{"id":436,"date":"2026-05-26T20:52:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T00:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/?page_id=436"},"modified":"2026-07-29T22:49:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T02:49:05","slug":"impact-of-task-stress-on-worker-safety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/impact-of-task-stress-on-worker-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Impact of Task Stress on Worker Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-bf881693 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/smart-safety-human-factors\/\">Back to Smart Safety<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Project Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Electric-experiment-1024x554.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-664\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Electric-experiment-1024x554.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Electric-experiment-300x162.png 300w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Electric-experiment-768x416.png 768w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Electric-experiment-1536x832.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Electric-experiment-2048x1109.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Rationale<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-paragraph\">Construction workers frequently perform complex electrical tasks under demanding conditions where productivity expectations and cognitive workload can create substantial task stressors. This project investigates how time pressure and mental demand influence workers\u2019 stress, situational awareness, risk perception, and decision-making during high-risk electrical operations. Using immersive mixed-reality simulations and physiological sensing, the project aims to uncover the cognitive mechanisms through which task stressors contribute to unsafe behaviors. The findings support the development of human-centered interventions, training strategies, and work designs that improve both safety and operational performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:0px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\">Reveal how time pressure and mental demand alter workers\u2019 risk perception and safety-related decision-making.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">Identify cognitive mechanisms such as cognitive tunneling, impaired selective attention, and reduced situational awareness under stress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">Provide objective physiological evidence of occupational stress using wearable sensors and neurophysiological measurements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">Support the design of stress-aware training programs and human-centered safety interventions for electrical construction workers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contribute to reducing accidents and improving safety performance in high-risk, time-sensitive work environments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Publication List<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Journal Papers<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pooladvand, S., Chang, W. C., &amp; Hasanzadeh, S. (2024). Identifying at-risk workers using fNIRS-based mental load classification: A mixed reality study.&nbsp;<em>Automation in Construction<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>164<\/em>, 105453. DOI: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.autcon.2024.105453\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10.1016\/j.autcon.2024.105453<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pooladvand, S., &amp; Hasanzadeh, S. (2023). Impacts of stress on workers\u2019 risk-taking behaviors: Cognitive tunneling and impaired selective attention.&nbsp;<em>Journal of Construction Engineering and Management<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>149<\/em>(8), 04023060. DOI: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1061\/JCEMD4.COENG-13339\">10.1061\/JCEMD4.COENG-1333<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pooladvand, S., &amp; Hasanzadeh, S. (2022). Neurophysiological evaluation of workers&#8217; decision dynamics under time pressure and increased mental demand.&nbsp;<em>Automation in Construction<\/em>,&nbsp;<em>141<\/em>, 104437. DOI: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.autcon.2022.104437\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10.1016\/j.autcon.2022.104437<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\"><strong>Conference Proceedings<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pooladvand, S., Ay, D., &amp; Hasanzadeh, S. (2022). &#8220;The neural basis of risk attitude in decision-making under risk: fNIRS investigation of the simulated electrical construction task&#8221;.&nbsp;<em>International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (ISARC)<\/em>. Bogota, Colombia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pooladvand, S., Ay, D., &amp; Hasanzadeh, S. (2022). &#8220;The neural basis of risk attitude in decision-making under risk: fNIRS investigation of the simulated electrical construction task&#8221;.&nbsp;<em><em>Construction Research Congress 202<\/em><\/em>2. Arlington, Virginia.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Researcher<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3a88641f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"685\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shiva-Pooladvand_crop-685x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-219\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.6670071501532175;width:73px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shiva-Pooladvand_crop-685x1024.jpg 685w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shiva-Pooladvand_crop-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shiva-Pooladvand_crop-768x1148.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Shiva-Pooladvand_crop.jpg 851w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 685px) 100vw, 685px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3a88641f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Shiva Pooladvand<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Collaborators<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">Scott Geller, PhD, Department of Psychology, Virginia Tech University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thomas Redick, PhD, Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--10)\">Behzad Esmaeili, PhD, Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, Purdue University<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Funding Source<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3a88641f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"127\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Electric-e1779901692907.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-501\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.7719223079120252;width:138px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Project Overview Rationale Construction workers frequently perform complex electrical tasks under demanding conditions where productivity expectations and cognitive workload can create substantial task stressors. This project investigates how time pressure and mental demand influence workers\u2019 stress, situational awareness, risk perception, and decision-making during high-risk electrical operations. Using immersive mixed-reality simulations and physiological sensing, the project [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-436","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=436"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/436\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":846,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/436\/revisions\/846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/engineering\/I2SAFE-Lab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}