Scorched at Work?
 Here
are a few quick fixes
With the dog days of summer approaching, workers need to know ways to effectively
deal with heat.
Studies show that working in hot conditions can increase accidents. Mental
alertness decreases even before the onset of illness.
Recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses. Then take action to
eliminate heat risks.
Action plan
Before the hot days arrive, workers should put together an action plan
which should be presented to management.
- Take care of all scheduled maintenance on existing ventilation systems.
- Hot work should be scheduled during cool parts of the day.
- Non-essential hot jobs should be postponed until cooler weather arrives.
- During hot weather, extra workers should be scheduled to allow for
adequate rest breaks.
Heat index
The American Conference of Industrial Hygienists has a heat index that
provides guidelines on recovery time. When the Wet Bulb Globe temperature,
a NIOSH-recommended temperature standard for working conditions, hits
89°F, even light-duty jobs require 50-percent rest, 50-percent work
to stay within guidelines.
The Wet Bulb Globe index is the best technique for measuring all the
environmental factors that affect heat stress: humidity, radiant heat,
air movement, and the ambient air temperature.
Engineering controls
Piping in outside air may help reduce heat. Remember though, if the air
that is blown onto the workers has a higher temperature than the skin,
it could increase the heat load on the workers instead of reducing it.
Also, if workers are near a furnace that generates radiant heat, pushing
air onto them won’t do much good. Making sure that floor fans don’t
push hot air onto workers is also very important.
Heated exhaust from powered equipment is also a big part of the problem.
Members of UAW Local 174 at Lear Corp. in Detroit know this first-hand.
But they’ll be a lot cooler this year, thanks to some simple engineering
changes at their plant.
Each of the polyurethane foam production lines for headrests and armrests
for the Big Three has chillers that cool the parts but pump hot air onto
the shop floor. This summer, instead of exhausting hot air into the plant,
the chillers have been vented to the roof.
“The operators that unload that line will be much more comfortable,”
said Jim Burton, Local 174’s health and safety representative. “The
old units placed on the floor blew the hot air right on the work station.
With a little duct work and a small blower, we’ll be a lot cooler
this year,” he added.
Cool spots
Cooling booths, air-conditioned shelters, and break rooms should be located
nearby so they can provide a quick escape from sweltering heat. Workers
must have regularly scheduled, frequent use of these cool spots to be
protected against heat stress. Frequent short breaks near the work area
are more effective than running to a distant break room. NIOSH recommends
break and cooling areas be at least 76°F.
Water, water
Workers need water to stay hydrated when working eight-hour shifts in
the heat. The body loses anywhere from one to three gallons of water through
sweat. It is important to replace this water.
Relying on thirst alone is a mistake.Workers should be drinking seven
ounces every 15 to 20 minutes. Water should be served up in cups instead
of drinking fountains.
Time on the job requires acclimatization. New workers, those returning
from illness--even those returning from vacation--might be more susceptible
to heat illnesses. It takes five to seven days for people to become used
to working in heat.
Special clothing
Special protective clothing may also be a good remedy for heat. A system
that runs on compressed air is called a vortex. High-speed air is sent
through a small cylinder that is worn on the belt. This cylinder spins
the air and separates it into two streams, one cold and one hot. The hot
air is vented and the cold air is blown into a vest or hood cooling the
head and upper body.
|
