Comprehensive physiological assessment of risk factors contributing to fatigue among construction workers

BackgroundConstruction workers frequently perform physically demanding tasks under harsh environmental conditions and tight schedules, often without sufficient rest. These factors elevate the risk of fatigue, posing serious health and safety concerns.ObjectiveThis study aimed to identify the physiological, ergonomic, and personal risk factors contributing to perceived physical fatigue among construction workers.MethodsA cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 50 construction workers aged 31-52, representing five trade categories: laborers, masons, painters, steelmen, and carpenters. Physiological data-including heart rate, pulse rate, energy expenditure, and distance traveled-were collected using an ECG-PPG medical-grade smart health tracker. Work posture was evaluated using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) tool, while perceived fatigue was measured using the Samn-Perelli Fatigue Scale at three points during the work shift. One-way ANOVA was used to determine significant differences among trades, followed by Tukey's HSD for pairwise comparisons. Pearson correlation analysis assessed associations between fatigue levels and contributing factors.ResultsFatigue levels showed strong positive correlations with distance traveled (r = 0.865, p < 0.001), oxygen saturation (r = 0.854, p < 0.001), energy expenditure (r = 0.818, p < 0.001), and REBA posture scores (r = 0.720, p < 0.001). Moderate correlations were also observed for pulse rate (r = 0.403, p = 0.032) and sleeping habits (r = 0.379, p = 0.041). Post hoc analysis revealed that masons and laborers had significantly higher energy expenditure and fatigue scores compared to other trades.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that physiological and ergonomic factors, particularly energy expenditure, poor posture, and physical workload, play a substantial role in construction worker fatigue. Trade-specific ergonomic interventions and fatigue management strategies are recommended to enhance worker safety, health, and productivity.