Safety Performance of a Fatigued Construction Worker

The construction industry has a high rate of fatal and non-fatal occupational accidents. Every year, over 60,000 construction workers lose their lives due to accidents in the workplace. Construction workers often face safety and health risks performing construction activities in hazardous environments. In addition, construction activities are demanding which in turn can lead to fatigue. In fact, fatigue is one of the leading causes of construction accidents. To prevent accidents, workers must be able to recognize hazards in their workplaces and perceive associated safety risk. This study aimed to empirically investigate the impact of fatigue on construction workers' hazard recognition and safety risk perception. To achieve the research goals, 135 construction workers were recruited. First, the workers' level of fatigue was measured using OFER scale. Then, their hazard recognition and safety risk perception were evaluated using pre-evaluated case images all captured from real construction projects. The results of the study revealed (1) a correlation between fatigue and hazard recognition and (2) a significant correlation between fatigue and safety risk perception. This research is the first endeavor to empirically study the impact of fatigue on safety performance (i.e., hazard recognition and safety risk perception) of construction workers. The findings of this article will be beneficial for professionals and practitioners who are seeking effective measures to improve the safety performance of workers in construction.