New Study: Wearable Monitor System Protects Workers Against Heat Stroke

A recent study has validated an innovative body temperature monitoring system that predicts heat stress to prevent heat-related injury in industrial workers. The study confirmed that Kenzen’s wearable heat sensor, launched in 2020, provides accurate, continuous core body temperature measurements. The research was conducted at three universities in Australia and New Zealand.

When worn on the upper arm during physical labor, the Kenzen sensor continuously records body temperature, heart rate, hydration, and activity. The monitor integrates with a mobile app and a team dashboard. If a worker’s temperature elevates above normal or if the sensor detects dehydration, the system sends an alert to the individual’s smartphone as well as to the manager’s dashboard. After the worker has taken time to rest and hydrate, the system sends another notification that it’s safe to return to work. 

The study included 75 biological male and female participants between the ages of 18 and 62. The results indicate that the Kenzen sensor has equivalent accuracy to the gold standards for body temperature monitoring: an ingested gastrointestinal pill and a rectal thermometer. Both of these standard approaches are problematic for continuous temperature monitoring in many industrial settings.

Kenzen’s system includes algorithms that predict heat stress issues and infections conditions based on individual risk. Using a large-scale dataset, the algorithms factor in metrics such as sweat rate, baseline body temperature, age, and biological sex to deliver accurate alerts regarding possible health risks. The study confirmed that the wearable remained accurate during a range of activities performed in various environmental conditions.

In a July 2021 discussion paper comparing 11 million California workers’ compensation claims to local weather data, researchers at UCLA suggest that rising temperatures contribute to an increase in heat-related workplace injuries. The comparison found that hotter weather may cause an estimated 20,000 injuries per year. As summer temps continue to rise in many parts of the world due to climate change, Kenzen’s solution offers some protection against the severe health consequences caused by heatstroke for millions of industrial workers.