Although 2022 was recorded as one of the hottest years ever with a global temperature of approximately 1.15°C above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900), the next five years are expected to be even hotter. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), there is a 66% chance that the global temperature will exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels for at least one year between 2023 and 2027. With climate change in mind, it is imperative that industries evaluate current heat safety practices and explore the potential of core body temperature-sensing wearables that accurately predict heat strain, improve worker productivity, and mitigate adverse heat-related health outcomes.
The science behind heat strain is rooted in the body’s capacity to thermoregulate. As an individual is subject to heat stress, which is defined as the net heat exposure from active heat sources (e.g., machinery), metabolic heat, and the ambient environment, their body responds to maintain a stable and functional body temperature. However, if the body is unable to get rid of heat quickly enough, the individual is at risk of developing a heat-related illness (HRI) – a manifestation of heat strain.