Staying Safe in the Heat: How Innovation Protects Workers

Environmental heat exposure killed 55 workers in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. From construction crews laboring under the blazing sun to crane operators in sweltering cabs, rising temperatures threaten millions of workers across industries.

Between 2021 and 2022, nearly 5,000 heat-related incidents caused workers to miss days on the job. However, researchers estimate the true toll may reach over 170,000 heat-related workplace injuries annually. Many cases go unreported. The growing threat demands immediate action to protect workers from heat stress and related illnesses.

Innovating for Worker Safety

The National Safety Council is leading the fight through innovative technology solutions. Through its Work to Zero initiative, NSC harnesses data-driven strategies to help protect workers from extreme heat.

Most recently, NSC partnered with the NCCCO Foundation to publish Addressing Heat Stress in the Crane Industry. Crane workers face special risks from long hours outdoors and in overheated equipment cabs. This resource provides targeted guidance to keep them safe.

Preventing Heat Stress Requires Multiple Strategies

The report emphasizes that heat stress prevention requires a comprehensive approach, including environmental monitoring, clearly defined policies, training and technology. Among the key recommendations:

• Work/rest cycles and cooling stations: Provide structured breaks and shaded areas to minimize physical strain
• Wearable technology: Track vital signs like skin temperature, heart rate and fluid loss to detect early signs of heat stress
• Lone worker systems: Deliver real-time safety alerts when workers are operating alone
• Acclimatization protocols: Gradually expose workers to heat to help them adjust safely
• Worker education: Train employees to recognize symptoms, take preventive actions and respond quickly to emerging risks

Heat strain can begin at just 77 degrees Fahrenheit during typical work. For intense physical tasks, the risk starts even lower — at 71.6 degrees.

Vital Signs Monitoring: A Powerful Safety Tool

Vital signs monitoring is one of the most promising safety technologies for preventing heat-related incidents. Work to Zero’s report, Best Practices and the Use of Vital Signs Monitoring for Heat Stress Mitigation, highlights this technology's potential. Wearable devices track indicators like skin temperature, respiratory rate and hydration status in real time. These systems provide early warnings to both workers and supervisors, helping teams intervene before symptoms escalate into medical emergencies.

Funding Innovation to Save Lives

These technology solutions support Work to Zero’s broader goal: eliminate workplace fatalities by identifying and promoting life-saving innovations. Earlier this year, NSC awarded funding to organizations developing cutting-edge heat stress solutions as part of the Work to Zero grant program.

One of the grant participants, Apex Cool Labs, was also recognized as the 2024 Safety Innovation Challenge winner for its cooling wearables that help workers maintain a safe core temperature in extreme heat.

Heat waves are becoming more frequent and deadly. Workers need protection now, not later. NSC identifies and promotes the technology solutions employers need to keep their people safe. When every worker goes home healthy, we all win.

To learn more about Work to Zero and safety technology to protect workers, visit nsc.org/worktozero.