Heat stress is a growing concern for workers in many parts of the world - including the US. New technologies are being deployed in sectors including manufacturing and construction to try to combat heat-related risks. These include armbands with sensors which collect biometric data to estimate core body temperature. But according to reports in the Washington Post and Grist, labour advocates have raised concerns about how the medical information collected on employees will be safeguarded, and how managers might use the data to penalise people for taking needed breaks, or deny that a break is necessary.

The Washington Post names United Cleanup (contractor of the US Department of Energy), Cardinal Glass and Perrigo as users of the technologies about which concerns have been raised, and Epicore Biosystems and SlateSafety as their manufacturers.

The articles do not link any of these companies to specific allegations of labour rights violations but in light of the general concerns raised in relation to these technologies, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre contacted all five companies in September 2024 for their response to the articles - asking for details of the risk assessment and due diligence processes undertaken in relation to the use, and development and sale of the technology respectively.

Epicore Biosystems has responded and their response can be read in full below.

We did not receive a response from United Cleanup, SlateSafety, Perrigo and Cardinal Glass. If a response is received in future, the page will be updated accordingly.