HURMAT: an alternative approach for fatigue diagnosis and management based on ergonomics and human factors

The increase in workplace accidents and the growing complexity of work environments have highlighted the need for more sustainable and adaptive occupational health and safety (OHS) management systems. Traditional approaches often fail to fully capture the variability of workers' responses and the multifactorial nature of occupational risks.

To address these challenges, an alternative methodology for the development of a human-centered risk management tool (HURMAT) is proposed. This methodology integrates the core principles of conventional OHS frameworks with a more in-depth, worker-centered evaluation of functional capacity. It is structured across different levels of a traditional OHS approach, allowing flexible implementation without requiring full deployment if detailed analysis is not needed. The approach incorporates occupational psychophysiology and considers work-related risk factors, enabling the diagnosis and management of fatigue.

The HURMAT methodology enables a more comprehensive characterization of tasks by integrating workers' physiological characteristics and assessing physical, cardiovascular, and psychosocial loads. This approach supports a more detailed understanding of risk exposure and worker responses, improving the identification and management of occupational hazards.

HURMAT contributes to the modernization of OHS practices by promoting safer and more adaptive work environments. It underscores the need for a paradigm shift in how occupational risks are conceptualized and managed, emphasizing personalization, data-driven decision-making, and the recognition of individual differences. These elements represent fundamental pillars for fostering healthier, more inclusive workplaces, particularly in the context of ongoing organizational change.