Heat Stress Monitoring System

Heat Stress Monitoring Device

So what does a heat stress monitor actually do? 

A heat stress monitoring device is a machine that can obtain information about the air temperature, relative humidity, airflow, and other environmental factors that, if left unchecked, could lead to workers exposing themselves to heat beyond what is deemed legal or safe to work in. 

A heat stress tracker of this kind records measurements via the heat index. 

This combines the temperature and the relative humidity of an environment to calculate  what is the “real feel” of any given location. 

With this information, employers make decisions on if, when, and/or how their employees engage in their job duties. 

Some heat index numbers have a “caution” label, while others are deemed “extremely dangerous” and thus there should be no deliberation on whether an employee should be working in those conditions.

We have the technology and we have the guidelines from OSHA to make quick and easy decisions to protect the safety of workers, thus investing in a heat stress monitoring system would be wise for any employer seeking to better the environment of his workers and to remain in compliance with OSHA and the Department of Labor.

Yet despite all these resources, there are still many who fall victim to heat-related deaths. 

In 2019, 43 workers died in relation to excessive heat. Between 1992 and 2017, 815 individuals in the United States died and more than 70,000 were seriously injured. 

Many of these statistics come from Florida, where 6,800 had to visit the emergency room for heat-related illnesses and 700 died in 2019. Heat-related fatalities in the workplace also have a significant  impact on seniors, low-income communities, and minorities.   

Heat Stress Monitor Price

A heat stress monitor price can vary depending on the brand, features, and other factors. 

Some can cost as little as $100, and some can cost as much as $1,000, if not more. The cheaper models tend to be hand-held devices, while the heat stress monitors worth several thousands of dollars are larger, bulkier units. 

The average WBGT meter price falls within the range of $150 to $200. 

The WBGT calculator tends to be a little more expensive than the heat stress monitors that only measure heat index (this difference will be discussed in the following section).

That is the landscape if you want to purchase a separate device, but there is even a free app as an option for heat safety. 

In collaboration with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, OSHA has created a smartphone app that is known as the “OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool.” This app serves as a resource for workers to monitor their environments. 

It offers the following features:

• A visual indicator of the current heat index and associated risk levels specific to your location
• Recommendations specific to heat index-associated risk levels
• An interactive, hourly forecast of heat index values, risk levels, and recommendations for planning outdoor work 
• Editable location, temperature, and humidity controls for calculation of variable conditions
• Signs of heat-related illnesses
• First aid information for heat-related illnesses

While these features are extensive for a smartphone app, most organizations opt for a more robust heat stress monitoring system to ensure the highest level of accuracy and safety. 

You can learn more about how our software helps compliance professionals in these case studies:

Ohio University Innovation Center

Problem: Tech and tech-enabled startups at the Innovation Center needed reliable support systems for temperature and environmental monitoring due to the requirements of grant-funded projects.

Solution: Implement Sonicu for comprehensive monitoring of temperature, ambient humidity, and air pressure differential, ensuring necessary protection and compliance.

Hancock Regional Health: Enterprise Monitoring from Sound to Environmental

Problem: Disparate monitoring systems were taxing the staff with many manual processes, leading to inefficiencies and reduced asset protection.

Solution: CEO Steve Long initiated the adoption of a consolidated monitoring program for temperature, environmental, and sound, which automated compliance and reduced manual logging.

Xytex Sperm Bank: Ultra Low Temperature Monitoring

Problem: Frequent false alerts were causing alarm fatigue, threatening the operations at Xytex Sperm Bank.

Solution: Partnered with Sonicu to develop a custom temperature monitoring solution for ULT and cryo temperatures, including probes inside and outside the preservation chambers.

Heat Index Monitoring Device

It is worth noting that a heat index calculator is slightly different from a WBGT meter. 

This is because the heat index and WGBT index are not one and the same. 

The WBGT stands for the “Wet Bulb Globe Temperature.” This is a measurement of heat stress in direct sunlight, factoring in aspects such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, sun angle, and cloud cover. 

That makes WBGT more extensive than the heat index, which only considers the variables of temperature and humidity. 

Heat index is also only meant to calculate “real feel” temperatures within shady areas, another way in which it differs from WBGT. Now we can understand why a typical WBGT meter price runs higher than a heat stress monitor measured by heat index alone. 

Intrinsically Safe Heat Stress Monitor

What does it mean when a piece of equipment is “intrinsically safe”? 

This refers to when an electrical device has been constructed with materials that make it inflammable, thus decreasing the risk of ignition and spontaneous combustion. The entire point of a heat stress monitor is that it is supposed to venture out into areas that may prove dangerous for humans for an extended period of time. 

Because of this, the monitor needs to be able to withstand the extreme heat. 

Sonicu heat stress monitoring system is an intrinsically safe heat stress monitor, one that uses a wireless remote control to ensure that all staff and supplies are safe within its designated area. 

Unlike a cumbersome heat stress tracker manual or heat stress meter manual, Sonicu incorporates a sleek, user-friendly dashboard that allows users to easily review the various environmental factors under its supervision. 

This dashboard can be accessed from anywhere, not only within the location but even accessible on a smartphone. 

This is a wiser use of a heat safety smartphone app, supplementary and extensive monitoring system, rather than the simple app that was described in a previous section.

Heat Stress Measurement

Sometimes, depending on the work, an employer does not need to buy an entire heat stress monitoring system for rare projects that require minimal exposure to heat-sensitive areas. 

That is a situation where a heat stress monitor rental may be more appropriate to an organization’s work model. 

As mentioned earlier, heat stress measurement can come in several formats. The heat index is quite reliable, but the WBGT provides even more climate information. 

How to discover each measurement and how to use it can be found within each specific heat stress monitor manual. 

It is important to understand how each measurement system works because a heat index value of 72 and a WBGT value of 72 would each represent quite different climate conditions. 

Some may immediately presume that since WBGT takes in more environmental factors, it must be the better measurement for heat stress, but that may not be necessarily true. 

With more factors, the WBGT system naturally becomes more complex, while the heat index keeps things simple with the value representing the “real feel” temperature in relation to humidity, thus allowing workers to make swift decisions about the viability of working under that temperature. 

Comprehensive Heat Stress Monitoring Solutions:

WBGT monitoring devices are essential for accurately measuring the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which helps assess the level of heat stress in different environments. The WBGT monitor is a vital tool in industries where heat stress can be a serious risk to workers’ health. With a WBGT device, you can easily track temperature, humidity, and radiant heat, ensuring a safer workplace.

For complete thermal monitoring, we offer a range of heating monitoring systems tailored to your specific needs. Our heating monitoring systems provide real-time data to keep track of heat levels, ensuring timely intervention before heat-related issues arise. We also specialize in heat stress monitors and accessories, offering a variety of heat stress monitoring equipment and heat stress monitoring devices that are reliable, durable, and accurate.

In addition, our heat stress monitoring and relief products provide not only the means to track and manage heat stress but also solutions to help relieve it, creating a safer working environment. Whether you need heat stress monitors for industrial use or personal protective measures, we have the right solution to meet your requirements.

Thermal Environment Monitor

To have a comprehensive set of heat stress monitoring equipment, a thermal environment monitor needs to be present. This can track the hot and cold temperatures within a given area. 

The word “thermal” emerged in English in the 18th century from the French language, when it was used to describe hot springs. Going even further back, the adjective derives from the Greek “thermē” meaning heat. 

The extreme conditions of cold and heat can have severe, adversarial effects on the human body. 

With the technological advances to know the precise temperature and other climate factors beforehand, we are in a position to prevent climate-related fatalities. 

With a careful review and thorough reading of a thermal monitor manual, employers and employees can work in harmony to get the job done without compromising anyone’s safety. 

You can learn more about how our software helps compliance professionals in these case studies:

Great Lakes Bay Health Centers: Immunization Monitoring

Problem: Need for a reliable temperature monitoring solution for vaccines across multiple locations and cold storage devices.

Solution: Implemented Sonicu's automated monitoring and done-for-you calibration, which allows routine checks from mobile devices and ensures compliance with minimal staff involvement.

SUNY Downstate: Protecting Children's Vaccines

Problem: The need for a simple, reliable, and cost-effective monitoring solution after an incident involving an open fridge door nearly costing a clinic a batch of vaccines.

Solution: Adopt a new monitoring system that is easy to install and use, ensuring the safety of vaccine supplies.

Cryopoint: Mission-Critical Monitoring

Problem: Cryopoint faced calibration challenges with their legacy monitoring system and issues with a server-based system, putting critical samples at risk.

Solution: Transitioned to Sonicu's SoniCloud and its mobile-first solution, enhancing reliability in monitoring and easing operations.