In anticipation of what the U.S. National Weather Service and U.K. Met Office predict to be the hottest summer on record, Kenzen, makers of smart PPE that monitors the heat health of workers in hot and humid conditions, announced a new rental program for its wearable devices. The rental program is being launched to help companies of all sizes across many industries protect workers and maintain productivity during the 2021 summer working season.
Kenzen sells its solution as a system that includes wearable worker monitors, a worker alert app, a manager app for on-site supervisors to predict and prevent heat stress for individuals on the job, and a data analytics dashboard for corporate Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) leaders to track patterns and make improvements to their heat safety programs.
To allow companies of all sizes to quickly deploy the new technology, Kenzen is offering rental packages of 10, 20, and 50 devices. The Kenzen kit includes devices, armbands, device chargers, apps available for both iOS and android phones, and packaging for easy returns at the end of the rental period.
Packages can be rented for a two-month period online at store.kenzen.com, where training videos provide instructions for use and deployment. Kenzen also provides a snapshot of workers’ risk level and alerts after the rental period, which can be used by companies to enhance their heat intervention techniques such as locations of shaded areas, hydration stations and ice baths, and PPE clothing selections.
Kenzen devices are worn by workers and contain sensors that monitor, in real-time, an individual’s physiological markers that trigger heat injury risks. The worker is warned of heat danger via a smart phone app that vibrates and gives next-step instructions, as well as vibrations on the device they are wearing. Managers have a corresponding app that alerts them when a worker needs an intervention to stop work, rest, and hydrate, and when it is safe to return to work.
“We’re on a mission to protect as many workers as possible from the hot and humid season ahead,” said Heidi Lehmann, Kenzen Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer. “Our goal is to have at least 5,000 devices in the field before temperatures peak – protecting construction workers, road pavers, agricultural teams, roofers, drivers, and anyone who works outdoors.”
Lehmann adds that, for every 10-degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature, there is a 393- percent increase in hospitalizations for heat exposure. “Now companies of all sizes have the power to predict and prevent heat-related injuries and deaths while managing productivity at the same time.”
Optional add-ons to the rental packages include the EHS analytics dashboard and on-site consultation and training. The Kenzen device rental program is available globally.
The Kenzen solution integrates the company’s commitment to personal data privacy; only workers can view the details of their personal health information and safety managers and other EHS leaders only see what’s necessary to keep the workers safe.
Kenzen has deployed its award-winning heat monitors with workforces across the globe in domains such as construction, mining, field services, manufacturing, renewable energy, utility oil and gas, and transportation.
