Role of Safety Training in Reducing Fatigue among Construction Workers

Construction is one of the most hazardous industries for its workers responsible for performing physically and mentally demanding tasks. Several factors impact the safety performance of construction workers. The inherent nature of construction makes workers susceptible to suffer from high-fatigue levels. Fatigue has been proven to have adverse impacts on the functionality of workers and their safety performance. In other words, reducing fatigue positively contributes to safety risk mitigation and accident prevention in construction. Safety training programs (i.e., OSHA 10/30) aim to enhance construction safety and prevent accidents. Therefore, this study hypothesized that such safety training programs equip construction workers with the necessary skills to reduce fatigue risk. To test the research hypothesis, 117 construction workers in the United States participated in the study. Fifty-six (48%) workers had received OSHA 10 and/or 30-hour training, while 60 (52%) of them had not received the training. The fatigue levels of both groups were measured using Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery (OFER) Scale. The data analysis showed a significant difference (p-value < 0.01) in the fatigue levels between workers who received OSHA safety training (OFER-Score = 33%) and workers who did not receive safety training (OFER-Score = 42%). The results of this study demonstrate that safety training such as OSHA 10/30 is associated with lower fatigue levels among workers. The findings suggest that such training courses that familiarize workers with safety skills (e.g., mitigating ergonomic risks) can help them perform their duties effectively and ergonomically, leading to lower fatigue levels.