Page 38 - OHS, June 2020

HEAT STRESS
to rest and recuperate more quickly.
Douse Victims of Heat Stroke. When heat illness rises to the
level of heat stroke, perspiration becomes ineffective at keeping the body cool, making airflow alone inefficient for reversing the effects. While waiting for emergency medical care to arrive, cool the victim rapidly by dousing them in water, placing them in a cold bath or placing wet towels on them—the airflow from a fan will once again provide fast evaporative cooling and expedite the recovery process.
The trend toward providing comfortable work environments is more than just a fad. Experienced employers know workers who don’t feel cared for are less likely to care about their jobs and more likely to seek employment elsewhere. Low morale is a significant expense, as is employee turnover. In busy facilities, keeping work- ers safe and content is easier said than done. Even in big buildings like warehouses, manufacturing facilities and auto body shops, space can be at a premium. Tools that keep workers safe and com- fortable—like box fans, evaporative coolers, and task lights—are often shoved aside to make room for equipment and personnel that directly affect throughput.
However, one area typically remains uncluttered: the ceiling. A retrofit that utilizes and emphasizes overhead fans brings cooling airflow to any business, improving the work environment without taking up valuable floor space.
Ceiling-mounted fans are available in a variety of diameters, with HVLS fans ranging from eight to 24 feet wide, and there are a
Air movement and increased airflow are critical components for keeping workers on task and on their feet.
wide range of mounting options for all types of girders and beams. By providing a massive amount of vertical airflow, they move air over and around obstacles that would block the breeze of a box fan or pedestal fan, effectively cooling more employees. In the win- ter, large diameter overhead fans redistribute heat that rises to the ceiling back down to the ground level, keeping workers warm and reducing heater run time. This improved air circulation reduces heating bills by up to 30 percent, providing an even quicker return on investment.
When employees suffer from uncomfortable, cluttered work environments, business owners and facility managers only need to look up to find the solution.
Cooling with Air Conditioning
Why add fans to conditioned spaces?
■ Fans work in tandem with air conditioning systems to make
them more effective.
■ Fans use a fraction of the energy of an HVAC system, there-
by reducing overall energy consumption.
■ Increased air movement from fans makes occupants feel
cooler, allowing designers and users to raise thermostat set points without sacrificing comfort.
■ Each degree off set reduces HVAC-related energy usage by three to six percent.
Combating Heat Stress
The elevated air speed from fans makes occupants feel up to 10 degrees cooler by eliminating the boundary layer of warmer air surrounding the skin and quickly evaporating sweat. This premise holds several benefits for workers in uncomfortable and uncondi- tioned industrial spaces such as reduced incidence of heat exhaus- tion and injury, reduction of “Very Hot” hours, increased produc- tivity and increased retention of skilled employees.
Alex Risen serves as the PR manager for Big Ass Fans, globally headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky.
FAST FACTS ABOUT EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AND SAFETY
■ The top two types of complaints in most workplaces are either “I’m too hot” or “I’m too cold.”
■ Employee turnover is costly. Hiring and training replacements for departing employees costs about one third
of a position’s yearly salary on average.
■ Productivity decreases by about one percent for each degree the air temperature rises above 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
■ The wind chill from premium HVLS fans makes employees feel up to 10 degrees cooler than the ambient air temperature.
■ Workers’ compensation costs for slip, trip and fall injuries topped well over $10 billion in 2017. Condensation creates sweaty slab syndrome and increases the likelihood of accidents in facilities. Obstacles, such as power cords for personal fans, contribute to this total as well.
■ One large-diameter ceiling fan can provide cooling airflow to an area the size of four basketball courts.
■ The airflow from premium directional fans can stretch nearly 40 yards—that’s half the length of a football field!
34 Occupational Health & Safety | JUNE 2020
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