What Is the AIHA Heat Stress Application?
The AIHA Heat Stress application is a mobile app (iPhone and Android) developed through a partnership by AIHA and East Carolina University intended for use in preventing heat related illnesses through recommended health measures for two specific user types. It is currently available for free download in the Google Play Android App store and Apple App store.
Our target users are:
1. Outdoor workers
2. Managers of outdoor workers
The key technical differentiator for this application is its focus on an adjusted Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) calculation to inform risk and provided needed action steps. The WBGT calculation algorithm is the core mechanism powering our app's various functions.
To understand the importance WBGT and its use in monitoring heat stress, we recommend reading Joseph G. Allen's recent Washington Post editorial, "We need to change the way we think about outdoor temperatures. The public should adopt the 'wet-bulb globe temperature.'"
Learn More About AIHA's Heat Stress App
Follow the link relevant to your phone’s operating system below. Note that wherever a user is in the world, this link should open up their respective app store
To access the Heat Stress Application on Android:
ANDROID APP DOWNLOAD LINK
To access the Heat Stress Application on Apple iPhone:
APPLE APP DOWNLOAD LINK
*PLEASE NOTE: For Apple/iOS users: Anyone previously part of the open beta through iOS will need to redownload the app store variant to avoid the 90 Day Testflight expiration and to continue to receive the ongoing updates that we will be rolling out over time. Upon download, the test flight variant is automatically replaced with the app store version and will behave like all other applications a user has on their phone.
Heat Stress App Release Notes
Update: Version 1.1.0 has launched!
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Open Beta phase. The following updates were made:
New Features
- Heat Alerts will now notify you of high and extreme risk in your current location.
- You can now pull down to refresh the information on the location list screen.
- Use an improved swipe gesture to delete locations quickly.
Improvements
- Compact view configuration is now saved for future sessions.
- The workload, clothing, and cloud coverage components now close when you select a new option.
- The "update your settings" pop-up is now less intrusive.
- Clothing terminology in French, Spanish and Portuguese is now simplified.
- An error causing multiple instances of the same location is fixed.
Update: Version 1.1.1 changelog
Improvements
Updated the WBGT information screen with detailed explanations of how the index is calculated.
Update: Version 1.2.0 changelog
AIHA Heat Stress - Version 1.2.0 Changelog
- Improved Location Search: Finding locations is now easier with more search results, even if they’re not an exact match.
- Feedback Request: We’d love to hear from you! A new pop-up makes it simple to share your thoughts and help us improve.
- Clearer Location Names: Your current location will now always display the city or district name for better clarity.
- Enhanced Forecast View: The first hour of today’s forecast now shows "Now" to keep you updated in real-time.
- Manual Location Sorting: You can now manually sort your saved locations for a more personalized experience.
- Detailed WBGT Index: The selected workload, clothing, and cloud coverage are now displayed above the WBGT index, giving you more context at a glance.
- Misc: bug fixes and improvements
Update: Version 1.2.2 patch
Bugfix
Developers resolved bug that would not allow the app to work on devices with unsupported languages.
Thermal stress, also known as heat stress, is one such environmental factor that can wreak havoc on employee health in nearly any workplace. And not just outdoor work sites! Establishing evidence-based heat stress protocols with the help of OEHS experts is an important first step in safeguarding both indoor and outdoor workers from the risks of heat stress.
Workplaces at Greatest Risk
Studies show that workers experiencing some form of heat stress do not perform their job as efficiently as workers who are not impacted by this form of heat exposure. In fact, one Australian study reported that approximately 1,214 workers surveyed were 35% less productive on days they indicated experiencing heat stress. The impact of occupational heat stress is far-reaching with no signs of slowing down. It is estimated that heat stress could bring down global productivity levels by the equivalent of 80 million full-time jobs by the year 2030.
While heat stress commonly occurs in hot outdoor temperatures, there are many workplace situations that can lead to heat-related injuries, including:
- High outdoor heat exposure
- Poor ventilation
- Wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Low accessibility to fluids
- Heat stressors on the job such as high physical exertion, limited rest breaks, productivity or economic incentives that do not allow self-pacing (i.e., working at your own pace)
- Poor personal physical fitness
- Workers unacclimatized to heat
Given these wide-ranging situations, it is easy to see how nearly any workplace can pose a certain level of risk from heat stress. However, the following industries are examples of environments that pose the greatest threat to worker health:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Oil & Gas
- First responders/firefighters
- Utility companies
- Manufacturing plants
- Postal workers (most OSHA-reported severe injuries)
- Athletes (football lineman most susceptible to heat stress due to conditioning issues)
How Heat Stress Affects Productivity
Numerous studies show how heat stress can have significant negative impacts on productivity. In fact, predicted global costs from lost worktime due to occupational heat stress are $2.4-$2.5 trillion in 2030 and up to 4% of GDP by 2100. With the continuous rise in extreme global temperatures due to climate change, the adverse effects of extreme heat on workers will progressively get worse. For example, the global costs associated with lost worktime due to heat were $280 billion USD in 1995 and had risen to $311 billion USD in 2010 (equivalent to 0.5% of GDP) and continue to rise.
Know Your Employees’ Heat Stress Risks
Nearly any workplace can present heat stress health risks for workers. Some workplace situations are obvious, such as a construction worker building homes in the sweltering summer heat; other workplaces are not as obvious, such as factories with poor ventilation that create a potentially hazardous situation. Occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) experts have identified the following industries as examples of work environments that pose the greatest heat stress risks for workers:
- Agriculture
- Construction
- Oil & Gas
- First responders/firefighters
- Utility companies
- Manufacturing plants
- Postal workers (Most OSHA-reported severe injuries)
It is also important to recognize the most common misconceptions about heat stress to fully understand your personal risk.
Establish Evidence-Based Heat Stress Management Guidelines Companywide
The best way to protect workers from the real threat of heat stress year-round is to work with OEHS experts to evaluate the heat stress risks in your workplace. Based on their assessment, OEHS experts will recommend evidence-based strategies for minimizing these risks with all employees. For example, one study examining the benefits of working in shaded areas or altering work shifts found that moving a working shift 2 hours earlier to avoid heat stress reduced costs by 33%.
Examples of Strategies in a Heat Stress Management Plan include:
1) Heat Safety Education (on-boarding and annual training)
2) Hydration Accessibility
3) Heat Acclimatization
4) Activity Modification (work-to-rest ratios) Dictated by the Environment
5) Implementing Shade and Body Cooling Product Accessibility
6) Emergency Policies and Procedures for Heat-Related Illnesses
7) Physiological Monitoring
How OEHS Professionals Can Help
OEHS professionals can work with you to design a heat stress plan specific to your industry and workforce. From conducting a comprehensive workplace audit to surveying employees about the impact of heat stress on their health and performance, an OEHS expert can help you establish evidence-based protocols to reduce risks.
The AIHA, the association for scientists and professionals committed to preserving and ensuring occupational and environmental health and safety in the workplace and community, offers a consultants directory where employers can search for OEHS experts in their communities.