Climate control is a safety concern during the summer months. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are just two heat-related illnesses that plague us during the summer months.
Heat stroke can cause permanent damage to the heart, brain, kidneys, and muscles. Also, the symptoms of heat-related illness, like dizziness or sweaty palms, can cause accidents.
If you’re a construction employer or in charge of workplace safety and efficiency at a job site, you need to think about climate control in areas where workers are laboring.
Besides providing water, shade, and frequent breaks when working in the heat, employers should also monitor workers for heat-related illness. Additionally, Pro Tool recommends that you improve air quality and temperature with climate control equipment.
Let’s look at the top four types of climate control equipment and how it can improve heat safety on the job site:
- Portable air conditioners
- Fans
- Ventilators (blower-extractors)
- Dehumidifiers
Climate Control Equipment: Portable Air Conditioner Units
Without the benefits the air conditioner brings to hot summer days, we’d likely still be living in caves! A portable air conditioner adds cooled air to construction areas, which helps offset the heat produced by machinery and human bodies.
Although larger than the other devices in this article, the construction air conditioners that Pro Tool carries all rest on wheels, so it’s relatively easy to move them around. We have PAC units that range from 13,200 to 21,000 BTUs (the higher the number, the more heat it removes from the room).
Climate Control Equipment: Fans
Everyone loves a fan. They remind us of the most natural cooling method of all – the wind! The movement of the air over our skin helps us feel cooler.
However, fans for the home aren’t made tough enough for the rough environment of a construction site. Pro Tool carries four different types of construction fans:
- Industrial floor fan—Sits on the floor, so it’s stable, but also portable and durable.
- Box fan—The most basic of fan designs; it’s great for larger rooms.
- Pedestal fan—Versatile in that you can adjust its height and angle, though not as sturdy as a box or floor fan.
- Floor fan (blower)—With a more direct air flow than a fan, blowers are great for drying material and small areas.
Climate Control Equipment: Ventilators
Construction ventilators (also known as blower-extractors) can improve heat safety by either bringing in cooler air from outside or by extracting overheated indoor air. These types of construction ventilators are easy to move around and compact to store.
Pro Tool carries ventilators in the 8” or 12” sizes. You can purchase as long of a duct hose as necessary to extract the room’s air or bring in cooler air.
Climate Control Equipment: Dehumidifiers
The saying “It’s not the heat—it’s the humidity” is well-known for a reason! If you can remove damp air from a room with a dehumidifier, you’ll make the room feel cooler and more comfortable for workers.
Another benefit of construction dehumidifiers is that they decrease the drying time of concrete, spackling, and mud for interior projects. Pro Tool carries a smaller dehumidifier that can be carried from room to room as well as two larger models with wheels.
Achieve Heat Safety with Cooler Air
OSHA requires construction employers to provide a work environment that’s free from known safety hazards. Heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses can be fatal. Protect your workers and keep them happy and cool with climate control equipment.
If have questions about how to efficiently and cost effectively keep workers cooler in the summer (or any heat-intense workplace), please give Pro Tool a call at 1-857-706-2980 or contact us online.
