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As the calendar flips to a new year, some of the coldest weather of the season has become entrenched throughout much of the country. There are many ways to try to mitigate the effects of the cold, and one of the most common ones is the use of portable heaters. Portable heaters can help keep employees warm and allow work to continue in areas where it might otherwise be too cold to work. However, they are not without risk. There were approximately 53,636 thermal burn injuries attributed to portable heaters from 2003 to 2013, according to the National Library of Medicine. It is important to know how to safely operate portable heaters as their usage rate peaks over the coming months.

There are several types of portable heaters, but two are more common than others.

  1. Direct Fired Heater: these heaters use fuel to create an open flame that produces heat, which is then pushed out using a fan. Direct fired heaters are the most effective type of heater, but they also present the most risks. Some of these risks include carbon monoxide poisoning, the presence of an open flame, and burns.
  2. Indirect Fired Heater: these heaters use fuel to create a flame in a sealed chamber. The heater then pumps warm air from this chamber into the workspace. Indirect fired heaters are less efficient than direct fired heaters, but they also present less risk. However, they are not risk free. Some of the risks presented by indirect fired heaters include poor ventilation, the presence of fuel tanks, and contact burns.

While there are risks involved with the use of portable heaters, there are also many ways to mitigate these risks.

  1. Toxic Fumes: The biggest risk with portable heaters is the presence of toxic fumes (particularly carbon monoxide). However, ensuring that your jobsite has proper ventilation, monitoring the air quality using meters, and having fans pull clean air into the workspace are all ways to help lessen the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
  2. Fire: Another common risk associated with portable heaters is fire. To mitigate this risk, keep a fire extinguisher near each portable heater, use the heater in an area that is clear of flammable materials, ensure that someone is always monitoring the heater, and place the heater on solid ground to eliminate the risk of it tipping.
  3. Burns: Similarly to fire risks, burn risks are a threat as well. Ensure that the heaters are not placed in high traffic areas and that employees are never moving the heaters until at least 30-60 minutes after their last use.
  4. Liquid Fuel Quality: Finally, when using heaters that burn liquid fuel (kerosene, diesel, etc.) ensure that only the highest quality fuel is being burned by the heaters. Additionally, the heaters should be allowed to cool down completely before being refueled, they should always be refueled outside, and the fuel should be stored far away from where the heaters are operating.

If these risk-mitigation tactics are used properly, portable heaters can be a valuable asset that keeps your employees warm and your jobs running smoothly, even in the coldest of temperatures.


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