Can Physical and Mental Fatigue at Work Be Detected with Just Two Brain Sensors?

Worker fatigue is a major issue in high-risk sectors such as construction. It manifests in two forms: physical fatigue, which reduces muscle capacity to sustain effort, and mental fatigue, linked to prolonged cognitive load. Both increase the risk of errors and accidents, with serious long-term health consequences, such as stress, cardiovascular disorders, or musculoskeletal problems. Traditional assessment methods, based on questionnaires, remain subjective and poorly suited for real-time monitoring.

A recent study explores an innovative solution: the use of electroencephalography, a technique that measures the brain’s electrical activity. Unlike existing approaches, which are often limited to detecting mental fatigue or require bulky equipment, this research shows that it is possible to simultaneously detect both types of fatigue using just two sensors placed on the head. These sensors, positioned near the temples and forehead, analyze brain signals to identify specific fatigue markers.

To validate this approach, brain recordings were combined with subjective assessments from twelve participants. The data were processed by a machine learning algorithm capable of distinguishing fatigue states with 84% accuracy. This performance paves the way for portable and discreet devices, suitable for demanding work environments.

The main advantage lies in the system’s simplicity: fewer sensors mean greater comfort for users and easier adoption in the field. Additionally, this method avoids the biases of self-assessments and allows for continuous monitoring without interrupting work. It could thus improve safety and productivity while reducing the costs associated with fatigue, estimated at several billion per year for businesses.

This advancement suggests that objective and practical fatigue monitoring is now feasible, even in real-world conditions. It marks an important step toward more accessible and effective prevention tools for workers exposed to high risks.

Information and Sources

Study Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-026-03562-8

Title: Simultaneous detection of physical and mental fatigue using limited-channel EEG for practical workplace monitoring

Journal: Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Md Abdullah Al Imran; Chandan Karmakar; Farnad Nasirzadeh