11 workers are injured or die daily from heat stress

170,000 heat related injuries in the U.S. each year

31,600 workers suffered heat-related illness between 2011-2019

On August 21, 2024, industry professionals, safety experts, and stakeholders gathered in Philadelphia for the Advancing Worker Heat Safety Event, co-hosted by the Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) and Kestrel Instruments. This event aimed to address the rising threat of heat stress in the workplace, focusing on proactive safety measures.

The event featured presentations from key experts in occupational safety and environmental health, including:

Dr. Robert Huggins, Ph.D., LAT – President of Occupational Safety and Athlete Performance at Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut. Dr. Huggins discussed the physiological impact of heat on worker productivity and health.

Cecilia Kaufman, MS, LAT, ATC – Director of Occupational Safety at Korey Stringer Institute. She presented real-time data solutions and advanced technologies for preventing heat-related incidents in the workplace.

Dr. Leah Schinasi, PhD, MSPH – Professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University. Dr. Schinasi explored the intersection of heat stress, urban health, and public policy, advocating for a national strategy to protect workers.

Heat Stress Event Speakers

Discussions centered on key topics such as the health risks of prolonged heat exposure, cutting-edge research on heat safety, and the importance of accurate heat stress measurements of the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). The role of federal and state-level policies in advancing worker heat safety was also emphasized.

The event highlighted the need for cross-industry collaboration to implement proactive heat safety measures, ensuring the protection of workers in extremely hot environments.