Wearing a vest to signal heat stress

We work in some of the hottest places on the planet including the Omani desert, where temperatures can reach 55°C

We manage heat exposure in a number of ways and the Omani government mandates breaks and shorter working hours during the hottest months. However, it is not always clear that an individual is suffering from heat stress.

So, we piloted a new wearable technology at one of our rigs. Following a health examination, the special vests are tailored to the wearer and send data on heart rate, respiratory rate and skin temperature to their smartphone. If the data exceeds the individual’s parameters, a text message and email alert is sent to the rig medic and health and safety lead so that they can intervene.

We’ve learned a number of valuable lessons from this pilot and are now looking at additional uses in our wider operations.