Cool Under Pressure: Reducing Heat Stress in the Workplace with Helmet Technology
How helmet solutions help meet OSHA's new regulations and protect workers from heat-related illnesses
- By Ben Lzicar
- Sep 10, 2024
As heat stress becomes an increasingly critical issue in industrial safety, head protection must evolve to not only shield the wearer from impacts but also mitigate heat stress. According to Page and Sheppard’s “Heat Stress: Ambient Temperature and Workplace Accidents in the US,” heat shocks significantly increase accident rates, while Hancock and Vasmatzidis’s “Effects of heat stress on cognitive performance: the current state of knowledge” found a link between heat stress and a rise in body temperature, leading to decreased cognitive performance. In a warming world, it is essential to protect workers from the impacts of heat stress by enhancing the breathability and thermal regulation of their head protection.
This pressing issue of heat-related worker protection has caught the attention of regulatory bodies and industry leaders. OSHA has recently implemented federal guidelines to address heat stress, moving beyond consideration to concrete action. Several states have already enacted OSHA-approved state policies aimed at protecting workers from heat-related injuries and fatalities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 702 heat-related deaths occur each year. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 528 work-related deaths due to environmental heat exposure occurred between 2011 and 2021 in the U.S. alone.
As heat-related injuries and fatalities continue to rise, finding innovative solutions for worker protection becomes increasingly crucial. In evaluating the thermal comfort of industrial helmets, the test results indicate a significant reduction in heat stress compared to traditional foam-based helmets. These advanced helmets are designed to address the demands of a warming world, offering enhanced protection while effectively reducing heat stress for workers. As industries strive to comply with the new OSHA guidelines, solutions like these are poised to play a vital role in safeguarding worker health and safety.
What is the Heat Index and Wet Bulb Temperature?
The body works hard to regulate temperature, primarily through the evaporation of sweat. Thermoregulation keeps body temperature at safe levels of around 37 degrees Celsius or 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. As the surrounding relative humidity increases, the effectiveness of sweat evaporation decreases significantly. Thus, as temperature and humidity rise, so does the level of heat stress.
This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.