Sweat Science

Oil and gas workers operate in extreme conditions, such as the Gulf and the Permian Basin, where the intense heat and high humidity create very hazardous conditions. You lose a lot of body moisture just surviving in those settings. 

 

Most of us know to take a drink of water when we’re thirsty, but in those places, by the time you’re thirsty, you’re already at risk. Is there a better way to measure dehydration risk before it becomes a safety hazard?

 

In this episode, I sit down with Jim Ryan, Chief Revenue Officer of Epicore Biosystems, to discuss a nifty wearable device that tracks sweat loss, sodium levels, and hydration needs in real time—helping prevent heat-related injuries before they happen.

 

Elite athletes like Lionel Messi and Serena Williams rely on a sweat patch from Epicore to help them complete. This technology caught the attention of Chevron, who saw the potential to protect its industrial athletes (front line workers). It’s been deployed across oil fields, refineries, mining and aviation sectors, changing the way companies monitor worker health and safety.

 

Stuff that I didn’t know:

 

✔️ Why sweat is as valuable as blood for real-time health tracking

✔️ The hidden dangers of dehydration—and why most workers don’t recognize the symptoms

✔️ How Chevron partnered with Epicore to develop a rugged, industrial-grade wearable

✔️ The privacy-first approach to tracking hydration without monitoring individuals

✔️ What’s next for wearables in industrial safety, from muscle fatigue monitoring to ketone tracking

 

If you’re in HSE, operations, or workforce safety, this episode is a must-listen.

 

About the Guest

 

Jim Ryan is the Chief Revenue Officer at Epicore Biosystems, the company behind this clever health monitoring technology. Jim has an extensive background in telecom, cybersecurity, and digital health, which is very useful indeed in bringing this kind of technology to the industry.

 

Additional Tools & Resources

 

🔗 Chevron’s research on heat stress monitoring (to be presented at CERAWeek—link coming soon!)

🔗 Epicore Biosystems website – Epicore Biosystems

🔗 Gatorade GX Sweat Patch (Epicore’s original sports-focused innovation) – GX Sweat Patch

 

Connect with Me

 

📖 Blog series: https://digitaloilgas.substack.com/

🎙 Podcast: https://geoffreycann.com/broadcast/

💼 LinkedIn: htt