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University of Toronto students deploy cooling vests to protect Gulf workers in the heat

PPE

In anticipation for the 2022 World Cup, Qatar has been on a building frenzy with three construction projects being completed every day

Research has shown that workers out for sustained periods of time in the heat tend to experience heart attacks and develop several other heart dysfunctions.

Students at the University of Toronto noticed that in Qatar alone, by the time the World Cup begins in 2022, nearly 7000 are expected to die - with the heat being the largest cause. After realising the scale of this issue they took action and started aegis, a student-run organization with the aim preventing heart damage among workers through the use of Cooling Vests.

The vests work simply; they are activated through submersion in water, once put on the water, the vests absorb the heat, the fabric evaporates and the wearer is cooled.  

Last summer the Aegis team piloted the vests on a construction site in Qatar. Health data collected on site highlighted that workers were, in fact, enduring substantial heat stress and showed the vests to be a strong way of reducing such toll. Through this initial testing, substantial drops in the number of workers with high blood pressure and workers’ average body temperatures were witnessed.

After launching efforts in Qatar Aegis is looking to the UAE. it is working to launch a 200-vest program in partnership with Emirates NBD and are hoping to foster efforts across the nation.

Human factors need to be taken into account when addressing safety. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

H.E. Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, director general of Dubai Government Human Resources Department. (Image source: DGHR)

Source: SafeStart

The RealWear Navigator Z1. (Image source: RealWear)

The Al Khobar 2 SWRO desalination plant located in Saudi Arabia. (Image source: ACCIONA)

The new uvex phynomic cut glove range is manufactured in Germany using 3D hand ‘formas’ to mimic the contours of the hand. (Image source: uvex)

The GS700 incorporates the capability to detect H2, in addition to its existing ability to detect natural gas. (Image source: Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection))

The campaign focuses on keeping construction sites clean. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The new uvex phynomic cut glove range is manufactured in Germany using 3D hand ‘formas’ to mimic the contours of the hand. (Image source: uvex)

QatarEnergy LNG's CEO at the Safety Day. (Image source: QatarEnergy LNG)

H.E. Abdullah Ali Bin Zayed Al Falasi, director general of Dubai Government Human Resources Department. (Image source: DGHR)

The Tab-Ex 04 Pro DZ2 / D2. (Image source: Pepperl+Fuchs)

The Al Khobar 2 SWRO desalination plant located in Saudi Arabia. (Image source: ACCIONA)

Source: SafeStart

Both municipalities said they were committed to advancing HSE practices in the country.

The project will have an expected annual processing capacity of 900,000 tonnes of waste, making it one of the region’s largest. (Image source: EWEC)

There are a diverse range of factors to consider from suspension, soft textile materials, vented or non-vented models, to heat regulation accessories, size and aesthetics. (Image source: MSA Safety)

The workshop focused on safety in construction as well. (Image source: ICC)

The new partnership will enable HMi Elements to tap into Cobic-Ex’s global network. (Image source: HMi Elements)

Sarah Hutcheon, product development manager, OPITO. (Image source: OPITO)

To improve differentiation, hard hats can be customised with different colours and logos. (Image source: MSA Safety)

The new harness comes with integrated trauma suspension relief straps in leg pads. (Image source: Guardian)

Human factors need to be taken into account when addressing safety. (Image source: Adobe Stock)