Helping OSHA empower at-risk workers

Situation

OSHA aims to empower workers with up-to-date information about their worksite conditions, especially for those conditions that involve inherent risk. In 2016, the administration worked with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to develop a heat safety tool that gauges temperature-related risks at work sites. The tool’s development was part of a nationwide outreach campaign to raise awareness about the hazards of working outdoors in hot weather. 

Challenge

The OSHA-NIOSH tool was a single-screen application with limited information and functionality. The organizations required a comprehensive yet simple visual of real-time, high-risk heat levels to provide the public with the full scope of dangers associated with the heat index in their location.

Solution

Maximus expanded the existing OSHA-NIOSH Heat Safety Tool mobile application into a five-tab user interface with new functionality, including:

• Heat gauge to indicate current local heat index and corresponding risk level
• 14-hour heat forecast that dynamically shows predicted changes throughout the day
• Editable location, temperature, and humidity controls for calculation of variable conditions
• Signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, muscle tissue damage, heat cramps, and heat rash
• First aid information for heat-related illnesses
• Easy-to-use multi-lingual toggle switch between English and Spanish versions
• Simplified settings that allow users to view and set notifications and alerts