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Cooling 101
In dangerously hot work environments—from summer outdoor construction jobs in direct sunlight to indoor, non-air-conditioned jobs in foundries, tanneries, and steel mills—occupational heat stress is one serious danger.
One of the best ways to protect workers from heat stress (besides taking the day off and spending it at the pool) is the use of cooling apparel, like a cooling vest, cooling headband, cooling neckband or bandana, or something similar.
Click below to hear an explanation of cooling products....
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Click below to hear Phase Change Cooling explained
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Phase Change Cooling
Phase change may sound like something only Einstein could understand, but really, we see phase change around us all the time. The simplest example is water. Water can exist in three phases: solid (we call it “ice”), liquid (liquid water) and gas (water vapor or steam). When ice melts, it changes phase.
Phase change cooling vests utilize phase change inserts to keep the wearer cool for hours. The inserts solidify after just 35 to 45 minutes in ice water or a refrigerator. And they maintain a temperature of 58°F, which is a way more comfortable temperature than ice packs provide. Try holding an ice cube against your forehead for 10 minutes. Cold? Sure. Painful? Absolutely.
General Instructions:
- Refrigerate or soak phase change packs in ice for 45 minutes to one hour. Freezing may cause the packs to become rigid and may not be necessary to provide ample cooling.
- Place in the pockets of a phase change vest, hard hat liner, etc.
- Enjoy hours of cooling comfort.
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Click below to hear Evaporative Cooling explained
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Evaporative Cooling
Evaporative Cooling works the same way that sweat does (without smelly side effects).
As water on your skin evaporates, it cools you off.
Evaporative cooling apparel is extremely absorbent. Just soak it in cold water, and in a minute or two an embedded cooling polymer or cooling crystals absorb water, and become what is scientifically known as “gel stuff”. This gel holds water for hours. As the water in the gel evaporates, it keeps the wearer cool.
Evaporative cooling apparel includes cooling vests, hard hat inserts, neck shades, cooling headbands and cooling bandanas. Evaporative cooling apparel is effective, easy to use and relatively inexpensive.
General Instructions:
- Soak vest, bandana, etc. in water for 5 to 20 minutes.
- Wring out excess water and wipe down with a dry cloth.
- Stay cool for up to four hours.
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Absorptive Products
Sweat is your friend when combating heat stress. But when it gets in your eyes or makes tools slippery, it becomes a problem. Absorptive products include headbands, dew rags, and sweatbands made of terrycloth, cotton, or sponge material.
General Instructions:
- Take headband, dew rag, etc. out of its package and wear it. Pretty simple.
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