Developing a wearable technology protocol for fatigue risk reduction on construction sites

Abstract

Construction personnel operate in an industry that is known to inflict all kinds of psychosocial harm because of poor work environments, and excessive working hours. This reality perpetuates physical and mental fatigue risks for workers on construction sites. This study is aimed at developing a wearable technology (WT) protocol to reduce fatigue risk factors on construction sites. To achieve this aim, this study used an exploratory research design. The data were collected using mixed methods research. A multiple case study design was employed to collect qualitative data through semi-structured interviews from three (3) case projects in Bloemfontein, Free State province of South Africa. The quantitative data were collected from one hundred and sixteen (116) construction personnel in South Africa's Free State province using survey questionnaires. The qualitative data were analysed by means of thematic and cross-case analysis methods, and the quantitative data were analysed through descriptive analysis method. The findings of this study resulted in the development of a WT protocol that would help reduce fatigue risk factors on construction sites. The WT protocol followed a six-step synergistic procedure to help select suitable WT, monitor fatigue risks, aggregate and analyse fatigue data, communicate fatigue results, and consider compliance and usability of fatigue data to reduce construction workers’ fatigue risks. The study presented various limitations including the proposed WT protocol not being tested on a live project to monitor construction personnel’s fatigue risks. Therefore, future research should test and validate the effectiveness of the proposed WT protocol to investigate workers’ fatigue risks on a live construction project.