The impact of occupational fatigue on safety and health performance in the porcelain manufacturing industry: An analysis using the ELMERI index

As a critical social determinant of health, occupational fatigue can be a key indicator for tracking mental health inequalities in working populations. A systematic assessment of fatigue and its impact on safety performance indicators is essential for developing effective preventive strategies in industrial settings. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between occupational fatigue and safety and health performance within an industrial sector in Gonabad, Iran. A descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted among industrial workers. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory (SOFI) to quantify fatigue, and the ELMERI index to assess safety and health performance levels. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, <i>t</i>-test, Mann-Whitney, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient tests were used for statistical analysis between variables. The study included participants with a mean work experience of 8.49 (±4.63) years. The mean SOFI score for occupational fatigue was 52.75, indicating a significant burden of fatigue. The mean ELMERI index score was 59.50, reflecting a moderate level of safety and health performance. A significant inverse correlation was found between occupational fatigue and safety performance (<i>r</i> = -0.40, <i>p</i> < 0.05), suggesting that higher levels of fatigue were associated with poorer safety and health outcomes. The findings demonstrate a significant negative relationship between occupational fatigue and safety performance, highlighting the detrimental impact of fatigue on workplace safety. These results underscore the need for implementing fatigue risk management systems and ergonomic interventions in the workplace. Future longitudinal research is recommended to elucidate further the causal mechanisms underlying this relationship.