Recovery time analysis of back muscle fatigue in panelized residential modular construction factory

Abstract

Construction workers in panelized construction factory settings are often exposed to physically demanding and repetitive activities during panel assembly, which requires manual processes. Consequently, these factory workers are often exposed to potential risks, namely work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), due to muscle fatigue. Therefore, it is important to evaluate levels of fatigue and provide appropriate interventions to minimize the health risk of workers. Previous studies have shown that sufficient rest could reduce risk of WMSDs from fatigue and is considered one of most practical way to minimize risk. Rest break schedule analysis on workeräó»s fatigue in different industries has been documented; however, to the authoräó»s knowledge, the analysis on panelized construction has not yet been studied. To address this gap, fatigue of workers is estimated using an equation, which was derived mathematically, in terms of recovery time compared with break time schedule. A case study of a panelized construction factory in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada is performed to evaluate the effectiveness of rest break schedules. The results from the case study show that workers at the panelized construction factory require more frequent and longer break time to reduce potential risk of WMSDs.