The Mid-Atlantic region has been facing a massive heat wave. Not only does this affect us on a personal level but the impact on businesses can also be dire.
According to a Harvard Business Review report titled: “Protecting Your Workforce from Extreme Heat” by Talia Varley, the effects of rising heat levels bear more consequences than just rising cooling costs. Heat can create significant health risks for work personnel and major losses in productivity. In fact, the article cites, “Two percent of total working hours are projected to be lost each year due to heat stress at work, representing more than $4 trillion annually by 2030.” Having processes in place to protect your companies’ workers and subsequent productivity is critical during this time.
Frederick Mutual offers the following suggestions for mitigating the effects of heat waves for your business:
Routinely check HVAC systems prior to cooling problems at your business to keep your indoor workers cool.
For workers who are predominantly outside, consider updating your operational hours to early morning or evening to avoid any health risks that may be incurred from working in extreme heat.
Heat can lead to more accidents on jobsites, businesses should implement weekly safety and productivity plans to deter accidents and to keep your employees safe.
Keep HVAC system at 78 degrees for maximal output.
Consider adding Equipment Breakdown insurance prior to a heat wave to protect HVAC systems.
To read more about protecting your workforce please visit: Protecting Your Workforce from Extreme Heat (hbr.org)