From Forklifts to Fryers

The Health and Safety Benefits of Electrifying the Workplace

An EPRI Quick Insights brief points to health and safety benefits of efficient electrification in commercial and industrial facilities. Examples include:

• Replacing combustion engine–driven forklifts with electric forklifts can reduce noise pollution, refueling hazards, and worker exposure to carbon monoxide.
• Replacing chemical water treatment with electric processes such as ultraviolet rays and ozone removes harmful chemicals from the workplace and eliminates worker exposure.
• Replacing natural gas fryers and griddles with electric equipment in commercial kitchens reduces ambient temperatures and eliminates exposure to open flames and combustion by-products such as particulate matter and nitrogen monoxide.
• Truck stop electrification can power trucks’ heating, cooling, and other equipment, providing an alternative to idling trucks’ diesel engines. This can reduce emissions of hydrocarbons, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants linked to human health problems.

Other benefits of efficient electrification include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and increased energy efficiency, grid flexibility, and productivity.

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