Keeping workers cool when it’s hot under their collar
Temperatures are ramping up and so will outdoor work, but are workers able to stay cool under the heat? There are new, inexpensive solutions for protecting workers from heat exposure that are worth looking into.
Workers required to perform physically demanding tasks in hot and humid environments are especially susceptible to heat illness or injury. Add to their workload the need to wear restrictive personal protective equipment (PPE) and you’ve significantly increased the risk of heat stress. Prolonged heat exposure can lead to significant strain on workers, both physically and physiologically. This strain can adversely impact their health, performance, and productivity which may lead to work-related injuries or traumatic events like falls or vehicle incidents.
The last line of defense
Ideally, employers will protect workers through engineering controls, like air conditioning, ventilation, or misting fans. Additionally, they may implement administrative controls like adjusting work shifts to cooler parts of the day or increasing the duration of rest breaks in cooled areas.
There are times, however, when these protections are not enough, are impractical, or are too expensive. When engineering and administrative controls aren’t sufficient to protect workers, the last line of defense — PPE — is needed.
Types of cooling solutions
Keeping workers safe amidst rising temperatures can be a challenge and has resulted in the introduction of a variety of cooling solutions. Personal cooling garments (PCGs) and other technological devices are becoming more common in the workplace to help employees maintain a healthy core body temperature.
Whether passive (non-powered) or active (powered), PCGs are designed to help with the heat exchange between a worker’s body and the environment.
PASSIVE SOLUTIONS | ACTIVE SOLUTIONS |
Cooling vests | Personal cooling systems |
Cooling arm sleeves | Liquid-filled shirts or vests |
Cooling neck gaiters | Cooling mats |
Cooling skull caps | Portable air conditioners |
Cooling towels | Wearable waist fans |
Freezable neck coolers | Portable neck fans |
Solar-powered fans | |
Cooling wristbands |
PCGs work in different ways to reduce the heat placed on workers. Garments may be:
- Conductive — utilizes power to force ambient or cooled air through the garment to assist with the heat exchange between the worker’s skin and the environment.
- Convective — deploys the circulation of cooled fluids or other pre-cooled materials (e.g., gel packs) to prevent increase of the worker’s core body temperature.
- Evaporative — uses water-soaked materials or garments to assist with the evaporation of sweat from the body.
- Radiative — incorporates reflective or light-colored materials or fabrics to reduce heat absorption by the worker’s body.
Selecting the right cooling method
There is no “one size fits all” protection for those subjected to workplace heat. Employers considering the use of PCGs for heat stress management should evaluate several factors to ensure selected cooling methods are best for their operations and workforce. Consideration should be given to:
- Age and health of workers;
- Workload and activity type (mild, heavy, extreme);
- Environmental conditions (humidity, radiant heat, etc.);
- PPE and protective clothing already required; and
- Duration and frequency of heat exposure.
Key to remember: As temperatures soar, employers should consider new and varied cooling solutions to help workers beat that heat.