Assessing Fatigue in Electrical Workers Working at Height: Investigating the Potential of LF/HF Ratio and ETCO2 as Key Physiological Indicators

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Electrical workers performing tasks at height are exposed to unique physical and mental stressors that significantly increase their risk of fatigue, which can compromise safety and performance. Traditional fatigue assessments often overlook the physiological indicators that could provide a more comprehensive understanding of fatigue in such demanding environments. OBJECTIVE: To explore the sensitivity of ETCO2 and LF/HF as potential indicators for daily work-related fatigue in electrical workers working at height, by examining their variations before and after work sessions. This research will determine their potential for integration into fatigue assessment systems. METHODS: The study involved 44 experienced male electrical workers working at height from J City Electric Power Company. Researchers measured LF/HF, ETCO2, and FS-14 scores at four intervals: before and after morning and afternoon work sessions, aiming to capture changes in autonomic nervous system activity, respiratory efficiency, and subjective fatigue levels. RESULTS: After morning and afternoon sessions, FS-14 scores and physiological indicators LF/HF and ETCO2 significantly increased, indicating induced fatigue and physiological stress in Electrical Workers Working at Height. The Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test confirmed these changes, highlighting the sensitivity of these indicators to the work demands of these workers. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate a correlation between LF/HF, ETCO2, and subjective fatigue, highlighting the complex nature of fatigue in electrical work influenced by autonomic and respiratory responses. Integrating these indicators into fatigue assessment systems for electrical workers at height shows promise for future management strategies in demanding environments.