Eliminating Heat Risks in Nuclear Cleanup: A DOE Contractor’s High-Tech Blueprint

For organizations like the Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), a liquid waste contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management at the Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken, South Carolina, the summer season poses significant challenges for their workforce. In 2025, safety leaders sought to expand the current heat safety program and find a solution that would integrate proactive methods of heat stress mitigation across their 310-square-mile work site.

The Challenge of Heat Stress

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), occupational heat stress is prevalent for millions of workers, and every year thousands fall ill from heat exposure, with some cases being fatal. At SRMC, with so many workers donning heavy PPE and performing moderate labor, heat exhaustion is a major concern that safety personnel have been focused on eradicating.

Historically, safety measures relied on scheduled breaks, hydration policies, and supervisors' experience to identify when workers might be in danger. While effective to an extent, this approach is inherently reactive, leaving room for incidents to occur before intervention.

SRMC implemented a new solution: SlateSafety's BAND V2 physiological monitoring device to prevent heat illness.

"By integrating technologies like SlateSafety, we're proactively protecting our team and making sure every worker goes home safely at the end of the day," said Wes Bryan, SRMC Environment, Safety, Health and Quality Assurance Director, in an article published by the Department of Energy.

SlateSafety's Innovation in Action

Workers wear the BAND V2 during shifts, allowing supervisors to monitor the physiological status remotely. The system provides real-time alerts if a worker's readings approach set thresholds, giving supervisors the information needed to intervene before conditions become dangerous.

This integration represents a shift from reactive safety measures to a proactive, data-driven approach. By providing real-time insights into workers' physiological state, SRMC can respond immediately, preventing heat stress before it escalates into an incident.

The BAND V2 monitors key physiological parameters, including but not limited to heart rate limit values (HRLV) and core temperature, comparing each worker's current condition to safe thresholds. When a worker exceeds a set HRLV or their temperature approaches a high-risk level, which is customizable and set by the organization, the system then sends an instant alert to the supervisor's dashboard.

Once alerted, supervisors can implement immediate interventions tailored to the individual worker's needs.

This may include:

Providing additional rest breaks

Ensuring adequate hydration

Rotating tasks to reduce exertion

Temporarily removing workers from high-heat areas

By acting on precise, real-time data, SRMC can protect workers efficiently without unnecessarily disrupting operations. Supervisors no longer have to rely solely on observation or guesswork; they have measurable, actionable data that informs each decision.

The Science of SlateSafety

The BAND V2 utilizes photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors that enable non-invasive measurement of variations in blood volume under the skin. PPG sensors are used in a wide range of medical and wearable devices. They give SlateSafety the ability to monitor heart rate, VO2, and heart rate variability.

Beyond the PPG sensor, the BAND V2 utilizes cellular and local radio directly. It can also be configured for satellite, Ethernet, and WiFi to maintain connectivity even in cell-denied environments. If connectivity is not available or desired, it can store and sync offline data.

Real-time alerts can help throughout the shift, while historical data reports can be reviewed, accessed, and downloaded to help inform safety programs.

SlateSafety's platform allows administrators to configure alert thresholds or easily select the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) thresholds.

The BAND V2 provides data on:

Exertion levels

Heart Rate

Core Body Temperature

Heart Rate Limit Value (HRLV)

GPS

SOS Tap Alert

No Movement Detection

Fall Detection

Lone Worker

Positive Outcomes and Expansion

For SRMC, the implementation of BAND V2s led to a successful summer where there were no heat-related incidents during monitored summer operations. Due to the success of the BAND V2 and SRMC's commitment to safety, they decided to expand their usage of wearable technology in 2026.

SlateSafety Announces New Product

While physiological monitoring has proven successful for many organizations, environmental monitoring has always been a standard in heat stress monitoring.

The SlateSafety BEACON V3 is the world's first practical, cellular-connected, multi-point environmental monitor. This new device monitors environmental exposure, including temperature, heat index, estimated WBGT, and noise levels. The device is built for the future, with the intention of continuing to develop additional features that help automate safety.

Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) thermometers have been the industry standard for decades, but can be difficult to track. Many WBGTs need to be checked periodically throughout the day and logged manually. The BEACON V3, offers the versatility of being tripod mounted, magnetic bracket mounted or used as a belt clip while environmental factors are monitored in real time and automatically recorded.

The BEACON V3 gives a total picture of safety and is fully integrated into the SlateSafety platform for easily viewable real-time and historical data alongside the BAND V2.

For more information about SlateSafety, visit www.slatesafety.com