Occupational heat safety is becoming a growing priority for research institutions and industry as temperatures rise and federal agencies consider mandatory protections for heat exposure. The new National Laboratory for Occupational Heat Safety at UConn’s Korey Stringer Institute (KSI) will support this work by providing advanced environmental testing capabilities that help characterize heat risk in real-world scenarios. For laboratory managers, the facility’s applied research offers data that can inform heat stress program development, environmental health and safety planning, and protective equipment evaluations.
Occupational heat safety research expands at UConn
The 750-square-foot facility features environmental systems that can precisely manipulate heat, humidity, solar exposure, and wind to simulate complex field conditions. It also includes altitude-control technology capable of reducing oxygen levels to mimic elevations up to 12,000 feet. These capabilities allow researchers to measure physiological responses and assess interventions for workers who face multiple simultaneous stressors, such as extreme heat and reduced oxygen environments.
KSI collaborates with MISSION, a performance apparel company focused on wearable cooling solutions, and Magid, an industrial safety manufacturer known for personal protective equipment, to evaluate cooling technologies and personal protective equipment. “Our collaboration does so much to improve safety for laborers and athletes around the world,” says Douglas Casa, KSI CEO. “It provides credibility for the effectiveness of innovative products, and KSI has even more experience working with these populations in real-life conditions in the best facilities possible.” The partnerships highlight a growing industry interest in evidence-based strategies to reduce heat-related illness.
Implications for lab heat stress programs and EHS planning
Laboratories increasingly support field-based sampling, agricultural research, industrial testing, and outdoor instrument deployment. These environments expose staff to heat conditions that fall under occupational heat safety and require structured environmental health and safety protocols. The research performed in the new UConn lab can help laboratory managers refine heat stress program elements, including physiological monitoring, acclimatization guidance, rest-break planning, and environmental measurement techniques.
The ability to test PPE and cooling technologies under controlled conditions is also valuable for labs responsible for evaluating equipment performance or recommending protective solutions to institutional safety offices. As employers prepare for potential OSHA rulemaking, validated interventions and clear exposure thresholds are likely to become more important for compliance.
Why occupational heat safety matters
Climate-driven temperature increases are already affecting operational risk across research and industrial facilities. Higher heat loads can influence HVAC performance, cold-chain reliability, and downtime for instruments sensitive to temperature fluctuations. For teams conducting outdoor work, the likelihood of heat-related illness continues to rise. “Heat is an ever-present risk in an ever-warming climate, and it’s likely going to continue increasing at an exponential pace,” Casa says.
Laboratory managers who oversee diverse teams—technicians, field researchers, interns, and contractors—play a direct role in ensuring safe working conditions. Insights from the new facility can support decisions about heat-stress thresholds, training needs, and preventive measures that align with emerging regulatory expectations.
Impact on environmental health and safety programs
The National Laboratory for Occupational Heat Safety provides data that can help EHS leaders model exposure risks, select validated protective technologies, and update training and emergency protocols. As heat exposure becomes a more prominent operational challenge, laboratory managers can use research from this facility to strengthen environmental health and safety programs and support compliance with evolving occupational heat safety standards.
This article was created with the assistance of Generative AI and has undergone editorial review before publishing.
