What is a Heat Stress Monitor?

What is a Heat Stress Monitor?

Some of the finest names in healthcare, including Indiana University Health, University of Michigan Health System, and Stanford University rely on Sonicu to provide a robust and continuous environmental monitoring system, including temperature, humidity, air pressure, and more. 

These respected healthcare and research brands turn to Sonicu for four primary reasons:

• Real-Time Monitoring: the sensors collect temperature, humidity, air pressure data, and more, and transmit it wirelessly to SoniCloud - our cloud-based platform.
• Operational Efficiency: Virtually eliminate the need for tedious and costly manual logging 
• Compliance Automation: Respond to any regulatory audit or inspection in a few clicks with our reports section
• Asset Protection: Detect and respond to any threshold that can threaten anything perishable: food, drugs, vaccines, research, etc.

Our customers stay with us thanks to our American-based customer support, which is never more than a phone call away. While our technology is intuitive and powerful, we know it’s only as strong as the people who stand behind it.

As climate change continues to alter global weather patterns, heat stress has become an increasingly prevalent concern for businesses and industries.

Heat stress occurs when the body is unable to regulate its internal temperature due to prolonged exposure to excessive heat.

This can lead to a range of health problems, including dehydration, heat exhaustion, and in severe cases, heat stroke, which can be life-threatening.

Workplaces that operate in high-temperature environments, such as manufacturing plants, warehouses, and construction sites, are particularly vulnerable to heat stress risks.

Workers performing physically demanding tasks in these environments are at an even greater risk, as exertion increases the body’s internal heat load.

Recognizing the importance of protecting employees from heat-related illnesses, and keeping in mind new rules from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) related to heat stress, many companies are turning to innovative solutions, one of which is the heat stress monitor.

Sonicu has extensive experience in this area, having successfully implemented similar solutions for several clients in California, where CAL/OSHA has been a pioneer in these regulations.

Sonicu is a trusted partner for organizations that prioritize compliance, and we are well-equipped to meet your regulatory needs.

A heat stress monitor is a device designed to measure environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and air movement, providing critical information to help prevent heat-related illnesses.

These devices can be installed in a variety of workplaces, where they play a crucial role in maintaining safe working conditions and ensuring the well-being of employees. 

Here, we will explore what a heat stress monitor is, how it works, and why it has become an essential tool for businesses in many industries.

Heat Stress Monitor

A heat stress monitor, like those offered by Sonicu, is a device that measures the environmental factors contributing to heat stress in the workplace.

These factors include temperature, humidity, air velocity, and radiant heat from the sun or other sources.

The goal of a heat stress monitor is to provide real-time data that allows employers and safety professionals to assess the risk of heat-related illnesses and take appropriate actions to reduce these risks.

Heat stress monitors are designed to collect data on environmental conditions, helping to identify areas of the workplace where heat stress is most likely to occur.

This information can be used to implement preventive measures, such as improving ventilation, adjusting work schedules, or providing cooling breaks to employees.

By monitoring the key variables that contribute to heat stress, businesses can create safer and more comfortable work environments, minimizing the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Sonicu offers more than a year of data storage for your logs and our sensors are completely wireless, cost-effective, and easy to deploy.

Our alerting system is highly customizable, providing notifications via text, email, phone calls, and push notifications.

These alerts can be configured to repeat and escalate, ensuring that the appropriate personnel are promptly informed and can take necessary action.

Sonicu sensors are compact, resembling hockey pucks in size and shape, and are IP67-rated for durability.  They measure both ambient temperature and humidity, with our cloud-based software automatically calculating the heat index.

Sonicu software also offers sophisticated multi-site management features, enabling you to efficiently oversee multiple divisions.

Site managers can be granted access only to their specific areas, while corporate managers can monitor all locations and divisions from a centralized dashboard.

In addition to providing real-time data, many heat stress monitors also include predictive analytics capabilities, which allow employers to anticipate periods of extreme heat and adjust their operations accordingly.

For example, if the monitor detects a rapid rise in temperature or humidity, it can trigger alerts that notify supervisors to implement heat stress prevention protocols.

This proactive approach helps ensure that workers are not exposed to dangerous heat levels and that businesses remain compliant with safety regulations.

Companies such as Nomi Health have trusted Sonicu to provide them with peace of mind when it comes to temperature monitoring.

Other benefits they receive by choosing Sonicu include:

• Asset Protection: Get alerts when a freezer is malfunctioning to protect assets like medicines, vaccines, blood, research, sperm/eggs
• Compliance Automation: Creates simple reports to satisfy local/state/federal regulations
• Operational Efficiency: Spend less time capturing data manually: Both temps/conditions and reporting

The Components of a Heat Stress Monitor

Heat stress monitors typically consist of several components that work together to measure environmental conditions and provide accurate data on heat stress risk.

One of the most important components is the temperature sensor, which measures the ambient temperature in the workplace.

High temperatures are one of the primary contributors to heat stress, as they prevent the body from dissipating heat effectively.

In addition to temperature sensors, heat stress monitors often include humidity sensors, which measure the amount of moisture in the air.

High humidity levels can exacerbate heat stress by limiting the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating.

When the air is saturated with moisture, sweat does not evaporate as efficiently, leading to a buildup of heat within the body.

Air velocity sensors are another critical component of heat stress monitors. These sensors measure the speed and direction of air movement in the workplace. 

Proper air circulation is essential for reducing heat stress, as moving air helps to dissipate heat and moisture from the skin.

In environments with poor ventilation, air velocity sensors can identify areas where airflow needs to be improved to reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses.

Radiant heat sensors are also included in some heat stress monitors. These sensors measure the amount of heat being radiated from the sun, machinery, or other sources.

Radiant heat can significantly increase the temperature of the surrounding environment, contributing to heat stress even when ambient temperatures are not excessively high.

By monitoring radiant heat, businesses can take steps to shield workers from direct sunlight or other heat sources, further reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses.

How Heat Stress Monitors Work

Heat stress monitors work by continuously measuring environmental conditions in the workplace and calculating the potential for heat stress based on these conditions.

Most heat stress monitors use a combination of temperature, humidity, and air velocity sensors to assess the overall heat load on the body.

The data collected by these sensors is then processed by the monitor’s internal algorithms to provide a heat stress index or other relevant metrics.

The heat stress index is a value that reflects the combined effects of temperature, humidity, air movement, and radiant heat on the body.

A higher heat stress index indicates a greater risk of heat-related illnesses, while a lower index suggests that conditions are within safe limits. Heat stress monitors often display the heat stress index in real-time, allowing supervisors and safety professionals to monitor conditions throughout the day and make adjustments as needed.

Many heat stress monitors are also equipped with alarm systems that activate when conditions reach dangerous levels.

These alarms can be set to trigger when the temperature or humidity exceeds a predetermined threshold, providing an immediate alert to supervisors and workers.

In some cases, heat stress monitors can be integrated with automated systems that adjust ventilation, cooling, or other environmental controls in response to rising heat stress levels.

This automated response ensures that workers are protected from extreme heat without requiring constant manual intervention.

Another key feature of modern heat stress monitors is their ability to store and analyze historical data.

By collecting data over time, these devices can identify patterns in heat stress conditions, allowing employers to predict when and where heat stress is most likely to occur.

This information can be used to develop heat stress prevention plans, schedule work during cooler periods, or implement long-term solutions to improve workplace conditions.

Tyner Pond has entrusted Sonicu and received these top features: 

• American-based Customer Service and Tech Support 
• Redundancy of Power/Connectivity to protect data integrity 
• SNAP calibration service for NIST compliance
• Hardware assembled in the United States 
• Built on AWS Cloud for simplicity, speed, reliability, and scalability

The Benefits of Heat Stress Monitors in the Workplace

One of the primary benefits of heat stress monitors is their ability to provide real-time data on environmental conditions, allowing businesses to respond quickly to changes in temperature, humidity, or airflow.

This real-time monitoring is particularly valuable in industries where heat stress can develop rapidly, such as construction, manufacturing, and warehousing.

By detecting dangerous conditions as they occur, heat stress monitors enable supervisors to take immediate action to protect workers, reducing the risk of heat-related illnesses and accidents.

In addition to preventing heat-related health problems, heat stress monitors can also help improve productivity and reduce operational downtime.

Workers who are exposed to excessive heat are more likely to experience fatigue, dehydration, and reduced cognitive function, all of which can impair job performance.

The FDA also encourages the use of smart equipment to automatically monitor warehouse temperature processes and employ AI and IoT to predict, detect, and respond to heat-related health issues, should they occur.

Wireless remote temperature monitoring is most convenient for environmental monitoring and business operations.

The Sonicu Ambient Temperature solution can help ensure that the OSHA heat safety requirements are met in your facility. 

Combining wireless sensors with remote monitoring software, the smart solution measures humidity and temperature in critical environments, including warehouses, distribution centers, depots, processing plants, and kitchens.

The Sonicu Facility Monitoring solution sends a real-time alert so you can take prompt remedial action to prevent heat-related sickness.

• Indiana University Health: Enterprise Hospital For Temp, Humidity, Air Pressure
  
• Exide Technologies: Air Pressure Differential for Construction 
• UHS South Texas: Environmental Monitoring 

By maintaining safe and comfortable working conditions, businesses can ensure that their employees remain alert, focused, and productive throughout the day.

Another important benefit of heat stress monitors is their role in regulatory compliance. Occupational safety agencies, such as OSHA, have established guidelines for managing heat stress in the workplace.

These guidelines require employers to monitor environmental conditions, provide access to cooling areas, and take other measures to protect workers from heat-related illnesses.

Heat stress monitors provide the data needed to demonstrate compliance with these regulations, helping businesses avoid fines, penalties, and legal liabilities.

Beyond compliance, heat stress monitors can also help reduce the financial costs associated with heat-related illnesses.

Heat stress can lead to increased absenteeism, workers’ compensation claims, and healthcare costs, all of which can have a significant impact on a company’s bottom line.

By investing in heat stress monitors, businesses can mitigate these risks and create a safer, healthier workplace for their employees.

Industries That Benefit from Heat Stress Monitors

Heat stress monitors are used across a wide range of industries, from construction and manufacturing to healthcare and food services.

In each of these industries, workers are exposed to unique environmental conditions that can contribute to heat stress, making the use of heat stress monitors essential for maintaining safe working conditions.

In manufacturing and industrial settings, heat stress is often a concern due to the presence of heavy machinery, which generates heat during operation.

Workers in these environments may also be required to wear protective clothing or equipment, which can increase their susceptibility to heat stress. 

Heat stress monitors allow employers to track temperature and humidity levels in real-time, ensuring that workers are not exposed to dangerous conditions.

In healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, heat stress can be a concern for both workers and patients.

Healthcare workers may be required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), which can contribute to heat stress, especially in poorly ventilated areas.

Heat stress monitors help healthcare facilities maintain safe and comfortable temperatures, protecting the well-being of both staff and patients.

The food service industry is another sector where heat stress monitors are valuable.

Commercial kitchens and food processing plants often operate at high temperatures, and workers are exposed to heat from ovens, grills, and other cooking equipment.

By using heat stress monitors to track environmental conditions, food service businesses can reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses and ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Warehousing and logistics facilities also benefit from heat stress monitors, particularly during the summer months when temperatures can rise significantly.

Workers in these environments often perform physically demanding tasks, such as lifting and moving heavy objects, which increases their susceptibility to heat stress.

Heat stress monitors provide real-time data on temperature and humidity levels, allowing warehouse managers to implement cooling strategies and schedule breaks to prevent heat-related illnesses.

“Sonicu has been a powerful tool to identify which units are behaving out of spec and get our team
to fix them before we have a serious issue.”
Tim Livesay, Director, Hancock Regional Hospital Pharmacy Director