Don’t Stress About Your People and Heat Stress: Technology Has Their Back

Gen Handley, Contributor

Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock Images

Like it or not, your work safety may experience some major changes over the summer months.

People working outdoors face new occupational risks that are a serious threat to their health and safety. This includes people travelling to and for their job, as well as workers performing tasks in remote locations; the heat can impact almost everyone if they are not prepared. Since 2011, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there have been more than 400 work-related deaths caused by environmental heat exposure with 36 of those occurring in 2021. The OSHA says that most fatalities (50-70%) occur within the first few days because the employee needs to gradually build tolerance to the heat over time and “lack of acclimatization represents a major risk factor for fatal outcomes.”

In addition to planning and preparation, employees can also be equipped with different types of technologies and devices that will protect them from different types of heat-related hazards and dangers.

The Safety Hazards of Summer

So, what types of specific heat-related hazards can workers face during the summer? According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), people who work in hot environments are at risk of occupational illnesses and injuries including heat stress which can result in heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, as well as heat rashes. The impact on the worker can be very serious, requiring medical attention in some cases. Additionally, working in hot environments will also increase the risk of:

Heat Syncope and Dangerous Falls

Heat syncope or fainting can take place when the employee is working in hot temperatures and is dehydrated or has not acclimatized to the hot environment gradually enough. These can result in serious, dangerous falls, especially when working from tall levels and heights.

High UV Radiation Levels and Sun Exposure

If working in the open sun, employees are at risk of sunburn and blistering, blindness and eye damage, as well as skin cancer. Working in the exposed sun will also significantly increase the likelihood of heat stress and its resulting illnesses.

Dehydration and Heat Exhaustion

When working in hot environments, dehydration and not drinking enough water are major causes of heat exhaustion, which can have many consequences including dangerous work practices, poor work quality and irritable mood.

Technology Solutions

To more effectively manage the safety of people working in the heat, employers should consider using a technological solution which can address a range of varying issues and challenges in these environments. They can be particularly effective in monitoring specific areas of benefit to the worker’s safety and of benefit to the organization.

Automated Monitoring

One of the most significant areas where workers in the heat benefit from technology is through automated monitoring. Current technology can provide automated monitoring for people all the time, 24/7, providing valuable data as well as safety protection. An automated worker safety system will monitor and watch employees working in the heat when the employer is unable to do so.

Worker Health Monitoring

While working in hot temperatures, the worker’s health and vital signs can also be monitored through OHS apps and advanced PPE such sensor-equipped helmets that measure data such as body temperature, blood pressure, and respiratory and pulse rates. This equipment can alert a monitor if the worker’s vital signs are entering dangerous levels.

Location Monitoring

If a worker in the heat needs immediate medical help, the most important piece of information is their location. Location monitoring devices do not help employers micromanage their employees, but instead, make sure they know the correct place to send help in an emergency. When a worker is injured or unconscious, seconds and minutes saved from effective location monitoring can make a major difference on the accident’s outcome.

Non-invasive Monitoring

In spite of the different working-in-heat challenges safety technology addresses, what they all have in common is that they are non-invasive and monitor the worker discreetly to do their jobs effectively – but transparently and with their complete consent.

The major benefit is that by monitoring the safety of these people, the employer and monitors are receiving real-time feedback and alerts so that they can respond as quickly as possible. Workers do not physically feel these tools and devices monitoring their activities and movements, but they are aware of their functionalities and benefits.

Plan and Prepare Now

In addition to the aid of technology, employers must prepare for the heat by planning now through proactive strategies and protocols to prevent problems in the future (i.e., mandatory drink and shade breaks every one hour).

When creating heat-safety protocols, consider developing a heat stress response plan which integrates complementary technological solutions as part of its strategies including safety policies and safety training. Look at past OHS records and heat-safety protocols when developing new official practices for the company.

Create a Place You Want to Work

Overall, you want to create a place where people feel safe to work and feel protected when going to perform their jobs in the heat.

It is up to the employer to create this safe place as well as prioritize heat safety, investing in the technologies and PPE that will ensure that the employees can do their jobs safely and comfortably.  IHW