Safety first

Manufacturing is a vital sector in the United States – the third largest manufacturer in the world. In fact, many would consider it a backbone of the country – providing everything from what we wear to the fasteners that hold together buildings to drums that hold together everything from petroleum to food products. The industry itself is responsible for more than 10% of the overall gross domestic product (GDP) more than 12 million jobs in the U.S. In fact, Portacool employs 425 people at our own manufacturing plant in Center, Texas.

Manufacturing typically has human employees working alongside robots, automated machinery, and heat-producing equipment. In the past several years, worker safety and injury prevention has become a top priority for employers and government agencies alike, who have increased regulation and safety standards across the country. While equipment/machinery and slips/trips/falls are top concerns in the manufacturing industry, heat can be a risk that is often underestimated.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to extreme heat can result in occupational illnesses and injuries, including heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, or heat rashes. It can also increase risk of injuries as it may result in sweaty palms, fogged-up safety glasses, and dizziness. That being said, heat stress is preventable.

To keep employees cool and safe, consider implementing the following tactics:

• Breaks – Regular breaks not only allow workers to rest, but they may also increase productivity throughout an overall shift. Limiting time in the heat and encouraging appropriate recovery time spent in a cool environment allows workers to give the body a chance to get rid of excess heat, regain energy and focus on the task at hand.
• Hydration – Employers should provide the means for appropriate hydration of workers. This may expand beyond accessible, potable water to sports drinks that replenish electrolytes.
• Portable Evaporative Coolers – When heat-generating machinery, large buildings which lack insulation, and open doors contribute to a hot environment, additional measures are needed to provide cooling relief. Portable evaporative coolers come in a range of sizes and work with water and ambient air to provide efficient and effective cooling. Smaller coolers, like the Jetstream 240, are perfect for spot cooling individual workers near machinery or particularly warm areas of the plant. Larger products, like the Jetstream 260, can be used to cool large areas, like assembly lines or even entire plants. Portacool portable evaporative coolers are mobile-friendly and easy-to-use solutions to hot environments that are challenging to cool.

Ensuring employee safety is essential in any workplace and can even increase overall productivity and save money for companies. In an industry that is so critical to the economy, commitment to safety can even help to retain and grow employees in manufacturing and industrial plants across the country. To see for yourself how evaporative cooling can make a difference, schedule a demo.