Page 68 - OHS, October 2023

WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY Photo Smoothies/Shutterstock.com can play an instrumental role in workplace safety. In the era of smart and connected workplaces, these devices are poised to play a pivotal role in enhancing worker well-being and productivity, while provid- ing an enhanced, personalized, and real- time safety toolset to employers. Devel- opers are relentlessly working on newer, more sophisticated wearables that can monitor a broader array of health param- eters and provide personalized health tips and warnings. These ongoing refinements promise to make these devices more effi- cient and accurate in preempting heat-re- lated illnesses. Meanwhile, more and more employers for industrial athletes are roll- ing out connected worker solutions and supporting infrastructure. As global temperatures continue ris- ing, the threat of heat stress to industrial workers is set to intensify. However wear- able technology provides a solution to ad- dress heat risks while regulations evolve. These devices promise to transform safety protocols radically, providing real-time, personalized insights that can significant- ly mitigate the risk of heat-related injuries. Looking ahead, the widespread adoption of wearables within the industrial sector isn’t just a possibility — it’s an imperative. These devices play a significant role in the advancement of industrial safety, equip- ping workers with the tools they need to navigate the challenges of our warming planet safely. Matt Marrapode is the Senior Director of Business Development at Epicore Biosystems. REFERENCES 1. www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/ uploads/2021/08/Extreme-Heat- Report-2021.pdf 2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33472088/ 3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20689090/ 4. www.citizen.org/article/boiling-point/ 5. www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/The- Cost-of-Inaction-report-Oct-2022.pdf 6. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC7602338/ 7. www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2016-106/ pdfs/2016-106.pdf 8. www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/ national/04122022 9. www.nrdc.org/resources/occupational-heat- safety-standards-united-states 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. fumes. ThThis double jeopardy signifificantly generic safety thresholds, neglecting indi- magnifies their risk of heat stress. vidual variations in heat tolerance, work- In these high-risk sectors, wearable load strain, and protective gear types. The technologies have proven their worth. challenge of creating universally appli- These devices can be customized to cater cable standards across diverse work types to the unique needs of each industry, of- and environments compounds the situa- fering real-time temperature monitoring, tion, leaving gaps in safety measures. hydration alerts, and predictive algorithms and alarms. Historically, temperature- FillingtheGapsWithData monitoring wearables have been used as Wearable technology can bridge these gaps. an alarm in critical situations — but new These devices generate precise, real-time advanced wearables focused on preventa- data about an individual’s physiological tive measures, such as monitoring hydra- state, allowing for a nuanced understand- tion levels through sweat loss, help work- ing of each worker’s personalized response ers avoid those situations in the first place. to heat stress. Unlike blanket, one-size-fits- With these capabilities at hand, wearables all guidelines, wearable technology enables are being proved in a multitude of indus- the creation of personalized safety insights. tries, providing data-driven, personalized For example, the current NIOSH heat in- solutions to combat extreme heat. dex is a common tool used to classify envi- Current occupational heat stress stan- ronmental heat risks. But for workers wear- dards, while necessary, aren’t devoid of ing heavy PPE and in a confined tank, they shortcomings. There are opportunities to can experience significantly higher risk due establish standards8 and the number of to their personal microclimate compared to ambient weather guidelines. states working on heat standards is in- creasing.9 These standards often lean on Looking forward, wearable technology 68 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2023 www.ohsonline.com