Development of a WBGT-based Heat Stress Assessment Mobile Application
Grant
Overview
abstract
-
Wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) is the preferred environmental heat metric for heat-related illness (HRI) prevention in occupational settings. Heat index is identified as an alternative environmental heat metric that is more readily available than WBGT to employers and is currently used in the OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool app. However, the older version of the OSHA-NIOSH app was found to be inaccurate in assessing high and extreme heat stress risks at any workload type compared to WBGT-based assessments from heat stress monitors and, therefore, was not recommended for use in occupational heat stress assessment. There is still a need for more readily accessible and reliable information for HRI prevention among outdoor workers, and a well-designed mobile app that provides WBGT-based risk information may fill this need. Thus, the goal of this project is to support Dualboot Partners, a product design and software engineering company, in the development of a mobile app that 1) automatically calculates the current and forecasted WBGT index; 2) provides the heat stress risk level based on the calculated WBGT and workload input; 3) recommends heat stress prevention measures based on risk levels; and 4) provides information on workload description, HRI signs/ symptoms and first aid measures.
date/time interval
awarded by