Engineering Controls
Engineering controls can eliminate or reduce exposure to heat-related hazards by properly designing tools, equipment, machinery, and the facility. The best engineering controls to prevent heat-related illness is to make the work environment cooler and to reduce manual workload with mechanization.
Heavy equipment with air-conditioned cab.
A variety of engineering controls can reduce exposure to heat:
- Air conditioning (such as air-conditioned crane or construction equipment cabs, air conditioning in break rooms)
- Increased general ventilation
- Cooling fans
- Local exhaust ventilation at points of high heat production or moisture (such as exhaust hoods in laundry rooms)
- Reflective shields to redirect radiant heat
- Insulation of hot surfaces (such as furnace walls)
- Elimination of steam leaks
- Cooled seats or benches for rest breaks
- Use of mechanical equipment to reduce manual work (such as conveyors and forklifts).
- Misting fans that produce a spray of fine water droplets
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-7. Reflective shields, local exhaust ventilation, and cooling fans are examples of _____.
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