Industry · Construction

Cooling Vest for Construction Workers

Pours, lifts, and roofing don't pause for a heat wave. ClemaCore is an active cooling vest worn under hi-vis, FR gear, and fall-arrest harnesses — 8–12 hours per battery, >25°F felt drop, OSHA-ready alternative to ice and evaporative vests.

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The problem

Heat is the #1 productivity killer on a jobsite.

30–50%

Output loss on peak-heat days

Pours slow, lifts get rescheduled, and roofing crews lose hours to forced breaks. Daily progress falls behind plan.

60–90 min

Ice vests melt before lunch

Traditional ice and evaporative vests stop working long before the shift ends. Workers have to stop, refill, and restart.

$50K–$200K+

Cost of one heat illness incident

Workers' comp, OSHA exposure, project delay, and downtime — before any litigation. One incident can erase a season's margin.

OSHA

Compliance risk is rising

Federal heat standard in progress. CA, WA, MD, NV, and CO already enforce construction-specific heat rules.

Two construction workers in hard hats and hi-vis on a jobsite

How Clema helps

Full-shift cooling under existing PPE.

ClemaCore is a sub-2-lb solid-state cooling harness that fits under hi-vis vests, FR coveralls, and fall-arrest systems. No ice. No water. No new hazards. Just one battery swap to cover the full shift.

  • 8–12 hrRuntime per battery. Hot-swap in under a minute.
  • >25°FFelt temperature drop on the body. Tested in 120°F.
  • <2 lbsWorn weight. No bulk, no new fall hazards.
  • PPE-fitWorn under hi-vis, FR gear, and fall-arrest harnesses.
  • No waterNo ice, no refilling, works in high humidity.

The business case

Less downtime. Less liability. Same crew.

A single heat-related claim costs more than equipping a small construction crew with Clema for a full season. Active cooling reduces stop-work events and protects schedule.

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$50K–$200K+ Potential cost of a single heat illness incident Workers' comp + OSHA + schedule slip
30–50% Output loss on peak-heat days Field productivity research
36M+ Heat-exposed workers in the US 2.4B globally · 640B labor hours lost annually

FAQ

Construction cooling: what crews ask first.

What is the best cooling wearable for construction workers?
A solid-state, battery-powered active cooling wearable like ClemaCore is built for construction. It delivers a >25°F felt temperature drop for 8–12 hours per shift, weighs under 2 lbs, and is worn under hi-vis vests, FR gear, and fall-arrest harnesses without modification.
Can construction workers wear cooling gear under hi-vis vests and fall-arrest harnesses?
Yes. ClemaCore is designed as a sub-2-lb suspender system that fits under standard PPE — hi-vis, FR coveralls, and fall-arrest harnesses — without modifying the existing equipment or introducing new pinch points.
How long do cooling vests last on a construction site?
Traditional ice vests melt in 60–90 minutes, leaving the rest of the shift uncovered. ClemaCore runs 8–12 hours per battery and supports under-a-minute hot-swaps, so a single worker is covered for the full shift without water, ice, or charging breaks.
Does OSHA require heat illness prevention for construction crews?
OSHA enforces heat-related hazards under the General Duty Clause and is finalizing a federal heat standard. Several states (CA, WA, MD, NV, CO) already have construction-specific heat rules. Active cooling helps crews stay productive while supporting compliance.
What is the cost of a heat illness incident in construction?
A single heat-related incident can cost $50K–$200K+ before litigation when workers' comp, OSHA exposure, schedule slip, and downtime are accounted for. On peak-heat days, crew output can drop 30–50%, compounding the cost.
Can ClemaCore replace ice vests on a construction site?
Yes. ClemaCore replaces ice and evaporative vests with a solid-state cooling system that runs the full shift, requires no ice or water, and continues to work in high humidity where evaporative gear fails.
How does cooling gear help with concrete pours in summer heat?
Concrete pours are time-critical and can't be paused for a forced rest cycle. A cooling vest worn under hi-vis lets the finishing crew stay on the pour through 120°F+ ambient heat without 60–90 minute ice swaps, protecting both worker safety and concrete quality.
Can roofers wear a cooling vest under fall-arrest harnesses?
Yes. ClemaCore is a sub-2-lb suspender form factor designed to fit under fall-arrest harnesses without introducing new pinch points or restricting D-ring placement. Roofers exposed to direct sun and hot membrane surfaces benefit from full-shift cooling.
What is heat acclimatization and why does it matter for construction crews?
Almost half of heat-related workplace deaths occur on a worker's first day, and over 70% in the first week. Acclimatization gradually exposes new workers to heat over 7–14 days so their bodies adapt. OSHA's proposed rule requires written acclimatization protocols. Active cooling supports acclimatization by reducing core temperature buildup during the adaptation period.
Does the OSHA heat standard apply to construction?
Yes. OSHA's proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention standard would apply to all construction employers. The agency's National Emphasis Program for heat already targets construction for inspection, and several states (CA, WA, MD, NV, CO, OR, MN) enforce construction-specific heat rules. See our OSHA heat standard guide.

Related guides

Keep reading.

OSHA Heat Standard 2026

Federal heat NPRM, HIIPP requirements, penalties.

Cal/OSHA Heat Standard

California's construction-specific heat rules.

Cooling Vest Types Compared

PCM, evaporative, ice, circulatory, solid-state.

Summer 2026 — 500-unit first batch

Get your construction crew on the priority list.

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