Page 66 - OHS, October 2023

WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY Heightening Heat Safety With Wearables With record-breaking temperatures challenging industrial workers, wearable technologies have emerged as tools for tailored safety measures and insights. BY MATT MARRAPODE The escalating climate crisis continues to take a toll, and industrial workers are at the frontline, grappling with a multi-record-breaking summer of heat waves. Workers in Arizona have faced 25 days in a row above 110F. June 2023 was the warmest June since 1850. Rising temperatures mark a surge in heat stress, dehydration, and other heat-related illnesses. This intensifies the challenges industrial athletes face, as the physi- cal health and productivity of our labor force hangs in the balance. Amid these formidable challenges, wearable technologies have emerged as a potential lifesaver. These advanced devices help cap- ture the highly personalized nature of human health and can pro- vide real-time, actionable physiological insights to save lives. By alerting wearers and their supervisors to potential health threats, they serve as a vanguard for worker safety, transforming industrial workspace dynamics. The role of these silent guardians is becoming increasingly critical as we navigate a future seared by intensifying heat. More than 50 additional high heat days are expected per year, resulting in 450,000 heat-related injuries an- nually by 2050.1 The Impact of Heat Working under extreme heat comes with considerable physical and psychological repercussions for industrial workers. Physi- cally, the strain of maintaining an optimal internal temperature while working pushes our bodies to their limits. This strain, under the duress of extreme heat stress, can unravel, leading to health problems that range from mild heat cramps to loss of con- sciousness and potentially fatal heatstroke. For every 1-degree Celsius rise in temperature, there is a 3 percent loss2 in efficiency and a 1 percent increase in injuries. Beyond physical ailments, the oppressive heat takes a sig- nificant psychological toll, inducing fatigue, reducing cognitive partpoo/Shutterstock.com functions, and impairing alertness and performance.3 The con- vergence of physical discomfort and psychological strain makes a potent recipe for workplace accidents, thereby escalating worker safety concerns. Adding to the distress are long-term health risks, such as cardiovascular diseases and kidney disorders that high heat exposure can precipitate. The gravity of this situation is amplified by widespread under- reporting. Multiple studies have highlighted this concern, sug- gesting a staggering 50-fold difference4 between official figures and the actual prevalence of heat injuries and heat-related ill- nesses across industries. This discrepancy underscores the urgent need for proactive, real-time monitoring and preventive mea- sures. It’s also costly – research has shown that medical-related costs increase 42 percent per 2 degrees F above 91F.5 Enter Wearables In response to this urgent need, wearable technology is a viable solution. These advanced devices continually monitor a worker’s vital signs such as heart rate, body temperature, and sweat fluid and electrolyte loss that could normally only be found in a sports science lab.6 Wearables can detect early signs of heat stress and dehydration, enabling immediate intervention before these con- ditions spiral into serious health risks. Certain sectors, notably construction, oil and gas, and fire- fighting,7 are especially susceptible to heat stress. The nature of these jobs often necessitates laboring under direct sunlight, wear- ing non-breathable protective clothing, and operating in confined spaces or near radiant heat sources. For example, firefighters grapple with dual sources of intense heat – the fires they battle and the excess heat trapped by their protective gear. Confined space workers don non-breathable PPE and respirators, then climb down long ladders into metal hot boxes full of chemical 66 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com