July/August 2021

BY Carl Davis, Director, Safety Consulting Services T he risk of air conditioning spreading COVID-19. in the workplace is extremely low. Does that surprise you? I expect it may surprise a few of you. After all, with everything that has been going on in the last year and a half, you’d be forgiven for expecting me to tell you that A/C systems pose a massive risk with regards to Coronavirus, and that you should shut it all off immediately. The reality is however that you can continue to operate these systems as before. Indeed, for many businesses in the garage and bodyshop sector, these sorts of systems are vital. Fresh air supply Does anything change because of the pandemic? Well, you can continue using most types of air conditioning system as normal However, if you use a centralised ventilations system that removes and circulates air to different rooms it is recommended that you turn off recirculation and use a fresh air supply. You do not need to adjust air conditioning systems that mix some of the extracted air with fresh air and return it to the room as this increases the fresh air ventilation rate. Also, you do not need to adjust systems in individual rooms or portable units as these operate on 100% recirculation. If you’re unsure, ask the advice of your heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) engineer or adviser. General ventilation Employers must, by law, ensure an adequate supply of fresh air in the workplace and this has not changed. Good ventilation can help reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus, so focus on improving general ventilation, preferably through fresh air or mechanical systems. Where possible, consider ways to increase the supply of fresh air, for example, by opening windows and doors (unless fire doors). Also consider if you can improve the circulation of outside air and prevent pockets of stagnant air in occupied spaces. You can do this by using ceiling fans, desk fans or opening windows, for example. The risk of transmission through the use of ceiling and desk fans is extremely low. For expert Automotive Health & Safety contact us today or visit our website: www.safetyconsultingservices.co.uk 16 AFTERMARKET JULY/AUGUST 2021 BUSINESS www.aftermarketonline.net AIR CONDITIONING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK Carl weighs up the risks posed by your air conditioning system, and offers some advice on how to use it under the current circumstances