When temperatures in the workplace get high, the risk greatly increases for heat-related illnesses. In the summer months, as well as in climates where temperatures stay high all year long, employers and business owners need to stay aware of ways they can ensure their workers and employees are safe at all times. Read on for more information on safety measures for the workplace, risks, and how you can implement a system that keeps everyone safe from the heat.

Workplace Heat Safety

OSHA, the Occupational Safety Health Administration division of the U.S. Government has specific guidelines employers must adhere to ensure the safety of their workers and employees. Employers have a responsibility to maintain a safe environment to reduce the risk of injuries that can occur on the job. In research performed by OSHA, they have found that during the hot months of the year, workplace injuries are 3 times higher than during the cooler months.

Another parallel to this discussion is research from NASA that demonstrates the effect of heat on cognitive abilities. What their data indicates is that when temperatures increase from 80°F to 90°F, there is a 42% increase in mistakes. This can contribute to injuries, as well as overall loss of productivity and a lack of quality output from employees.  In addition, companies which violate OSHA guidelines can be subject to hefty fines.

Heat-Related Illnesses

Heat-related illnesses are extremely dangerous. Some of the most common illnesses due to heat exposure include heat stress, heat exhaustion, heat rash, heat cramps, and heat stroke. For example, in the event of heat exhaustion, people can be affected for several days at a time after experiencing dehydration due to high temperatures. Heat stroke, another dangerous illness that can strike after exposure to excessively high temperatures, can be so severe it leads to death.

For further insight, here are some of the warning signs of heat stroke:

• An increase in heart rate and respiration rate
• Hot, dry skin as a result of not cooling off through sweating
• Extremely high body temperature
• Muscle cramps
• Dehydration which causes a throbbing headache, nausea, or vomiting
• Confusion, hostility, or behavior that may be mistaken for intoxication
• Pale or bluish complexion
• Dizzy spells or fainting
• Unconsciousness or seizures

If you believe someone on the job is suffering from a heat-related illness such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke, seek emergency medical attention immediately. Move the person to a cool location and loosen/ remove any restricting clothing. Spray them with cool water and fan them. Ensure they have cool water for hydration.

How to Protect Your Employees and Workers from Heat Stress in the Workplace

Businesses and employers must understand the importance of heat safety in work environments. While a range of safety measures must be in place to handle situations of intense heat, and employers must ensure a safe environment is kept, workers should be educated in awareness of heat stress and first aid measures that can be used immediately.

Drinking water should be provided at the ready, at all times, and most certainly in situations where dehydration is possible.

In terms of ensuring the work environment is kept at a safe temperature, especially during summer months and the hottest points of the day, employers should employ measures to provide cooling and decrease temperatures.

How the Power Breezer Helps With Heat Safety in the Workplace

The Power Breezer is changing how workplace performance gets done, as it helps keep workers comfortable and safe. The Power Breezer utilizes a unique system that provides immense temperature control by cooling the heat in the location and blasting it through exceptionally high-powered fans and atomized evaporative cooling technology. The result is a 27°F reduction in temperatures, providing excellent results in industrial settings, high-demand environments, and even in open-air outdoor locations such as football fields. During professional NFL football games, these coolers have been used to keep both players and fans cool; a rather remarkable feat considering the average stadium holds tens of thousands of people.

The Power Breezer atomized cooling solution is being utilized across the world in such high-demand institutions as all five branches of the U.S. Military, the NFL, NASA, Amazon, the United States Postal Service, and FedEx as an energy-efficient means of providing industrial level cooling in heat-prone environments. Consider, if this technology is powerful enough to be used on military bases throughout the world to keep members of the Air Force, the Marines, the Coast Guard, the Army, and the Navy cool, safe, and productive – what can it do for your workplace environment?

For every work environment that has the potential of putting its employees and workers at risk of heat-related illness, it is imperative to have measures in place to ensure your workers are safe and healthy on the job. If you are interested in learning more about industrial cooling solutions for your business, contact Power Breezer to learn more about our products and how we can help keep your workplace safe.