Evaluation of wearable sensors for noninvasive real-time assessment of physical fatigue using physiological and biomechanical parameters among construction workers

Abstract

Construction work is labor-intensive because it is repetitive and physically demanding. Extensive research has indicated that long working hours, hot and humid working environments, and heavy workloads increase the risk of fatigue, thus increasing the risk of extremely unsafe human actions and errors. Additional research has found that being too exhausted and fatigue may raise the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) and absenteeism. Fatigue is a significant risk factor for construction work-related accidents. human error, poor design, and extrinsic factors are commonly blamed for construction accidents. Many researchers in the preceding decades have maintained that heavy construction accident rates could be explained by human factors such as fatigue, despite major technological advancements during that time period. In construction, fatigue is the number one workplace hazard. Fatigue can also increase the risk of a fall from height accidents. Work-related fatigue appears to contribute to a significant increase in accidents over the two hours before and after lunch. Ensuring the occupational safety and health of construction workers has become an enormous challenge for the construction industry. Real-time physical exertion and fatigue assessment is now possible using wearable technologies and recent advances in physiology. The overall accuracy and validity of wearable devices has been well-studied in prior research in healthy persons. Despite being used extensively in investigation of heat strain, physical exertion, and fatigue in construction workers, no study has looked into the validity and reliability of wearable sensor system for real-time assessment of physical fatigue. It is critical to establish the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of wearable sensor system in monitoring physiological and biomechanical parameters for physical fatigue assessment in real-time before deploying it for on-site monitoring of construction activities. As a result, this project aims to evaluate wearable sensors for noninvasive real-time assessment of physical fatigue using physiological and biomechanical parameters among construction workers. The following are the primary objectives of this research study: (1) to summarize the prevalence of WRMSDs and to synthesize the evidence for associations between various physical or psychosocial risk factors and WRMSDs among construction workers in various trades; (2) to synthesize the available evidence on the use of physiological metrics to assess physical fatigue in construction workers in real-time; (3) to quantify physical fatigue during a simulated construction task using physiological parameters; (4) to examine changes in several biomechanical parameters under various load-carrying conditions; (5) to examine the test-retest reliability, validity, and responsiveness of textile-based wearable sensors in real-time monitoring of physical fatigue; and (6) to develop a machine learning model using the linear and nonlinear HRV features to identify and classify physical fatigue in construction workers. First, this project included a systematic review that aided in our understanding of the role of physical or psychosocial risk factors in the etiology of WRMSDs, thereby assisting in the development of effective preventive measures for construction workers. The project then synthesizes existing research on the use of physiological metrics to quantify physical fatigue in real-time construction workers. Accurate real-time detection of physical fatigue in construction workers can aid in the design of appropriate personalized work-rest schedules or task adaptations to minimize health risks and maximize productivity and work quality. After that, a series of laboratory and field experiments were conducted to determine the feasibility of wearable sensors for noninvasive real-time assessment of physical fatigue among construction workers using physiological and biomechanical parameters. This project proposes a method for quantifying physical fatigue while doing construction by utilizing physiological parameters. Wearable insole sensors that monitor gait and balance in real-time would allow construction managers to identify workers who are at risk of falling due to physical exertion or improper carrying technique and empower them to take preventative measures. This project proposes a methodology for establishing the test-retest reliability, validity, and responsiveness of a wearable sensor system used to assess physical fatigue during construction tasks. This approach should be adopted in future construction studies as a new standard for determining the reliability of wearable devices. Finally, this project proposes a novel method for automatically identifying and classifying physical fatigue in construction workers using linear and nonlinear methods of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis. By enabling continuous monitoring of physical fatigue, the proposed method has the potential to aid in the reduction of work-related musculoskeletal injuries and other fatigue-related risks. Additionally, the findings of this study may aid in the development of early warning systems for excessive physical fatigue and improved work rest schedules in the future, thereby enhancing worker safety.