Reaction time and occupational safety of professional activity: Review of foreign studies

Introduction. The article presents an overview of foreign experimental studies on the use of instrumental sensorimotor tests for assessing reaction time. Tests for both complex and simple sensorimotor reactions are traditionally used to assess executive functions, with reaction time serving as an indicator of cognitive activity effectiveness. Materials and Methods. The review examines the application of instrumental sensorimotor tests in research aimed at understanding and improving occupational safety. Results. Our review of English-language publications from the past 15 years demonstrates the successful use of reaction time assessment across various domains of occupational psychology. These include professional selection, work organization strategies, adaptation to extreme work conditions, cognitive activity in job-related tasks, and the assessment of fitness for duty. The studies analyzed involve diverse professions, such as pilots, airport technical staff, athletes, miners, anesthesiologists, hospital nurses, bus drivers, and divers. The review also explores how reaction time is affected by factors such as shift work, sleep duration, and extreme working conditions. Reaction time assessment is also analyzed in terms of monitoring employees’ post-injury recovery, including concussion rehabilitation. Sensorimotor tests are successfully used to determine employees’ readiness to resume professional duties after illness or trauma. Further, reaction time assessment is a valuable tool for examining age-related cognitive changes, as now many individuals continue working past the age of 60–70. The review demonstrates that reaction time can contribute to optimizing work schedules, regulating workload, supporting vocational rehabilitation and evaluating the impact of aging, illness or injuries on cognitive function. Instrumental sensorimotor tests are particularly convenient because they can be performed in the field, examining a large number of subjects within a short timeframe. Conclusions. It is concluded that reaction time assessment is a promising approach to ensuring occupational safety, warranting further research.