As temperatures rise across Canada, so do the risks of heat-related illnesses – especially for workers in high-heat, high-risk environments like firefighting, mine rescue, and emergency response. At the recent CCOHS Forum, we heard from Dr. Sanda Dorman, a leading voice in occupational health and safety research, whose work is reshaping how we protect those on the front lines from heat stress on the job.
Dr. Dorman, a full professor and Director at the Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH), presented new findings on heat illness prevention and the role of wearable safety technology. Her talk at the forum, titled “Heat Illness Prevention, Planning and Application for Wearable Technology,” explored the serious toll of working in extreme heat, particularly the impact on the heart, lungs, and kidneys. These effects are even more severe for workers with chronic health conditions.
Real-Time Monitoring to Prevent Heat Illness
The highlight of Dr. Dorman’s research is a wearable heat monitoring system that tracks core body temperature in real time. Designed for rugged work environments, the system includes a chest strap and armband that are intrinsically safe for use in hazardous settings. When a worker’s temperature crosses a critical threshold, the device triggers an alert giving them the chance to cool down before serious harm occurs.
Data-Driven Safety for Employers
These wearables collect physiological real-time-data that employers can use to:
- Evaluate the physical demands of a job
- Assess the effectiveness of PPE (personal protective equipment)
- Improve workplace health and safety policies
This approach aligns with a growing recognition across Canadian Workers’ Compensation Boards that heat-related illness is a legitimate workplace injury – adding urgency and relevance to heat illness prevention strategies.
Why This Matters Now
With climate change driving hotter summers and longer heatwaves, heat stress management is now a key concern for industries like mining, firefighting, construction, and emergency services. Employers must be proactive about occupational heat exposure and equip their teams with the tools to stay safe.
Dr. Dorman’s work offers an exciting, evidence-based solution and a path forward for organizations that want to reduce risk, improve safety outcomes, and manage long-term health costs.
We’re grateful to Dr. Dorman and CROSH for their leadership in this space, and we look forward to seeing these innovations move from research to real-world application.