In Qatar — which borders Saudi Arabia and the Persian Gulf— heat waves coming off the desert can be deadly. Temperatures can reach up to 122° F (50° C). Combined with hours of demanding physical labor, construction in Qatar is a difficult job. A new invention uses the power of the harsh sun, to cool workers hard hats.
With the 2022 World Cup on the horizon, workers in Qatar are embarking on a major project— a stadium that can hold more than 50,000 people. Not to mention the other inevitable infrastructure improvements that must be made to accommodate the millions of people from all around the world.
Good News Network explains the ‘groundbreaking invention’; “Powered by a solar panel on the top of the hat, the invention contains a small fan that maintains the temperature of the hat’s inner lining. The lining can cool the skin by as much as 50 degrees Fahrenheit (28°C), and lasts for about four hours.”
Now, officials are rushing to mass produce the hats— they are already employing nearly 18,000 workers for the massive project. At the 2014 World Cup, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil memorably received nearly 3.5 million attendants. The next Cup, in 2018, will be held in Russia. Qatar is also anticipating millions of sport fans, especially from sports-loving neighbors in Europe and Africa.
“By reducing the temperature of the head and face, the rest of the body will naturally follow and ensure that workers have a constant flow of cooler air to refresh them throughout their day,” said Saud Abdul-Aziz Abdul-Ghani, the lead researcher of the team that created the hard hat.
There has been some controversy surrounding Qatar’s granted position as host. The 2022 games will mark the 22nd edition of the World Cup, and the first time the Cup has ever been held in a Middle Eastern country. The FIFA board sets forth worker rights’ regulations that must be followed during venue construction. Unfortunately, Brazil made the news for major human rights violations during their preparations.
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