Glass and ceramics are among the longest established industries. This includes the fields of flat glass, container glass, glass fibres, special glass as well as glass processing and finishing. About 400 companies with about 53,000 employees are active in this sector. The production and processing of glass and ceramics involves extreme heat, which poses a risk of health hazards in this sector due to heat exposure. The professional association therefore requires risk assessments to protect employees. This includes the areas with workplaces exposed to heat, but also all other workplaces that are exposed to high temperatures of over 32°C in summer. For this reason, we as heat protection experts have developed a suitable strategy with climate-neutral E.COOLINE cooling functional clothing, with which you can stay significantly cooler and thus healthier.
WHY YOU SHOULD USE E.COOLINE:
- Heat stress is avoided
- Concentration and performance are maintained
- Effective cooling possible even under PPE
- Productivity is maintained
- Immediately and flexibly ready for use
- No additional energy costs
- Sick-leaves can be reduced
E.COOLINE IN THE FIELD TEST
Workplaces in the glass and ceramics sector are very different. Since employees in the furnace areas suffer particularly from heat stress, we conducted a workplace analysis together with a glass-producing company. First, the workplace was examined according to the WBGT measurement. Then, with the help of infrared thermal images, the heat stress was tested with and without the E.COOLINE cooling vest and bandana. The result was unequivocal. After it was clear that the activity near a furnace with 300°C radiant heat and 40°C room temperature was a heat workplace, the before and after test was carried out. The heat images were also impressive. With E.COOLINE cooling clothing the body surface temperature was clearly 6°C lower as without it and in the normal physiological range. You can DOWNLOAD the report HERE.
EMPA STUDY: E.COOLINE IN AN ENDURANCE TEST
Workplaces in the vicinity of ovens and possibly fires have to meet certain requirements. For this reason, we subjected them to the endurance test at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research (EMPA) in St. Gallen. A test manikin similar to Dupont’s “Thermoman”, which is equipped with sensors, was subjected to 150 KW, 230 KW and a “flashover”. The temperature on the “skin” of the test object was examined. The result was clear. The temperature increase despite the enormous heat development in figure B with E.COOLINE vest was significantly lower than without (figure A). There were also no steam burns.
Always check that these tests have been carried out before using cooling waistcoats near ovens or fires. This contributes to your health and safety.
THE LEGISLATION HELPS
In Europe, everything is regulated by law. Also the topic of heat. The EU Directive 89/654EWG is regulated in the Occupational Health and Safety Act in §5, which prescribes special protective measures above 26°C and documentation in the form of risk assessments in companies. Special protective measures apply to hot workplaces. On the one hand, measures must be taken to reduce exposure to heat and, on the other hand, employees must be medically supervised (regulations on occupational health care (G30) – especially with regard to the cardiovascular system, which is especially stressed in hot weather. The Ordinance on Workplaces with ASR A3.5 Room Temperature also applies to all other workplaces, complementing the legal requirements for 26°C, 30°C or above 35°C.
The literature references in this regulation, such as BGI/GUV-I 7002, explain the procedure. When all technical and organisational protective measures have been exhausted, personal measures such as wearing a cooling vest are recommended.
