2024’s record high heat has impacted worker safety like never before. As global temperatures climb, workplaces face serious challenges in protecting employees, especially in roles that expose them to high-risk conditions. The CDC reports that from May to July, 2024, heat-related emergency visits spiked nationwide, nearly doubling in the Southwest and mid-Atlantic regions. Each rise in temperature stresses the systems set up to protect workers and exposes the gaps that can lead to serious injuries, lost productivity, and, in some cases, tragic fatalities. This article highlights key lessons from the 2024 heat season, exploring what worked, where gaps existed, and practical steps for improving heat safety protocols.
Key Heat-Related Challenges in 2024
As we examine the 2024 heat season, it’s essential to understand the unique challenges that surfaced. Recognizing these key issues will shed light on where improvements are most needed and how organizations can prepare for the seasons to come.
Rising Incidents of Heat Stress and Their Consequences
The impact of heat stress on workers has surged, with emergency visits rising in nine out of ten U.S. health regions compared to last year. For companies, each instance of heat stress translates to financial loss and legal vulnerability, underscoring the urgent need for stronger prevention measures.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reported that from 2011 to 2020, there were approximately 33,890 work-related heat injuries and illnesses resulting in days away from work, averaging about 3,389 cases per year. Some groups faced especially high risks this summer. Outdoor workers in construction and agriculture, for instance, endured soaring temperatures without adequate climate controls.
But heat stress isn’t just about the sun. Indoor settings, like factories, nuclear facilities, and manufacturing plants, can have their own challenges. Heat from machinery, inadequate ventilation, and physically demanding tasks can all intensify heat stress. This data highlights the need for businesses to address not just where workers are but what they’re doing when exposed to heat.
Having identified the main challenges, let’s now look at the successes, strategies that some organizations implemented effectively to keep workers safer amid the high heat.
Strategies that Worked in 2024
While this year brought unprecedented challenges, it also highlighted several successful approaches to managing heat risk. These practical solutions offer insight into what worked well and how they can be applied moving forward.
Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Achieves Zero Heat-Related Incidents with Real-Time Monitoring
Perrigo, a leader in pharmaceuticals and consumer goods, encountered significant heat stress risks in their production processes. The use of large tower dryers, particularly in the production of powdered infant formula, created intense heat conditions for their workers. To address these risks, Perrigo incorporated wearable monitoring technology as part of a comprehensive heat safety program.
The armband device tracks key physiological data, such as heart rate and core body temperature, allowing workers and supervisors to respond immediately when conditions reach unsafe levels. This system enables timely safety measures like breaks, hydration, and adjusted work cycles. Since implementing these tools, Perrigo has reported zero heat-related incidents across its trial sites over the past three years.
Environmental Contractor Reaches 10 Million Safe Hours Using Wearable Monitoring
UCOR, a contractor focused on environmental remediation for the Department of Energy, faced unique heat safety challenges in high-risk, extreme environments. After experiencing connectivity issues with previous monitoring devices, UCOR adopted new wearable technology to improve real-time monitoring and safety for their workforce.
This upgraded device provided reliable connectivity, durability, and immediate alerts for heat-related risks, even in remote areas. This technology played a crucial role in preventing heat stress incidents, enabling UCOR to achieve 10 million safe work hours without a heat-related incident.
Although these strategies made a difference, there were still gaps in heat safety protocols. Next, we’ll examine areas where companies struggled and the lessons learned from those experiences.
Where We Fell Short: Lessons for Future Heat Seasons
For every success, there were also areas where heat safety measures fell short. Reflecting on these gaps can help identify what changes are needed to prevent future incidents and protect workers more effectively.
Identifying Gaps in Heat Safety Protocols
Many organizations still struggle with timely detection of heat stress symptoms. In some cases, supervisors simply lack the real-time data needed to recognize which workers are most at risk. Delays in responding to symptoms can turn manageable heat stress into dangerous situations. This year show that waiting until a worker visibly struggles can lead to emergency room visits or worse, creating preventable crises that affect health and productivity.
Data-Driven Adjustments for Future Preparedness
Data should drive decisions. Companies that rely solely on manual checks miss critical patterns that real-time monitoring can provide. By tracking metrics like recovery times, core temperature, and heart rate, companies can adapt their work/rest cycles and improve overall safety. Going forward, many businesses could benefit from introducing mandatory training programs to help workers recognize early symptoms of heat stress in themselves and others, as well as using data insights to set personalized alert thresholds based on individual risk factors.
Understanding where improvements are needed is just the beginning. Now, let’s explore how businesses can build a more resilient, technology-driven strategy to handle heat stress more effectively.
Building a Stronger Heat Safety Strategy with SlateSafety
A strong heat safety strategy calls for a comprehensive approach that leverages technology, data, and proactive planning. Here are some key strategies that businesses can use to strengthen their heat safety measures for future seasons.
Real-Time Monitoring and Alerts
Wearable technology, such as SlateSafety’s BAND V2, offers a proactive way to ensure worker safety. With continuous monitoring, supervisors get instant alerts when workers approach unsafe physiological thresholds. This immediate feedback system enables timely responses, such as giving workers a rest period before heat stress escalates.
Secure Data Storage and Compliance
Reliable data storage is critical for monitoring heat stress over time. SlateSafety’s cloud-based platform ensures data compliance with SOC-2 standards, a crucial consideration as companies rely on digital solutions to store sensitive health data. This secure platform allows organizations to integrate wearable devices seamlessly, providing a complete picture of heat safety that also respects workers’ privacy.
Using Advanced Data Analytics
Analytics can transform how companies handle heat stress. With SlateSafety’s comprehensive analytics, organizations can track trends over time and fine-tune their safety protocols. By analyzing data across shifts, job types, and environmental conditions, companies can customize work/rest cycles to reduce the chances of heat-related injuries. For instance, by setting custom thresholds in SlateSafety’s app, safety leaders can ensure timely alerts that align with each worker’s unique risk factors, offering a more targeted approach to heat safety.
As we look back on the 2024 heat season, it’s clear that the stakes are high, and so are the opportunities to improve. SlateSafety offers vital tools for companies committed to protecting their workers. By using real-time monitoring, reliable data storage, and customizable analytics, businesses can create safer work environments and reduce the risks associated with heat stress.
Keep your team safe, focused, and prepared, no matter how high the temperatures climb. With SlateSafety’s advanced monitoring solutions, you can create a heat safety strategy that truly protects your people. Start today and invest in a safer, more resilient workplace.