{"id":244850,"date":"2026-04-28T08:37:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T12:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=244850"},"modified":"2026-04-28T08:37:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T12:37:44","slug":"uconn-brings-industry-leaders-together-for-occupational-heat-safety-summit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2026\/04\/uconn-brings-industry-leaders-together-for-occupational-heat-safety-summit\/","title":{"rendered":"UConn Brings Industry Leaders Together for Occupational Heat Safety Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"

As record-breaking heat events and evolving workplace regulations increase pressure on employers, the need for improving heat safety in occupational settings has never been more urgent.<\/p>\n

In response to these escalating industry challenges, on April 10, UConn hosted the Occupational Heat Safety Industry Summit, convening leading experts, safety professionals, researchers, and solution providers to bridge the gap between research, policy, and real-world implementation. Held on the UConn Storrs campus, the summit was hosted by Kestrel Instruments, in partnership with UConn\u2019s Korey Stringer Institute<\/a> (KSI).<\/p>\n

KSI brings nationally recognized expertise to the summit. Housed in UConn’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), KSI is a leader in heat safety research and advocacy, bringing critical scientific expertise and a strong track record of translating research into real-world impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about bringing the right people to the table,\u201d says Michael Naughton, chief operating officer at Kestrel Instruments. \u201cWe\u2019re creating space for open discussion around what\u2019s working, what\u2019s missing, and what needs to happen next to better protect workers. The organizations represented here are committed to advancing a safer future when it comes to heat safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

Participants bring a wide range of perspectives, including safety and operations leaders from major employers such as UPS and Delta Air Lines, along with representatives from standards-setting organizations like the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA).<\/p>\n

Participants also include manufacturers of environmental monitoring tools and personal protective equipment, safety and cooling technology providers, innovators in physiological monitoring, and industrial hygiene and consulting professionals, creating a cross-sector forum focused on improving heat safety in the workplace.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Christianne Eason, Chief Communications Office and President of Sport Safety and Education at UConn's Korey Stringer Institute, speaks at the Occupational Heat Safety Summit. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"\"<\/a>
(left) Andrew Grundstein, Professor at University of Georgia and (center) Jeremy McKinley, Head of Sales at Greenteg with (right) John Wright, Chief Operating Office and Senior Vice President Translational Research and Development at Epicore Biosystems. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"\"<\/a>
(left) Tracie Wagman, the Chief Executive Office at ColdVentures, LLC, listens as (right) Diana Jones, Senior Director of the International Safety Equipment Association in Technical Program Management speaks. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"\"<\/a>
Phil Chandler, Project Strategy and Product Marketing Manager at Magid Glove and Safety, speaks to the group at the Occupational Heat Safety Summit. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"\"<\/a>
Ann-Marie Sills, Manager of Environmental Health and Industrial Hygiene for Delta Air Lines listens during a roundtable discussion at the Occupational Heat Safety Summit. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"\"<\/a>
(left) Monica Devlin, Marketing Director at Nielsen-Kellerman Co. (Kestrel) and (center) Yenshi Lin, Product Group Owner at Nielsen-Kellerman Co. (Kestrel) with (right) Margaret (Maggie) Morrissey-Basler, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Providence College and \nSenior Occupational Heat Safety Advisor at UConn's Korey Stringer Institute. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"\"<\/a>
(left) Rebecca Stearns, Associate Professor-In-Residence in CAHNR's Department of Kinesiology and Chief Operating Officer at UConn's Korey Stringer Institute speaks while (center) Christianne Eason, Chief Communications Officer and President of Sport Safety and Education at UConn's Korey Stringer Institute, and (right) Randall Arms, Senior Director of Sales at Epicore Biosystems, listen. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"\"<\/a>
(left) Robert Huggins, Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources and Chief Research Officer and Chief Research Officer and President of Occupational Safety and Athlete Performance at UConn's Korey Stringer Institute, speaks while (center \u2013 on screen) Michele Zahner, Chief Technology Officer at Greenteg, and (right)\nThomas Lambert, Global Product Development and Merchandising Leader at MISSION, listen. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"\"<\/a>
(left \u2013 on screen) Donald Elswick, Occupational Environmental Health and Safety Solutions Specialist at ELSMART Associates, LLC, listens with (center)\nBrian Reagan, Chief Commercial Officer at Epicore Biosystems, and (right)\nA.J. Aranyosi, the Founder, Chief Digital Officer, and Senior Vice President of Research at Epicore Biosystems. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"\"<\/a>
Participants discuss various topics at the Occupational Heat Safety Industry Summit, held in the Husky Suite in the UConn Student Recreation Center. Apr. 10, 2026. (Jason Sheldon\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>