Heat Injury, Illness Prevention in Outdoor/Indoor Settings

© Chayna – stock.adobe.com

By: Ryan D. Hill, Contributor

With the continuous rise in global temperatures, the threat of heat-related injuries and illnesses is becoming more pronounced, presenting significant challenges to both occupational and public health. Workers in various environments, from outdoor construction sites and farms to indoor warehouses and industrial facilities, are increasingly susceptible to heat stress.

Some states, such as California and Washington, have implemented mandatory outdoor heat illness prevention regulations that require companies to have procedures to mitigate heat exposure. Many aspects of a heat illness prevention plan, such as hydration, acclimatization and cooling PPE, that help prevent heat-related illness and injury are simple and inexpensive. However, emerging technologies can provide innovative solutions to monitor, mitigate and control these risks more effectively and proactively.

What Causes Heat Stress?

Heat stress occurs when the combination of heat generated by the body and heat received from the environment exceeds the body’s ability to dissipate it. High ambient heat, relative humidity, hydration and physical exertion are the primary factors affecting the thermal transfer process to be off-balance.

This imbalance can lead to various conditions, ranging from heat rash and cramps to heat exhaustion and life-threatening heatstroke. Over time, chronic heat exposure can also contribute to long-term health problems, including cardiovascular disease and kidney damage. A person who has suffered heat strain disorder in the past is also more susceptible to subsequent injury and must be afforded more protection against heat risks.

Heat stress occurs when the combination of heat generated by the body and heat received from the environment exceeds the body’s ability to dissipate it. High ambient heat, relative humidity, hydration and physical exertion can all cause the thermal transfer process to be off-balance. © nuttawutnuy – stock.adobe.com

Personal Monitoring Through Wearables

Modern wearable technologies have emerged as an early warning signal of heat stress for employees and employers to take action—before it becomes a serious medical issue. Devices like personal smartwatches and fitness bands can now provide real-time tracking of vital signs, such as heart rate and skin temperature, and even alerts of a developing risk. This provides employees with robust tools to self-monitor for signs of heat stress.

Other technologies designed specifically for heat stress monitoring are available both as stand-alone wearable devices and devices embedded in clothing. They have been designed to monitor several physiological and environmental parameters, offering a comprehensive understanding of a worker’s heat exposure.

Some devices even sound alerts when certain physiological thresholds are reached, ensuring timely interventions. These wearables often connect to centralized monitoring systems, providing supervisors and health personnel with actionable data to make informed decisions, instilling workers with a sense of security and confidence.

Real-Time Environmental Monitoring

As indicated above, a comprehensive understanding of heat risk goes beyond individual metrics. Environmental monitoring systems also play a crucial role.

While an employer or employee might look for the forecast in their city, other factors within the work environment or nearby geographical differences can render the general city forecast inaccurate. That is why environmental monitoring within a workplace environment may be warranted in certain situations.

For outdoor settings, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled weather stations measure factors like temperature, humidity and the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) in real time. This data can be monitored remotely for more visibility by the company’s health and safety professional, so timely decisions can be made to mitigate heat-related risks proactively.

For indoor workplaces, climate sensors strategically placed throughout facilities can identify heat-prone zones and automatically trigger ventilation or cooling systems. In addition, mobile applications now offer location-based warnings and safety recommendations, helping workers stay vigilant in dangerous conditions.

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For indoor workplaces, climate sensors strategically placed throughout facilities can identify heat-prone zones and automatically trigger ventilation or cooling systems. Mobile apps also now offer
location-based warnings and safety recommendations. © tigercat_lpg – stock.adobe.com

dvances in Personal Protection

Technology has also transformed PPE, such as cooling vests and bandanas, mainstays in worksites worldwide. Today’s “smart” clothing options include cooling vests that use phase-change materials to absorb heat; fan-assisted garments that enhance airflow; and thermoregulatory fabrics that adapt to surrounding temperatures. These innovations help workers maintain comfort and safety in high-heat environments without the hassle of needing to rewet water-activated fabrics or retrieve another cold pack from the freezer.

While not widely applied to heat illness prevention, AI is another promising tool in the fight against heat stress and illness. By analyzing data from wearables, environmental sensors and even work schedules, AI-driven systems can predict when and where heat stress is most likely to occur.

These systems can suggest changes to shift patterns, schedule hydration breaks or rotate workers to safer tasks. With predictive analytics, companies can take proactive measures, rather than reacting to emergencies—thus empowering them to take control of the situation and prevent employee illness and injury.

Despite these advances, however, challenges remain. Acquiring and maintaining wearable tech and sensors can be cost-prohibitive for some organizations. Data privacy is also a concern, especially when monitoring physiological data. Ensuring workers properly use the technology and integrating new systems with existing safety protocols are additional hurdles to which all health and safety professionals can relate.

Tech Tools Hold Promise

Nonetheless, the growing collection of technological tools holds significant promise in helping companies develop a proactive health and safety culture and allows employees to participate directly in injury and illness prevention efforts. By combining wearable tech, environmental monitoring, smart PPE and AI-driven analysis, organizations can revolutionize heat illness prevention in the workplace and ensure employees can return home healthy and safe.

While requiring time and investment for implementation, these innovations mark a pivotal step toward protecting workers in an increasingly hot workplace environment, inspiring hope for a safer future. IHW

Ryan D. Hill is the Vice President of Consulting at NV5 and can be reached at Ryan.Hill@nv5.com.