Protecting Workers from Heat at Entry Points

Workers can experience significant heat exposure at entry points, particularly where hot outdoor air or heat from nearby processes flows into indoor areas. These zones often become hotspots for heat stress because workers pass through them frequently or spend time near open doors, loading docks, or accessways. Managing heat at these points is essential for reducing heat-related risks and maintaining a safe working environment.

Under Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws, employers have a legal responsibility to ensure that workers are not exposed to health and safety hazards, including heat-related illnesses. This applies to both indoor and outdoor environments. Entry points must be assessed as part of a wider heat management plan so employers can identify risks and implement effective control measures.

A combination of air movement, sun protection, ventilation, hydration, and appropriate PPE selection helps reduce heat exposure where workers enter and exit work areas. This article explains the key risks, control measures, and equipment options that support safe entry-point design in hot conditions.

Understanding the Heat Risks at Entry Points

Heat hazards at entry points come from several sources, including:

• Ambient outdoor air temperature
• Radiant heat from sun exposure or nearby equipment
• Heat from hot processes inside the building
• High humidity
• Limited air movement
• Workers wearing PPE or protective clothing
• Physical exertion during loading or manual tasks

Heat illness occurs when the body cannot dissipate heat fast enough. Symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, confusion, hot skin, excessive sweating, and in severe cases heat stroke. Entry points can trigger heat strain because temperatures often fluctuate quickly and workers may not realise the risk.

Identifying and managing these risks is not just about measuring air temperature. Employers must consider humidity, radiant heat, workload, clothing, airflow, and how long workers are exposed.

Legal Responsibilities for Employers

WHS laws require employers to:

• Provide a working environment free from health and safety risks
• Consult with workers likely to be exposed to heat
• Identify and assess heat-related hazards
• Implement appropriate control measures
• Provide access to cool drinking water
• Ensure adequate rest breaks and shaded areas
• Train workers to recognise symptoms of heat illness
• Regularly review heat management strategies

Workers should be encouraged to report signs of heat-related stress immediately, and supervisors must monitor conditions at high-risk points, including doorways and open access zones.

Key Control Measures for Managing Heat at Entry Points

Increase Air Movement and Ventilation

Increasing air movement helps reduce the buildup of hot, still air at entry points. Options include:

• Wall-mounted or pedestal fans
• Industrial air circulating systems
• Local exhaust ventilation for hot processes
• Shade cloth or barriers to block heated air
• Air conditioning in adjacent indoor spaces

Air circulation reduces heat fatigue and helps dissipate hot pockets of air where workers pass through.

Reduce Radiant Heat and Sun Exposure

Radiant heat from sunlight or nearby equipment can intensify heat stress at entry points. Employers can:

• Install shade structures at external doors
• Use insulation on nearby hot surfaces
• Add shields or barriers to block radiant heat
• Reschedule outdoor loading tasks where possible

Reducing radiant heat lowers the overall thermal load on workers during entry and exit.

Provide Hydration and Rest Options

Workers must have access to cool potable drinking water. Encourage regular hydration, especially during busy periods or extreme heat.

Avoid:

• Energy drinks
• Sugary soft drinks
• Alcohol
• Excessive coffee intake

Provide shaded or cooled rest areas close to the entry point so workers can recover quickly if needed.

Ensure Appropriate PPE Selection

PPE should only be used as a control when other measures cannot fully eliminate the risk. Heavy or non-breathable PPE can increase heat stress by trapping body heat. Employers should:

• Select lightweight, breathable clothing
• Provide wide-brimmed hats or sun protection
• Consider cooling PPE for high-risk tasks
• Allow workers to rotate tasks involving PPE in hot environments

Clothing choice directly affects the body’s ability to regulate heat.

Adjust Work Scheduling and Workload

Where possible, employers should:

• Schedule physical tasks for cooler times of the day
• Use mechanical aids to reduce physical exertion
• Employ buddy systems
• Monitor new workers who are still acclimatising

These steps help reduce the chance of heat exhaustion at busy entry points.

Using Air Curtains to Support Heat Management at Entry Points

Air curtains are an effective engineering control that help limit the transfer of hot outdoor air into indoor spaces. They create a controlled, high-velocity air stream that acts as a protective barrier while still allowing workers and vehicles to move freely through the entry point.

At entry points, air curtains can:

• Reduce the amount of hot air entering indoor work areas
• Support stable air temperatures near doorways
• Improve airflow direction
• Reduce reliance on mechanical cooling
• Help maintain comfort for workers standing near thresholds

For deeper insights into improving airflow and thermal separation, explore Fanquip’s articles on air curtain benefits and choosing the right air curtain, which outline how these systems support workplace efficiency.

Integrating air curtains is particularly useful in facilities where doors open frequently, such as warehouses, workshops, food processing sites, and logistics hubs. They form part of a broader heat management strategy that includes shade, ventilation, hydration, and safe work practices.

Practical Heat Management Plan for Entry Points

Employers can develop a structured approach to protect workers at entry points:

1. Conduct a heat assessment that includes humidity, radiant heat, workload, clothing, and airflow.
2. Identify key risk factors such as direct sunlight, hot surfaces, or high traffic areas.
3. Increase air movement using fans or mechanical ventilation systems.
4. Install shade cloth or insulation where radiant heat is significant.
5. Provide hydration and ensure workers drink cool fluids regularly.
6. Use air curtains to prevent hot outdoor air from entering controlled spaces.
7. Train workers to recognise early symptoms of heat illness.
8. Monitor workers and environmental conditions during extreme heat.
9. Review and update the heat management plan regularly.

Choosing the Right Air Curtain for Heat Protection

When selecting air curtains for industrial entry points, consider:

• Stainless steel construction for durability
• High air velocity to maintain an effective barrier
• Washdown duty and IP56 rating for demanding environments
• Compliance with AQIS requirements of 8 metres per second at 900mm above floor level
• Australian-made quality for long-term performance

Properly installed air curtains improve airflow at entry points and support stable internal temperatures, helping reduce heat exposure for workers stationed near doorways.

Strengthen Your Heat Management Strategy with Fanquip

Fanquip manufactures Australian-made air curtains built for industrial conditions. With stainless steel housings, high air velocity, and washdown ready IP56 ratings, they are designed to perform in hot, demanding environments. If you are looking to improve airflow, reduce heat transfer at entry points, or support a safer working environment, explore Fanquip’s air curtain.

FAQs

What is the best way to protect workers from heat at entry points?

Use a combination of shade, air movement, ventilation, hydration, and engineering controls such as air curtains. Identify the specific heat hazards at each entry point and implement appropriate measures based on your site conditions.

How do air curtains help reduce heat exposure?

Air curtains create a fast-moving air stream across an entry point that limits the transfer of hot air from outside to inside. This helps maintain more stable temperatures inside the building and improves comfort near doorways.

What should employers provide to workers in hot conditions?

Employers should provide access to cool drinking water, shaded rest areas, lightweight PPE where appropriate, regular breaks, and training on recognising heat-related symptoms. They must also consult with workers and actively monitor conditions.