6/18/2024 Event Recap:

OVERVIEW:

This webinar, hosted by Together for Safer Roads (TSR) and Qworky, tackled the urgent issue of heat-related illness and injury among fleet drivers and other outdoor workers, as rising temperatures and climate conditions increasingly threaten worker health, safety, and productivity. Panelists included:

• Dr. Doug Casa, a leading authority in exertional heat illness and the prevention of sudden death in sports and physically demanding professions. He serves as the CEO since the Korey Stringer Institute’s founding in 2010 and is a Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor in UConn’s Department of Kinesiology. Dr. Casa’s journey, from a life-threatening heat stroke experience to saving lives through research, treatment, and advocacy exemplifies his dedication to public health and safety.
• Dr. Caroline Smith, Director, Thermal & Macrovascular Physiology Lab, Appalachian State. A leading expert in human thermal physiology, with a strong focus on how environmental stressors—and occupational exposures—impact microvascular and systemic thermoregulation. As the founding Director of ASU’s Thermal and Microvascular Physiology Laboratory, she spearheads cutting-edge research in areas such as firefighter safety and aging-related vascular health.
• Bill Richards, DOT Safety Manager, PepsiCo. Bill Richards brings a powerful blend of military discipline, road-tested experience, and safety leadership to his role at PepsiCo. Serving in the U.S. Marine Corps for 11 years, he cultivated a strong foundation in leadership, mission focus, and operational excellence.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Heat Risk is Growing: Climate change has extended heat seasons, making heat illness a more frequent and serious hazard across industries.
• Vulnerable Populations: Drivers range widely in age and fitness levels; older drivers with comorbidities and medications face higher risks.
• First Week Danger: 50–70% of heat-related fatalities occur in the first week of exposure—acclimatization is critical.
• Real-World Driver Impact: Heat stress impairs driving ability and cognitive function; cooling interventions are essential for both safety and productivity.
• New/Young Driver Risk: New hires are especially vulnerable as they may hide symptoms to “prove” themselves—supervisors must proactively monitor and coach them.
• Low-Cost Interventions Work: Simple measures like cooling towels, hydration strategies, shade, adjusted work/rest cycles, and personal cooling gear can significantly reduce risk at low cost.
• Legal/Economic Risks: Companies face substantial financial exposure—heat-related lawsuits can result in multimillion-dollar settlements, often far exceeding the cost of preventive measures.
• Regulatory Landscape: Federal standards are paused, but many states (CA, WA, MN, others) are advancing local heat safety standards—companies should act now to align with emerging best practices.
• Technology: Use of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) for monitoring is far superior to heat index; emerging tech (wearables, HR monitors) offers potential.

ACTION ITEMS:

1. Develop or Update Heat Safety Plan
   • Implement heat acclimatization for new hires
   • Tailor policies for vulnerable groups (older drivers, those with health conditions)
2. Train & Educate All Drivers
   • Mandatory, interactive training on heat illness signs, risks, and prevention—not just passive slide decks
3. Equip Drivers
   • Provide personal cooling tools (cooling towels, fans, hydration supplies)
   • Encourage appropriate clothing/PPE choices
4. Monitor & Manage Workload
   • Use WBGT monitoring to guide adjustments in schedule and rest cycles
   • Encourage “buddy systems” and supervisor check-ins, especially for newer drivers
5. Engage Supervisors & Leadership
   • Train managers and supervisors on the signs, symptoms, and risks
   • Communicate “heat tax” implications: lost productivity, liability, injury costs
   • Present business case for investing in prevention
6. Review Compliance & Risk Across States
   • Track state-level regulations
   • Prepare for evolving legal expectations
7. Learn from Drivers
   • Actively gather feedback on what interventions work in the real world
   • Adjust plans based on frontline experience

Need help crafting a heat safety plan or training program for your organization?
Contact Together for Safer Roads (TSR) or Qworky—we’re here to help you turn best practices into actionable strategies for your teams.

Video and Downloadable Resources from Too Hot to Haul:

A critical review of the effectiveness of electric fans_Meade 2024

Sustainable Solutions_occupational heat strain_Morris et al 2020

Should electric fans be used during a heat wave_Jay 2025

Medical Journal of Australia – 2025 – Bone – Fan‐first heat‐health protection

Examining the physiological strain with electric fans during high indoor heat stress_2025

notley-et-al-2025-physiological-monitoring-for-occupational-heat-stress-management-recent-advancements 2025

GeoHealth – 2021 – Morrissey – Heat Safety in the Workplace Modified Delphi Consensus – workers

Scandinavian Med Sci Sports – 2015 – Périard – Adaptations and mechanisms of human heat acclimation

notley-et-al-2018-on-the-use-of-wearable-physiological-monitors-to-assess-heat-strain-during-occupational-heat-stress

2/18/25 Event Recap:

In our latest TSR Talks, Brian Galonek, President of All Star Incentive Marketing and creator of the AllSAFE recognition and rewards platform, addressed the challenges confronting professional drivers in terms of safety and well-being. Beyond the obvious risks of crashes and road incidents, drivers face an environment that often promotes unhealthy lifestyles and related health issues. In fact, Galonek noted that long-haul drivers have a significantly lower life expectancy compared to the average American.

Both Galonek and panelist Bryan Fenster stressed the importance of implementing strategies that actively engage drivers in safety and wellness initiatives. Studies indicate that higher employee engagement not only enhances safety protocols and health outcomes but also leads to better organizational performance, including increased profitability and customer loyalty.

One effective approach to fostering this engagement is through employee reward and recognition programs. Here are several key strategies shared by our panelists for designing a successful program:

• Consistency is Key: Ongoing programs with regular, timely nudges help reinforce the connection between positive behaviors and recognition.
• Tangible Rewards: Providing rewards that drivers can experience or use reinforces the benefits of their positive actions.
• Leverage Existing Data: Utilize the data you already collect—whether from your Learning Management System (LMS), in-cab telematics, or wellness apps—to identify and reward positive behavior.
• Public Recognition: Regular, face-to-face acknowledgment in group settings is critical to maintaining momentum and program success.

By integrating these strategies, companies can better motivate their drivers to prioritize safety and wellness, ultimately leading to healthier, more engaged workforces and stronger organizational outcomes.

Click here to view a recording of the session.

8/7/24 Event Recap:

This conversation in our TSR Talks series dove into the evolving landscape of road safety. We examined how the road safety community is leveraging technology to enhance safety through a combination of robust data analytics and essential interpersonal skills.

This TSR Talks covered:

• Collaboration and Research: Exploring how industry stakeholders are working together to utilize data from telematics and event recorders to inform research and share best practices.
• Macro-Level Communication: Highlighting the importance of sharing insights and collaborating with peers across the industry to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Micro-Level Coaching: Demonstrating how data from in-cab telematics and event recorders can be used to coach drivers more effectively, blending quantitative analysis with qualitative feedback to promote safer driving behaviors.

Industry leaders shared actionable insights to help enhance your road safety initiatives, including:

Jeff Martin, Vice President of Global Sales Strategy, Lytx
Shawn Mandel, Vice President of Safety, Waste Connections
Joanna Cornell, Safety Consultant Specializing in Technology Integration
Jim Olson, Safety Consultant

2/20/2024 Event Recap:

On Tuesday, February 20th, we launched our 2024 TSR Talks series with a focus on Driver Training. Leading the session was Daniel McGuigan, EHS Director at PepsiCo Global Operations. Joining him were Chris Jobson, Senior Director of Safety at Green for Life Environmental, and Tony McNeal, Director of Training and Leadership Development at Waste Connections. Together, these panelists represent organizations overseeing 100,000 drivers on our roadways.

Daniel outlined three levels of driver safety training:

1. Professional Driver Training: Entry-level programs preparing and licensing drivers for commercial motor vehicles.
2. Organizational Onboarding: Training professional drivers to safely operate your organization’s vehicles.
3. Coaching: Supporting drivers in maintaining safe driving skills and improving their performance.

The discussion centered on selecting and training individuals to provide effective onboarding and coaching, enabling drivers to excel in safety, operations, and customer service.

Daniel shared Pepsi’s Test Drive Program, featuring 10 simple numeric tools defining defensive driving strategies. These tools serve as a teaching framework during onboarding and coaching sessions. PepsiCo invests in training their behind the wheel instructors and coaches on not only the 10 tools, but also on how to deliver them for maximum impact on driver performance.

Key Insights:

• Drivers represent your brand on the road; it’s crucial to teach them how to drive your vehicles during onboarding.
• Skills can degrade over time; invest in coaching to refresh and enhance defensive driving skills.
• Selecting the right trainer/coach is vital; consider coaching ability and motivation, not just driving skills.
• View driver onboarding, coaching, and performance management as an integrated system within your organization.

To learn more about Train-the-Trainer programs for your organization, contact Peter at Peter@TogetherforSaferRoads.org or Jesse at Jessica@qworky.io.

We’re excited to present more TSR Talks throughout 2024. If you have topic ideas or wish to participate as a presenter, please let us know! Stay tuned for upcoming talks as we continue to unite industry leaders to share knowledge and expertise.