Industrial hygiene exposure monitoring data are notoriously complex, and the costs of collecting data are often high. The cost, time, and skills necessary for data collection and analyses make the sharing of exposure monitoring data compelling. Contributors, analysts, and public health entities all stand to gain by compiling and using crowdsourced data for the prevention of occupational illness and injury.

In October 2022 and February 2023, members of AIHA and ACGIH participated in brainstorming discussions about managing heat-related hazards. “We need a tool that could make the WBGT data simplified, or some kind of phone app,” one participant said. Such a tool will soon become reality. This month, a beta version of the AIHA Heat Stress Mobile App is undergoing user testing.

Climate change presents new challenges for occupational and environmental health and safety professionals and exacerbates familiar ones. Risks to industry are growing due to the greater intensity and frequency of climate-related events, requiring OEHS professionals to continually adapt to keep workers safe.