Heat stress poses a considerable risk to workers across various industries and organizations. Exposure to extreme heat can not only lead to an array of illnesses and injuries, but can also impact worker productivity, cognitive function, mental health and overall wellbeing. Working in high-heat environments can lead to both serious injuries and illnesses. Heat stroke is a medical emergency and may be fatal. Symptoms of heat illness, such as dizziness and sweating may contribute to injuries (e.g., slips, trips and falls; dropping objects which may strike others). Job sites should develop heat stress prevention programs that include safety training on how to prevent and recognize the signs and symptoms of heat stress and illness.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a total of 479 heat-related workplace fatalities have occurred since 2011. In 2022 alone, an additional 43 workers lost their lives to heat-related fatalities, marking a 19% increase from 2021. Workers are also experiencing heat-related injuries and illnesses at alarming rates. Between 2011 and 2020, each year an average of 3,389 workers experienced injuries or illnesses resulting in days away from work. As temperatures continue to rise and excessive heat becomes more prevalent, addressing heat stress in the workplace is imperative for safeguarding worker health, safety and overall wellbeing.
The mission of the National Safety Council (NSC) is to save lives, from the workplace to anyplace. Since 1913, the National Safety Council has used data, expertise and innovation to solve tough workplace safety problems. In 2019, NSC launched its Work to Zero initiative, supported by a grant from the McElhattan Foundation, working to eliminate workplace fatality risk through the use of technology. Work to Zero identifies promising technology innovations geared towards eliminating workplace fatality risks within our lifetime.
Through this Safety Innovation Challenge, NSC and Work to Zero want to uncover innovative approaches addressing heat stress risks for workers across all industries. Through this Safety Innovation Challenge, NSC hopes to support the development and deployment of technologies to prevent, monitor or remediate heat stress.
This Safety Innovation Challenge seeks to reduce the number and severity of both non-fatal and fatal incidents occurring annually due to heat stress. Help NSC protect and save lives by submitting a response describing how your technology can assist people in avoiding, managing or recovering from costly and dangerous heat stress hazards in the workplace.