Integrating posture‐hour constraints into construction scheduling to enhance workforce wellbeing

This study introduces a new posture-hour-based scheduling framework that integrates ergonomic constraints into construction planning. It shifts the traditional focus from “labor-hours” to “posture-hours” as a primary resource unit. The novelty lies in (1) defining and formulating this new problem in practical construction settings and (2) developing algorithms that treat posture capacity as an allocatable resource. This approach proactively manages musculoskeletal disorder risks by accounting for each activity's posture-specific demands and workers' posture-holding capacities as scheduling limits. Validated via a benchmark case and a real-world concrete pouring project, applying the framework significantly reduces cumulative exposure to high-risk postures, compared to traditional methods. While it may slightly increase project duration, this trade-off better balances physical workload, prevents posture-induced health issues, and enhances long-term workforce wellbeing and sustainability. This interdisciplinary research provides a foundational framework for integrating occupational health considerations, labor productivity metrics, and construction planning methodologies.