Wearable Technology for Feedyard Safety

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Health
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Cattle feedyard workers are highly susceptible to heat stress due to prolonged outdoor work in hot, humid conditions.
• Heat-related illnesses can lead to significant lost work time and pose serious health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of wearable technology in monitoring heat warnings for cattle feedyard workers.
• To identify the temperature threshold at which heat warnings are triggered to inform workplace heat stress management strategies.

Main Methods:

• The MākuSafe wearable device monitored heat warnings in 15 cattle feedyard workers from June to September 2023.
• Segmented logistic regression and the Pseudo Score Test were used to analyze the relationship between temperature and heat warnings, identifying critical temperature thresholds.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant changepoint for heat warnings was identified at 78°F.
• Worker role and hours worked did not significantly influence the probability of receiving a heat warning.

Conclusions:

• Wearable devices can provide timely heat warnings at relatively low temperatures (78°F), aiding in proactive heat stress management for feedyard workers.
• Implementing these warnings can help protect worker health and prevent heat-related occupational illnesses.