Beat the Heat

Episode 138

Beat the Heat: Planning for Extreme Temperatures & Reducing Productivity Loss

The conversation about keeping workers safe in extreme temperatures is heating up. On this episode, Alex Risen from Big Ass Fans discusses how airflow can help cool employees down leading to a more safe and comfortable workspace.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Apr 27, 2022

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2022 may be one of the hottest years on record. Last year was found to be the sixth hottest year and scientists and researchers believe this year will follow in 2021’s footsteps setting records for extreme heat across the globe.


The increase in temperatures have led to many conversations about how to keep those who work in outside or high-heat inside workspaces cool as heat-related illnesses and fatalities continue to spike across the country.

In an effort to bring more awareness to the options safety professionals have to keep workers cool in an increasingly hot environment, I reached out to our friends at Big Ass Fans. Today, I have with me Alex Risen, a Marketing Manager at the company to discuss all things heat related.

Our conversation really does touch on a lot of topics that could fall under this umbrella, including what workers are up against in extreme heat, how businesses could suffer, what OSHA is doing and how new and existing solutions can help.

If you have a topic you'd like us to cover on OH&S SafetyPod, feel free to email us at [email protected].

Download or stream this episode today at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify and more. 

A special thank you to Big Ass Fans

For more than 20 years, Big Ass Fans has been the industry leader in comfort. Its state-of-the-art fans, evaporative coolers, and heaters have transformed the most inhospitable of spaces into the most inviting of environments. Serving industrial, commercial, and residential sectors, every Big Ass Fans product is engineered for unequaled performance. Learn more at BigAssFans.com.


About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the former editor of Occupational Health & Safety.

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