Industry · Utilities

Cooling Vest for Utility & Line Workers

Peak load. Storm response. 120°F+ field repairs. ClemaCore is an active cooling vest that fits under arc-rated PPE and climbing harnesses — 8–12 hr with one battery swap, no ice, no water, no refill stops.

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The problem

Peak load and peak heat hit at the same time.

Heat dome

Demand and risk align

Heat events create the highest restoration demand and the worst working conditions simultaneously.

Arc-rated

PPE traps heat

Arc-rated PPE protects against electrical hazards — and compounds heat exposure on long field shifts.

No water

No refill mid-pole or mid-trench

Crews can't stop a restoration to swap ice or refill an evaporative vest. Cooling has to last the shift.

Overtime

Fatigue extends restoration

Heat-driven fatigue slows restoration timelines and adds overtime cost to already-strained budgets.

How Clema helps

Cooling that goes where the crew goes.

ClemaCore moves with the lineworker up the pole, into the trench, and across the substation. Solid-state cooling under arc-rated outerwear, hot-swap batteries that cover the full restoration shift.

  • 8–12 hrRuntime per swap. Built for full restoration shifts.
  • Arc-ratedWorn under arc-rated PPE without modification.
  • Harness-fitCompatible with climbing harnesses and tool belts.
  • No waterNo ice, no refilling. Works in any humidity.
  • 120°F+Tested for desert and peak-load conditions.

The business case

Faster restoration. Less fatigue. Lower exposure.

Reducing even a small percentage of heat-related stop-work during peak-load and storm response offsets the cost of equipping a crew. Clema costs less than one serious heat-illness claim.

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

FAQ

Utility cooling: what crews ask first.

What is PPE-compatible cooling for utility crews?
PPE-compatible cooling is active cooling worn under arc-rated PPE, harnesses, and other utility safety gear without modifying the outer protection. ClemaCore is a sub-2-lb solid-state system designed to fit underneath standard utility PPE and run 8–12 hours per shift with one battery swap with one battery swap.
Can line workers wear cooling gear under arc-rated PPE?
Yes. ClemaCore is worn as a sub-2-lb suspender system underneath arc-rated outerwear, climbing harnesses, and tool belts without compromising the outer arc-rated layer.
How does Clema help with storm restoration in extreme heat?
Heat domes and major storms increasingly overlap. Clema delivers 8–12 hours of cooling with one battery swap so restoration crews can work through long shifts in 120°F+ conditions without ice or water support, reducing fatigue and extending effective work time.
Does Clema require water or refilling during a shift?
No. ClemaCore is a battery-powered solid-state system. There is no ice, no water, and no refilling. Hot-swap batteries replace the entire ice-and-water logistics chain.
How does heat exposure affect utility crew productivity?
Worker output can drop 30–50% on peak-heat days, which directly extends restoration time and overtime cost during exactly the periods of highest customer demand.
What is the ROI on cooling gear for a utility company?
A single heat-related incident can cost $50K–$200K+ before litigation. Reducing even a small percentage of stop-work events during peak load and storm response can offset gear cost in a single season.
Can lineworkers wear a cooling vest at the pole top?
Yes. ClemaCore is a sub-2-lb suspender design that fits under arc-rated outerwear and climbing harnesses without adding bulk that interferes with pole-top movement, pole-top rescue drills, or hot-stick work.
Is a cooling vest safe near energized equipment?
ClemaCore is worn underneath the outer arc-rated PPE layer, so the certified arc rating of the outerwear governs energized-equipment safety. The cooling system itself uses low-voltage battery power and does not introduce additional arc-flash risk inside the FR layer.
How does heat slow down storm restoration?
Heat-related fatigue extends restoration time and increases overtime cost. With output dropping 30–50% on peak-heat days, restoration windows that already stretch across multiple shifts get longer. Active cooling keeps crews moving through the high-heat hours that overlap with peak load.
Does the OSHA heat standard apply to utility work?
Yes. OSHA's proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention standard applies to outdoor utility work, and OSHA's National Emphasis Program for heat targets the sector. Many state-level rules also apply specifically to outdoor utility crews. See our OSHA heat standard guide.

Related guides

Keep reading.

Washington Heat Rule

WAC 296-62-095 outdoor heat exposure.

OSHA Heat Standard 2026

Federal NPRM, triggers, penalties.

Cooling Vest Types Compared

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

Summer 2026 — 500-unit first batch

Get your line and field crews on the priority list.

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