EGA encourages the use of wearable technology to detect body heat in UAE’s scorching summer

Emirates Global Aluminium, a prominent industrial organisation in the United Arab Emirates, has recently announced its successful expansion of the Kenzen wearable technology platform. This revolutionising technology has been made available to 350 employee volunteers as part of EGA's 'Beat the Heat' initiative this summer.

It is well known that heat-related illness poses a significant threat to outdoor workers, particularly during the UAE summer. However, EGA has been steadfast in its commitment to eradicating this issue for over a decade now.

The Kenzen wearable technology platform is an innovative solution that can help protect outdoor workers by continuously monitoring body temperature, heart rate, activity, and other vital body indicators. With this real-time data, both the wearer and EGA's safety team can detect signs of heat strain before they become too severe. Just the previous summer, EGA had tested the use of wearable devices with 50 volunteers, and this year, the company has expanded its usage to cover more employees.

Despite the added heat generated by industrial processes that must run around the clock, EGA has achieved zero heat-related illnesses in 2019 and 2022. In 2021, the company recorded only two cases of heat-related illness, and both employees received swift medical attention and made a full recovery within hours.

The Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, exclaimed: "Heat-related illness is a serious threat to health and even life in our region, and increasingly around the world. Our work has shown that heat-related illness is entirely preventable, even in challenging industrial environments like ours. Wearable technology offers the potential to protect people even more, and I am looking forward to the results of the wider trial we are conducting this summer."

The CEO of Kenzen, vocalised his thoughts on the collaboration, saying: "We are delighted to support Emirates Global Aluminium in their mission to prioritise employee health and safety and contribute to cutting-edge research on thermal physiology. By combining Kenzen's wearable technology with EGA's dedication to workforce well-being, we are setting new benchmarks in heat stress management and advancing the frontiers of occupational health."

EGA's 'Beat the Heat' program is a comprehensive, summer-long effort that spans across the company's operations. Employees are trained to detect the early signs of heat stress, and EGA conducts hydration tests before and during shifts.