Tired and exhausted construction workers report greater difficulty in performing physical and cognitive functions

OBJECTIVE: Construction workers frequently experience high workloads, physically demanding job tasks, and long work schedules, potentially predisposing them to tiredness and exhaustion. Despite scientific evidence linking tiredness to safety in the transportation and aviation industries, few researchers have examined this link among construction workers, who are at high risk for accidents and injuries. In the present study, we examine the association between construction workers' feeling of tiredness/exhaustion with their self-reported difficulty in performing physical and cognitive functions, often-predictive measures of safety outcomes.

METHODS: We pooled data from the 2010-2011 National Health Interview Survey on currently employed construction workers (n=606). Workers reported at the time of interview their tiredness/exhaustion in the past 3 months and current difficulty in performing physical and cognitive functions. Two multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between tiredness/exhaustion with 1) physical and 2) cognitive functioning, while controlling for socio-demographic characteristics and health conditions.

RESULTS: Among the construction workers in our sample, 22% reported physical functional limitations, 8% experienced difficulty in remembering/concentrating and 59% felt very tired/exhausted. Feeling very tired/exhausted was significantly associated with difficulty in performing physical (Adjusted Odds Ratio=1.95; Confidence Interval=[1.15-3.32]) and cognitive (2.14;[1.01-4.54]) functions, even after controlling for age, smoking status, drinking status, average hours of daily sleep, psychological distress, and arthritis.

CONCLUSION: We found that tiredness/exhaustion was strongly correlated with construction workers' self-reported difficulty in performing physical and cognitive functions. Occupational health and safety programs should consider innovative work strategies to reduce the burden of tiredness/exhaustion among construction workers.