ACCIDENTS AND CRITICAL SITUATIONS DUE TO UNINTENTIONAL ESCAPE OF REFRIGERANTS - A SURVEY OF CASES IN NORWAY OVER THE LAST 2 DECADES

Safety is an overriding consideration in the design and operation of refrigeration systems. Present practices and regulations must be judged against the experience of the recent past. Regrettably, there are very few systematic records available concerning the frequency and nature of accidents caused by escape of refrigerants, and the discussion is often based on hearsay, preconceived ideas and prejudice. As a contribution to clarify the situation this paper attempts to give a reasonably complete survey of refrigeration accidents and near-accidents in one country. It is highly desirable that similar investigations can be carried out in other countries, in order to provide a more complete basis for objective decisions.