The implications of real-time and wearable technology use for occupational heat stress: A scoping review

• Published in: Safety science 2024-09, Vol.177, p.106600, Article 106600
• Main Authors: Cannady, Ryan, Warner, Catherine, Yoder, Aaron, Miller, Jeffrey, Crosby, Kaitlyn, Elswick, Donald, Kintziger, Kristina W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Heat stress management; Occupational health; Safety; Scoping review; Wearable technology
• ISSN: 0925-7535; 1879-1042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2024.106600

•Occupational settings are highly susceptible to heat-related incidents.•Commercially available devices can be used for real-time field assessments.•These devices can be used for measuring both heat stress and heat strain.•Research is needed to validate these devices in real-world occupational settings. Heat-related illnesses persist as an occupational health management challenge. The science community recognizes increasing global temperatures and related impacts. Occupational settings such as construction, agriculture, firefighting, hazardous waste operations, and factory workers are most susceptible to heat-related incidents. We used an established scoping review framework and guidelines for developing the protocol, conducting the research, and reporting the results. This scoping review provides an overview of common wearable real-time technologies used to assess heat stress risk, as well as their use in existing research. This review adds to the existing literature by offering global commercially available real-time devices, identifying relevant literature related to device usage, and describing validation studies associated with the devices. Despite the improving solutions, real-time technologies require thoughtful consideration related to accuracy, validity, and worker interaction with the devices. The evidence synthesized in this scoping review highlights key implementation strategies and provides practical considerations to guide future explorations in this evolving field. Moving forward, we must continue to prioritize research and cross-industry collaboration to harness the full potential of wearable technology in promoting occupational health and safety.