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Influence of fatigue on construction workers' physical and cognitive function
M Zhang1, L A Murphy2, D Fang3
1Department of Construction Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford, England)
|February 22, 2015
Summary
Construction workers reporting fatigue are more likely to experience physical and cognitive difficulties. This study highlights the impact of tiredness on the well-being and function of this occupational group.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Safety Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Worker fatigue is linked to occupational safety risks, but its specific impact on construction workers is understudied.
- Construction work involves demanding physical and cognitive tasks, making fatigue a potential concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between self-reported fatigue and perceived physical and cognitive functional difficulties in US construction workers.
- To quantify the relationship between fatigue levels and functional impairments in this specific workforce.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2010-11 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for a sample of US construction workers.
- Employed multivariate weighted logistic regression models to analyze the relationship between fatigue and functional difficulties, controlling for covariates.
- Controlled for factors including age, smoking, alcohol consumption, sleep hygiene, psychological distress, and arthritis status.
Main Results:
- Nearly half (49%) of surveyed construction workers reported feeling tired some days, and 10% reported daily tiredness.
- Workers reporting tiredness 'some days' were twice as likely to experience physical function difficulties (AOR=2.03) and cognitive function difficulties (AOR=2.27) compared to those never tired.
- These associations remained significant after adjusting for multiple confounding factors.
Conclusions:
- A significant association exists between reported fatigue and difficulties with physical and cognitive functions among construction workers.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing fatigue to mitigate potential safety risks and improve functional capacity in the construction industry.
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