Which statement reflects a recommended method to estimate the start time of a refrigeration failure?

• A. Refrigerators should be equipped with an alarm system and a record keeping system
• B. Call the power company to ask what time the power went out
• C. Ask an employee (not a contracted worker or janitor)
• D. If the power went out, look at the time on a clock

Answer: (A)

The best way to estimate when refrigeration failure began is to have an alarm system paired with a record-keeping system on the refrigerators. An alarm provides immediate notification of a temperature excursion or power loss, and the accompanying logs give objective time stamps of when the event started and how long it lasted. This combination creates verifiable data about when the failure began, how long products were exposed to unsafe conditions, and helps with proper response, recall decisions, and regulatory documentation.

Relying on information from the power company depends on external data that may not precisely match the unit’s actual failure time or duration. Asking a staff member relies on memory and awareness, which can be inaccurate. Looking at a clock assumes the clock is accurate and that you know exactly when the outage happened, which is often not the case.