The importance of having a safe work environment cannot be sufficiently stressed. Whether employees are working indoors, outdoors, or both, it’s important to ensure that both air quality and temperatures are as optimum as possible. While safety clothing and other types of protective gear should be worn under specific circumstances, climate and air quality control can address a variety of situations to assist with maintaining employees’ health.
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology reported that when indoor environments have a relative humidity of under 50%, this can assist with removing allergens. Other research was conducted by
the National Center for Biotechnology Information. The results showed that workplace performance and productivity may be increased by six percent to nine percent when indoor air quality is improved.
Proper ventilation obviously makes a significant impact on interior air quality. When there are approximately 25 people working in a space that is more than 500 square feet, for example, demand controlled ventilation is required. It is also mandated when there are more than 25 people working in a space that is 1,000 square feet.
In addition to having proper ventilation, temperature control is also vital. The potential for hypothermia and heat exhaustion, for example, are both causes for concern. When a person’s internal body temperature falls below 95 degrees, they are likely to experience hypothermia, which is an abnormally low body temperature.
There are three heat-related syndromes that can occur when someone is subjected to hot interior or exterior environments. These are heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. While heat cramps are the mildest form of these syndromes, heat stroke is the most severe.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set standards for minimum and maximum indoor workplace temperatures. Minimum temperatures of indoors are set at 68 degrees, and 76 degrees are the maximum. For outdoor businesses, OSHA has not mandated any temperature control standards, however. It’s interesting to note that a Cornell University study found that when temperatures are at 71.6 degrees, productivity levels are at their highest.
When you need temporary cooling or heating for a construction project or temporary office space, were you aware that you can rent these types of units? Dehumidifier rentals are also available for construction projects and other purposes, such as to air out damp garages and basements. You may also be interested in a rental air conditioner if you’re vacationing in a hot area and need more cool air.
Rather than purchase a new air conditioner or heater that you don’t need back at home or at your office, contact a local HVAC rental company to learn more about rental air conditioners and other units. When you only need a device on a temporary basis, opting for rental air conditioners, heaters, and dehumidifiers makes sense. It can also be much more convenient to rent rather than buy when you don’t have sufficient storage space to keep these units when not being used.
