For businesses across the globe 2022 has been a challenging year due to supply chain pressures and rising inflation. While we contend with these new pressures – soaring summer temperatures are creating high risk workspaces, in turn costing organizations money from employee turnover and lost productivity. These costs may be felt in the short and long term, and they can have devastating, reverberating effects on your business as a whole. 

Direct Costs of Extreme Heat are Real and Measurable

The often overlooked costs of heat in the workplace can burden operations with $7.6M annually for every 100 employees once the temperatures rise above 77F.

With additional shifts or additional employees, the costs can be staggering once the temperature is > 77F. Note the $7.6M number is based upon 100 employees working 5 days a week in HOT temperatures, As the temps and employees increase, the hidden costs of heat can add up quickly. 

Power Breezer customers tell us that conservatively that our machines are capable of returning 15% of these costs back to their bottom line.  Don’t let inflation or these hidden costs of heat affect your business any further. Read on to learn where these savings may be hiding in plain sight. 

The Impact of Heat on Productivity

Based on research from NASA, there is a 42% elevation in mistakes occurring on the job when temperatures soar from 80 F degrees to 90F degrees. The hotter the conditions, the harder it is to work. Government and private agencies have accepted the reality that when temperatures reach 90 F, productivity drops in accordance by approximately 29%. These figures demonstrate how the quality and productivity are directly impacted by extreme workplace temperatures.

For businesses contemplating the added cost of providing cooling, it must be considered: Is a 42% reduction in employee productivity less costly than cooling the air?

Preventing Workplace Injuries

Heat in the workplace is not only uncomfortable and a major stressor to workers, but it is also extremely dangerous. OSHA states that workplace injuries occur 3 times more frequently during hot months than cooler months – indicating Business leadership has a responsibility to reduce the risk of injuries wherever possible, and this includes proactive heat mitigation at the workplace. If you fail as a business owner to provide a safe work environment, the consequences may be much more costly.

Heat-Related Insurance Claims

Injuries on the job not only cost companies in terms of employees being out of work, but they also are 

responsible for covering insurance which covers the costs of medical care required for injuries. The higher the number of claims, the higher the cost. So in addition to losing quality staff members impacting overall productivity, (which may create added stress for your healthy workers), you may face a greater number of claims, which can drive up the cost of your insurance. Above all, keeping these claims minimal to nonexistent should be the goal of every company.

Heat-Related Workplace Absenteeism

According to The U.S. Department of Labor, workplace absences increase by 44% when workers are subjected to hot conditions. Businesses cannot instantly replace their workplace personnel, as it is very costly and time-consuming to find the right employees. With cooler conditions, workers will have fewer reasons to repeatedly miss work because of the uncomfortable and dangerous conditions, which can positively impact productivity and prevent an excess of lost time at work.

Long-Term Employee Retention

Keeping employees comfortable in their day-to-day activities is very important in building long-term loyalty and commitment. More comfort in their daily activities results in overall happier employees, who stay with companies longer. This equates to less turnover and greater retention, which has a very positive effect on a business’s bottom line.

So bottom line: more comfort = happier employees = longer retention = less turnover.

Get real savings and beat inflation

If you are not providing cooling for your workers due to the expense, it is important to understand there are many options available that may not be as costly as installing central air conditioning units and will help you avoid workplace injuries.

Using atomized evaporative cooling fans from Power Breezer can help you achieve smiles across the organization. These fans are portable, they can be used indoors or outdoors, they are extremely energy-efficient, and provide a versatile means of operation that allows for great agility in location and the type of work environment. 

Our Power Breezer fans are used in high-volume warehouses, loading docks, across many industrial settings, along with numerous professional and collegiate athletic associations, and by the US Military across the world. 

In most cases, utilizing this type of technology for cooling produces such excellent results, the cost of the machines is more than minimized, offset by the incredible value they bring to workplaces.