Project Overview
Rationale
Heat stress is an increasingly critical challenge for construction workers as rising temperatures and prolonged outdoor exposure place greater demands on both physical and cognitive functioning. Unlike many workplace hazards, heat stress can gradually impair attention, increase fatigue, and reduce hazard recognition before workers become aware of its effects. This project investigates how environmental heat influences workers’ physiological responses, mental workload, and safety performance. The findings provide insights into protecting workers from hidden performance degradation and improving safety in climate-sensitive construction operations.
Impact
- Reveal the hidden cognitive consequences of heat exposure beyond traditional heat-related illnesses.
- Identify how physical fatigue translates into reduced attention and hazard recognition.
- Provide scientific evidence to support heat-resilient construction practices.
- Inform the design of adaptive work-rest and environmental control strategies.
- Contribute to protecting worker safety under increasingly extreme climate conditions.
Publication List
Conference Proceedings
- Pooladvand, S., & Hasanzadeh, S. (2024). “Effects of Heat Stress on Workers’ Physical Fatigue and Attentiveness: Multimodal Roofing XR Simulation”. Construction Research Congress 2024. Des Moines, Iowa.
Researcher
Shiva Pooladvand
Funding Source
