Measuring and identifying pre-service fatigue due to hypoxic exposure

Abstract

Cognitive processes are fundamentals of safety behavior of construction workers. Exposure to hypoxia may impair their cognitive abilities and increase their susceptibility to cognitive failure. However, the high-altitude effect on the cognitive abilities of construction workers remains unclear. This study assessed the cognitive impairment experienced by construction workers on high-altitude construction sites. Ten practitioners engaged in high-altitude construction project were recruited to assess four cognitive abilities: sustained attention, selective attention, working memory, and executive ability using the Simple Reaction Time Test, the Color Word Stroop Test, the 2-Back Test, and the Go-Nogo Test through a baseline and plateau follow-up test. Results showed that hypoxia exposure reduced each of the four cognitive abilities by 11–31% and caused sustained impairment in working memory. In addition, electroencephalogram was used to monitor pre-service fatigue marked by cognitive impairment, achieving an accuracy rate of 91%. This study provides insights to protect and improve occupational safety and health of highland construction practitioners.