Industrial ventilation systems help control the work environment for people, products, and processes. A lot of the discussions around ventilation focus on air quality and cooling in hot temperatures. However, with winter in full swing and many places experiencing record-breaking cold temperatures, you may need to consider how your ventilation systems are keeping people warm this winter. Cold temperatures in your building put workers at risk for cold stress, which can be just as dangerous as heat stress. We’ll discuss heating solutions for industrial ventilation systems and how to protect your workers in this article.
If you need ventilation equipment for your industrial building, get in touch with our team now.
Industrial Ventilation Systems: Addressing Cold Temperatures
Industrial ventilation systems help with many aspects of creating a successful work environment. They help control humidity and moisture and also remove potentially harmful contaminants from the indoor air. Another key purpose of ventilation systems is to control temperatures, including cold temperatures that may cause issues for your operations.
Dangers of Cold Stress for Workers
Workers in your facility that are exposed to cold temperatures are at risk for cold stress. There are certain temperatures at which the body can start to become unhealthy, which is why OSHA recommends working temperatures between 68°F and 76°F. Colder than that and your employees may suffer.
Don’t assume that your building is immune to cold stress. In fact, people can experience cold stress even at cool temperatures above 40°F, especially if they are wet, such as from sweating from exertion.
Here are conditions associated with cold stress:
- Trench Foot: When the feet become wet, they can lose heat about 25 times faster than dry skin. Trench foot occurs when the skin breaks down because it has been cold and wet for too long. Symptoms include redness, blistering, pain, swelling, numbness, and leg cramps. Trench foot can lead to gangrene and other serious conditions.
- Frostbite: Frostbite is where the skin becomes too cold and the tissue starts to die. Symptoms include red skin with gray or white patches, tingling, aching, numbness, skin that is firm to the touch, and blisters. Frostbite can lead to amputation of affected extremities and limbs.
- Hypothermia: Hypothermia is where the body’s core temperature lowers after the skin becomes chilled for long periods of time. Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, loss of coordination, confusion, slurred speech, slowed heart rate, slowed breathing, unconsciousness. It may even lead to death.
Remember, any of these conditions can occur at temperatures warmer than you would assume, particularly for people with other health conditions that might affect blood circulation or body temperature regulation. Cold stress can and does happen indoors in industrial workplaces.
Industrial Fans & Ventilation Equipment for Heating
To keep your workers warm and safe this winter, you need industrial fans and ventilation equipment to warm up the air if you work in cold temperatures. Generally, this involves industrial heaters paired with other equipment to ensure your space is warm enough for the health and safety of your team.
There are a couple of main challenges that many industrial facilities face when it comes to heating. The first is ensuring proper distribution of warm air throughout the facility. The second is controlling energy costs.
Choosing the right equipment can assist with both of these issues. For instance, Cambridge Air Solutions heaters are designed specifically to provide energy-efficient heating and optimal heat distribution. We install these in strategic places to ensure maximum effectiveness for cold work zones. Additionally, if your building has tall ceilings that can trap unused warm air, we may also recommend fans as part of your industrial ventilation systems to push the warm air down toward workers for the most efficient use of warm air in your building.
Solutions for Industrial Ventilation Systems from Eldridge
When you need ventilation solutions, choose Eldridge for all your needs. We assist with a wide range of ventilation problems in industrial facilities. Whether you need a specialist to design a ventilation system from scratch or need to add equipment like heaters to your existing system, we have practical and cost-effective options for you. Contact us now to get a free quote for your ventilation needs.