Unless you happen to be holding your breath, you are always breathing. Even when it’s the last thing on your mind, which it usually is, getting oxygen into your body is debatably the most vital function you can perform. To do so, you first need clean air. Outside, the air is generally clean and safe to breathe, but sometimes we’re indoors where the air can be unclean without our knowledge. If you’re an employer reading this article, you, too, may benefit from its information as you are mindful of the work environment for employees. This article will underline both the importance of clean air and how a chimney or smokestack can alleviate problems with air filtration and the responsibilities of an employer. We hope to point you in the correct direction; either to an industrial chimney contractor or to chimney maintenance, if necessary.

Smokestacks over 500 feet tall have increased in numbers over the last four years according to the EPA and the Government Accountability Office. Some can be much taller than this, though, and it all depends on the desired purpose for them to serve. The Kennecott Smelter, for instance is 1,215 feet tall and 177 feet wide, making it the tallest structure in Utah since its construction back in 1974. Being the tall structures they are, though, chimneys and smokestacks are required to be fitted with lights to ensure planes can see them. To avoid being obscured by the smoke, the lights must be installed five to ten feet down. Or alternatively the industrial chimneys can be lit with fixed searchlight projectors. This grandiose construction means more companies are mindful of properly filtering hazardous air out of working environments and keeping it clean for employees. This mindset began with the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which assured safe and healthy working conditions for employees by creating standards and providing training, outreach, education and assistance. In the years following OSHA’s creation, up until 2015, workplace fatalities dropped by 80 percent. Simply thinking more about employees and their safety can make a huge difference in preventable tragedy. A hired industrial chimney contractor should be mindful of OSHA regulations and their importance to everyone involved.

So what can you do to properly filter air in your workplace and keep your employees safe? The main thing is keeping your chimney or smokestack inspected regularly. New stacks should be inspected 12 months after installation to ensure functionality under their specific load. Smokestacks should also regularly undergo binocular inspections annually, with hands-on, full-height interior and exterior inspections done at least every three years. Stack inspection is important and should be done by an industrial chimney contractor. Another way to ensure the environment is clean is by testing the air for optimum oxygen levels. Anything below 19.5 percent oxygen or above 23.5 percent oxygen is harmful and can even be fatal to those breathing it.

Finding the right industrial chimney contractor is important to ensure you avoid problems with air filtration and oxygen levels. Whether it’s stack column inspection, chimney demolition, chimney dismantlement, commercial chimney repair, or even regular maintenance, the proper industrial chimney company is vital to success. We encourage you to do research and put the time into finding the right industrial chimney contractor to contact, and hope they provide the services needed.