Impact of Task Demand and Physical Energy on Mental Workload Experienced by Construction Workforce: Insights of Construction Professionals

Abstract

Construction projects involve numerous tasks that can be mentally and physically challenging. Previous research has investigated construction worker perceptions and awareness of safety hazards and the safety information that should be obtained before working on a construction site. However, further study is needed to investigate how the conditions of a construction site, work operation, and work task affect construction worker safety as a result of the mental workload experience by workers during task performance. The present study aims to clarify and confirm the extent to which task-related characteristics, referred to as constituents, have an influence on the mental workload that a construction worker experiences when conducting tasks. The concept of mental energy is used as a means to quantify mental workload. The study also aims to determine the extent to which the amount of physical energy present on the site impacts the mental workload workers experience when performing tasks. To meet these aims, the researchers conducted an online survey to collect insights on the topic from construction professionals in the United States. The study revealed that task constituents such as interruptions, distractions, and complexity of the task have a high level of impact on mental workload. Similarly, certain physical energy types (e.g., gravity, motion, and heat) have a high level of impact on mental workload. The contributions of this research to practice are the determination and confirmation of the level of impact of task constituents and physical energy on the mental workload of construction workers. The study findings show that worker mental workload is impacted by the task constituents and physical energy and, as a result, suggest that there are practical implications associated with the constituents and physical energy present on construction sites. Construction practitioners can utilize the results to assess potential worker safety performance based on task characteristics and understand the safety behaviors of construction workers.