When an auditor walks through your door in Brisbane, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast — whether it’s for HACCP, TGA, or local food safety compliance — your refrigeration system becomes a focal point. In commercial environments like food manufacturing, pharma distribution, aged care, or supermarkets, one temperature deviation or logbook gap can trigger a non-compliance notice, lost product, or worse — a shutdown.
If you operate in Queensland and rely on commercial refrigeration, this Pre-Audit Checklist will help you prepare, prevent surprises, and pass inspections with confidence.
1. ✅ Temperature Accuracy & Calibration
Audit Requirement: Must maintain prescribed temperature ranges (e.g., 0–5°C for perishables, -18°C for frozen goods) and prove calibration.
Checklist:
Fridges/freezers show correct digital readings
Independent thermometer readings match display
Calibration certificate within last 6–12 months
Calibration done by a NATA-certified provider
🔧 Pro Tip: Consider annual calibration scheduling with your HVAC partner — it’s cheap insurance during audits.
2. 📉 Temperature Logging & Records
Audit Requirement: Continuous records showing no deviation from safe temperature ranges.
Checklist:
24/7 data logging system in place
Clear and legible logs (digital or manual)
Retained for at least 3–12 months (check your industry rules)
Staff trained on logging and alerts
Deviations flagged and documented with corrective actions
💡 Smart systems can send alerts before problems become audit failures. If you’re still using paper logs, consider upgrading.
3. 🧰 Preventive Maintenance & Servicing
Audit Requirement: Equipment must be in good working order with evidence of regular maintenance.
Checklist:
Maintenance logs show routine servicing
Filters clean and replaced on schedule
Door seals intact and working
No excessive frost, ice, or condensation
Condensers and evaporators clean
🔍 Auditors can spot neglected equipment instantly. Regular servicing = better uptime and fewer surprises.
4. 🔐 Food/Stock Separation & Contamination Control
Audit Requirement: No cross-contamination risks in cool rooms, freezers or fridges.
Checklist:
Raw and cooked items clearly separated
Chemicals or cleaning products stored separately
No cardboard storage on floors
No open containers without labels
Date labels visible and legible
📸 Take photos before the audit and do a quick walkthrough with staff to ensure storage is 100% compliant.
5. 📄 Documentation & SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures)
Audit Requirement: Clear procedures in place to maintain cold chain integrity.
Checklist:
Temperature monitoring SOP available to staff
Corrective action procedure documented
Staff trained and signed off
Last audit response file on hand
Supplier delivery logs include temperature checks
🧠 Auditors don’t just look at gear — they check your systems and culture too.
Bonus: Pass or Fail? What Auditors Really Look For
In our experience servicing commercial clients across QLD, auditors are looking for:
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Evidence that you control your refrigeration risks
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Quick access to logs, calibration, and service reports
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Staff who understand the system, not just “the fridge guy handles that”
✅ Final Thought: Don’t Just Pass — Be Audit-Ready Year-Round
Passing a compliance audit should never be a scramble. With the right systems, service partner, and culture, you can make refrigeration compliance routine — not reactive.
Need help with pre-audit checks or smart monitoring systems?
We help Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast QLD businesses keep their refrigeration audit-ready — from HACCP to TGA and beyond.
📞 Call us today for a Pre-Audit Refrigeration Health Check – 1300 227 600
📧 workshop@acrorefrigeration.com.au
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