The Effect of Fatigue on the Workers in Construction Industry

THE EFFECT OF FATIGUE ON THE WORKERS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

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The Effect of Fatigue on the Workers Working in Construction Industry

Introduction

        In the construction industry, fatigue is one of the most critical issues, which can significantly affect the performance, safety and productivity of workers. According to Powell and Copping (2010, p.203), fatigue refers to “a non-pathological state” that decreases the capacity of a person to function normally owing to physical or mental stress. Fatigue causes a person to feel weary, exhausted, tired or drained. There are several factors that can lead to this state, including sleep deprivation, excess demand on workers, poor communication between workers and their superiors, long work schedules, prolonged performance of repetitive tasks, lack of training, poor working conditions, prolonged standing and lack of adequate rest breaks (Safety & Council 2006, p. 5). In effect, apart from affecting productivity and performance of employees, fatigue can also negatively affect the health of workers. This paper investigates the effects of fatigue on workers, especially in the construction industry.

Research Question

        The main question that this study seeks to answer is how fatigue affects the workers working in construction industry. In line with this research question, several questions arise, which are essential for understanding these effects. Firstly, the paper seeks to analyze the relationship between fatigue and the number of working hours. To get this relationship, the paper shall investigate whether excess working hours play a significant role in causing fatigue. Secondly, the paper analyses the role of work environment in causing fatigue. To achieve this, the paper asks whether poor work environment can influence fatigue. Thirdly, the paper seeks to understand the role of communication in emotional and physical wellbeing of workers. It achieves this by asking whether effective communication is essential in reducing fatigue at work. Fourthly, the paper assesses other factors that can cause fatigue.

        On the second part, the paper shall seek to understand the influence of fatigue on performance, output and productivity of workers. To this extent, the paper asks; does fatigue have a positive or negative influence on performance, output and productivity of workers? In addition, the paper shall also consider the relationship between fatigue and absenteeism and its influence on productivity and performance of workers. Further, the paper investigates the influence of fatigue on the mental and physical health of workers in the construction industry. For instance, does fatigue increase stress and poor health of workers? Moreover, the paper shall investigate the influence of fatigue on work related accidents, and the influence of such accidents on performance of workers. Importantly, it shall seek to explain how fatigue may increase risks not only to an involved worker, but also to other workers and the public.

        The final part of the paper analyses various proposals of easing fatigue among workers in the construction industry. To this end, it seeks to understand whether there are any viable ways of reducing fatigue, while at the same time maintaining productivity, profitability and growth of the industry (Yi et al. 2012, p. 186). Additionally, it shall analyze effective ways of reducing the work schedules and hours for the workers, without hurting the growth of the industry. Further, it weighs the benefits of a fatigue-free workforce against the cost of implementing the proposed changes.

Aim

        The aim of this study is to evaluate the impacts of work-related fatigue on performance and health of workers. Importantly, it seeks to show how fatigue may significantly lead to an increase in work injuries, low performance, poor motivation and illness of workers in the construction industry. In addition, it seeks to identify the main causes of fatigue and various ways that employers, workers and other stakeholders can help in eradicating it. Furthermore, it aims to investigate the potential obstacles in effecting desired changes and the best ways to surpass them, without affecting the quality of work. For instance, according to Hengel et al. (2012, p.1) break rests can help reduce work-related fatigue. However, owing to poor communication and team work between workers and their superiors, such efforts may have no benefits on workers. Nonetheless, making those break rests flexible and involving superiors in implementation can help ease fatigue and improve performance (Hengel et al. 2011, p. 1489).

Objectives

        There are several objectives for the current research. Firstly, the study seeks to estimate the potential risks of excess working time and schedules. Previous studies indicate that excessive working hours, as well as demanding works that are often repetitive can easily cause fatigue (Cheng et al. 2012, p. 321). Secondly, the paper intends to propose the effective working hours for construction workers, as a way of enhancing performance and improving their well-being (Noon, Blyton and Morel 2013, p. 3). Thirdly, the study seeks to establish and provide an evidence-based platform as bases for recommendations on workers protection programs, to help in easing fatigue for workers in the industry. According to Hengel et al. (2011, p. 1486) understanding the causes of fatigue and its effects on workers forms the basis for mitigation programs. Therefore, the study seeks to incorporate lessons from past studies, as well as current findings to provide a solution to this critical issue, in the construction industry.

Literature Review

        The current research reviews some of the most relevant articles in the construction industry, particularly in the last five years. In the literature review, the research mainly focuses on work-related exhaustion or fatigue, health risks to workers, fatigue-related injuries or accidents, psychosocial stress and general wellbeing of construction workers. The construction industry consists of different fields that include simple renovations, general construction projects, as well as complex projects (Boschman et al. 2013, p. 749). Owing to the nature of work being undertaken, construction companies hire both permanent and part-time workers, who normally work for long hours. In addition, the construction jobs involve highly repetitive tasks, which can increase demand on workers to finish the jobs (Whiteoak and Mohamed 2016, p. 294). It is such conditions such as long working hours and high demand on workers that exert fatigue on workers (Pinto, Nunes and Ribeiro 2011, p. 618).

        Fatigue among workers is an issue that can significantly affect productivity in a company, hence, the need for establishing of effective mitigation strategies. According to Boschman et al. (2013, p. 748), every construction company has a duty to assess any signs of fatigue among its workforce. As the authors opine, such an analysis involves assessment of mental and physical fatigue that employees experience (Boschman et al. 2013, p. 749). Notably, excess working hours and long shifts stands out as one of the main causes of fatigue for workers, in the construction industry (Alvanchi, Lee & AbouRzk 2011, p. 70). In the current economic situations, construction managers are struggling to keep their companies in operation and deliver their projects on time, so that they can ensure future growth and sustainability of their companies (Mitropoulas & Memarian 2012, p. 1185; Safety & Council 2006, p.3). Consequently, most workers are working under stress and for long shifts. Within this environment, workers accumulate fatigue over time, which increases risks of accidents and other negative effects (Cooke &Lingard 201, p. 280).

        Apart from excessively long shifts and hours of working, there are other numerous causes of work-related fatigue, in the construction industry. According to Powell and Copping (2010, p. 2003), sleep deprivation is one of the major causes of fatigue. For proper rest and general health, people require about 7 to 9 hours of peaceful sleep every night (Tiwary and Gangopadhyay 2012, p. 440). Unfortunately, due to long working hours and inconsistent shifts, construction workers may not get enough to sleep (Leung, Chan & Yu 2012, p. 160). Similarly, most construction workers, in particular the part-time ones lack proper training (Han 2014, p. 110). Consequently, they may not have ability to recognize early signs of fatigue or the capacity to agitate for changes in their working environment (Halim et al. 2012, p. 40; Yi et al. 2012, p. 188). In addition, poor communication between workers and construction managers hinders the ability of the management to recognize situations that may be causing fatigue for their workers.

        The main challenge is that apart from reducing productivity, fatigue also increases the risks of injuries and accidents in the construction industry. According to Whiteoak and Mohamed (2016, p. 297), when workers work for excess hours, they are prone to accidents owing to drowsiness, time-loss, stress and fatigue. In addition, gender differences, job experience, exposure to hazards, poor training and lack of safety programs and gears increases the risks of the overworked employees to injuries and accidents (Alvanchi, Lee & AbouRzk 2011, p. 70). Unfortunately, most construction companies try to compensate for the long hours through overtime policies (Nahmens & Ikuma 2011, p. 160). However, although such policies may increase motivation and reduce mental stress due to increase in rewards, they may not address the challenge of physical exhaustion (Mitropoulas & Memarian 2012, 1185). Consequently, even where workers get paid overtime for excess hours worked; there are high probability of occupational accidents and injuries (Han et al. 2014, p. 108). Therefore, as workers work for long hours, the work volume increases increasing the risks of occupational injuries or accidents.