General Precautions For Refrigeration Systems

Always Use Eye Protection and Gloves:

The following safety precautions should be observed when working on an automotive refrigeration system:

- Always wear eye protection and gloves while handling refrigerant or servicing an air conditioning system.
- Avoid breathing refrigerant vapor or mist; exposure may irritate eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.
- If refrigerant or compressor oil contacts the skin or eyes, rinse the affected area with warm water, administer first aid immediately, and consult a doctor.
- If an accidental discharge occurs, ventilate the work area.
- Store refrigerant service equipment and bulk supply containers in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight and other heat sources (<113 °F (45 °C)).
- Do not expose refrigerants to an open flame, since burning refrigerant can produce poisonous gas. This includes open flames (such as in a propane leak detector), portable heaters, and lit cigarettes.
- Do not pressure-test service equipment or vehicle A/C Systems with an air/R-134a mixture. Some mixtures of air and R-134a are combustible at elevated pressures. The use of compressed air for leak detection in an R-1 34a system could result in a fire or explosion.
- Do not discharge refrigerant into the atmosphere; contain it. R-12 and R-134a are heavier than air; if discharged into the atmosphere, they can replace the air in a service pit, causing suffocation. If R-12 is discharged into the air it damages the environment.
- Never weld or steam-clean any part of the air conditioning system. Heating the refrigerant in a closed system could cause an explosion, due to the increased pressure.
- Always consider R-12 or R-134a to be under high pressure, whether in the automobile refrigeration system, service equipment, or refrigerant storage containers.
- R-134a should only be handled by competent, informed personnel using approved procedures and equipment. Failure to do so may result in serious injury and/or substantial equipment or vehicle damage.
- Removal of R-134a must be carried out using R-134a equipment that meets the requirements of SAE J2210.
- If accidental discharge occurs, ventilate the work area before resuming service. Exposure to high concentrations of refrigerant vapor can induce anesthetic effects such as weakness, dizziness, and nausea.