • Full Lab Shutdown
  • Where to Report Laboratory Emergencies
  • Medical Emergency
  • Suspicious Package
  • Radioactive Spill
  • Chemical Spill
  • Insurance Claim
  • Freezer meltdown
  • Ventilation Failure
  • Hazardous Gas Leak
  • Biological Spill
  • Lab Fire
  • Full Lab Shutdown
  1. Home
  2. Emergency Overview
  3. Emergency Procedures
  4. Laboratory
  5. Freezer meltdown

Freezer meltdown

Share this

Laboratory Freezers | UVM Risk Management and Safety - University of Vermont →

PREPARE »

The operator should perform routine cleaning and maintenance. For maximum performance and efficiency, it is recommended that the unit be checked and calibrated periodically by a qualified service technician.

The following is a condensed list of suggested preventive maintenance requirements. Refer to the owner’s manual for specific details for each piece of equipment. Cleaning and calibration adjustment intervals are dependent on use, environmental conditions, and accuracy required.

  • Fill an upright by starting at the bottom near the probe and add racks to one shelf at a time
  • Allow freezer to recover to set point between shelves
  • Fill chest freezer by starting at the left side near the probe
    • Filling with room temperature racks will result in long pull-down time
  • Fill the unit with frozen product (frozen water jugs, for example) to help overall performance 
  • Always make certain the vacuum relief port is free of frost and ice to allow for timely re-entry into the freezer after a door opening
  • Unit needs space to breathe
    • 6" is a good general rule, could be less per the owner’s manual
  • Unit must be connected to properly sized and dedicated breaker
    • Inspect all probe ports, make sure they are sealed during and after use. Do not drill/screw the case in any way without consulting the manufacturer
Action Monthly 6 Months Yearly
Verify that ambient temperature is < 90°F. √
Check and clean probe cover gaskets, hinges, and lid(s) of ice and snow. More frequent cleaning may be required, depending on use and environmental conditions. √
Check air filter. Clean or replace as needed. √ 4X
Vacuum condenser coils as needed. (Use caution - SHARP) √
Clean unit with mild detergent, use baking soda and water to treat odors. √
Verify the unit alarms are active and limits are properly set for the content. √
Check alarm back-up battery, replace as necessary. (Dispose of batteries properly through Risk Management & Safety)  √
Check chart recorder backup battery (9V), replace as necessary. (Dispose of batteries properly through Risk Management & Safety)  √
Inspect gaskets for tears and replace if compromised. Clean with mild detergent, check seal with dollar/paper test. (Dollar/paper test: Close freezer door on dollar bill or piece of paper. If door seals properly, you should have difficulty removing the dollar or paper. If it is easy to remove paper, the gasket may need to be replaced.)  √
Vacuum condenser condensate pan. Use CAUTION as most pans have a heater for evaporation - may be HOT. √
Defrost freezer at 3/8" frost thickness. (Must be turned off for 24 hours before restarting) √ (as required)

  • To minimize ice build-up inside of freezer:
    • Locate the freezer away from drafts and heating/cooling units
    • Keep the number of door openings to a minimum
    • Minimize the length of time door is open
    • Make sure the door latches securely after opening
  • If you have valuable and/or irreplaceable materials that rely on the mechanical equipment to maintain appropriate temperature, then you should install a monitor or alarm
  • Minus80: Minus80 monitoring is a system used in several institutions around the country. They provide monitoring and alert services that are customized to each lab's need. These systems report temperature fluctuations over time as well as alerts for temperatures that exceed a given range. Minus80 personnel monitor alerts along with lab personnel. These systems communicate using Minus80 telecommunications equipment. Labs pay an initial purchase cost as well as monthly service charges. Contact Minus80 for more information or to set up this service. 
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Flickr Follow us on Sharecare
Top U.S. Medical Schools in Primary Care
  • Giving
  • Contact Us
  • Diversity
  • Emergency
  • Maps & Directions
  • Publications
  • Directory
  • Report Misconduct
  • Volunteer
  • Biomed Library
  • Newsroom
  • Smoke-Free
  • Sitemap
  • Terms of Use
  • Report Broken Links
Top U.S. Medical Schools in Research
Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter Subscribe to Our Videos on YouTube Follow us on Instagram Connect with Us on LinkedIn Follow us on Pinterest Follow us on Flickr Follow us on Sharecare