There are some heat related issues in factories that happen year-round and there are others that become real problems when the heat of summer arrives. Whether you are trying to keep employees from getting burned on hot steam pipes and equipment or are dealing with hot temperatures causing seasonal issues with sweltering working environments or outside handrails being too hot to touch, it’s more important that ever to get a handle on these employee safety issues.
For the first time in 25 years, fines for violations of federal workplace safety laws are set to increase, potentially up to or beyond 80 percent, with the “Maximum Adjustment” allowed set at 150 percent. (Reference)
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, On November 2, 2015, Congress passed the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. That Act requires federal agencies, including OSHA, to adjust their civil money penalties based on inflation. The new penalty levels will take effect no later than August 1, 2016.
This upcoming increase doesn’t have to be a headache for plant and facility managers, because there are sustainable solutions out there, like Syneffex™ thermal insulation coatings, that can help with a variety of heat related workplace safety issues.
Cool Hot Pipes and Equipment to Prevent Burns in a Day
Just as many plant managers use our coatings to bring surfaces down to safe touch (about 140F/60C) as use them for energy savings. Safety is of the utmost importance to everyone.
Nansulate™ EPX-H20 has the ability to reduce a surface temperature by 150 – 200 degrees Fahrenheit or more, depending upon the number of coats used. It can be applied while the equipment is in service, and can fully cure in just hours to 1-2 days. The application is simple and many companies prefer a D-I-Y approach for quick and easy deployment.
Caribbean snack food manufacturer, Holiday Snacks, made their working environment cooler and lowered the exterior temperature of their casa oven and fryer with Syneffex™ High Heat thermal insulation coating.
You can check out that one along with several other “Safe Touch” case studies here: www.syneffex.com/portfolio_skills/osha-safe-touch-compliance/
Reduce Equipment Heating Up the Working Environment
When the outside temperature rises, rooms with hot equipment, like ovens or textile dyeing machines, can become incredibly hot for employees. We’ve heard from many plant managers that they have to keep a large stock of Gatorade on hand during the summer just to keep their team hydrated to reduce occupational heat exposure.
Syneffex™ coatings have the ability to reduce the heat that is radiating from the walls of hot equipment so more of the heat stays inside working for you and saves you energy too rather than escaping from radiant heat sources, keeping the environment cooler. And, you get multiple benefits with just one application, since the coatings also prevent corrosion, are mold resistant, and stand up to weathering.
Don’t Let Your Guests Get Burned on Hot Handrails
One issue we get calls about often when summer hits is handrails and benches getting too hot from the sun and causing burns. This can be a real issue for a municipal building or hospital, as they want to keep their facilities safe for visitors and workers but need something that will stand up to the outside weathering and won’t make the railing unusable.
Our Nansulate™ Translucent PT coating has been successfully used for this numerous times. It can easily reduce the “heating up” effect from the hot summer sun, keeping the railing safe to use. Plus the coating is clear, meaning it won’t change the look of the surface, and it provides additional corrosion and mold resistance.
Stay Cool – Stay Safe – Meet OSHA Requirements with Syneffex™
There’s never been a more critical time to address heat related safety hazards. The good news is that there is still plenty of time to insulate with Syneffex™ thermal barrier coatings before the increase in OSHA fines takes place.
We can get you started with just a little information about your needs. It only takes a few minutes to submit our Specification Request Form, and we will send you back a complete specification with everything you need to make an informed decision. Or… you can always call or chat with us anytime. 800-858-3176 or Live Smart Chat at www.synavax.com.
PS: Be sure to stay tuned for our full Safety Series with more tips for navigating the changing landscape of OSHA regulations.
