Going underground: Fatigue and sleepiness in tunnelling operations

This research represents one of the first qualitative studies to investigate fatigue in tunnelling sector construction industry. It explores opinions tunnellers and their managers about how influences or is influenced by tunnelling, this managed. Fatigue sleepiness were discussed six focus groups with frontline workers (n = 42) 10 manager interviews. was seen be a problem, all participants having experienced, recognised others, feeling whilst at work. are not commonly between they do feel comfortable reporting instances fatigue. The shows that exposed wide range occupational factors potentially increase vulnerability fatigue, including physical environment, repetitive monotonous tasks, variable shift patterns manual Additionally, personal such as social family demands, long commute times living away from home, can risk industry general has gone some way address there opportunity further improve management. However, major needed before will able openly discuss employer.