Title: The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological fatigue of control room operators in oil, gas and petrochemical industry

Authors: Budiyanto Soinangun; Ivan Novendri; Jaka Matsana; Fergyanto E. Gunawan; Muhammad Asrol; A.A.N. Perwira Redi

Addresses: Industrial Engineering Department, BINUS Graduate Program, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta 11480, Indonesia ' Industrial Engineering Department, BINUS Graduate Program, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta 11480, Indonesia ' Industrial Engineering Department, BINUS Graduate Program, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta 11480, Indonesia ' Industrial Engineering Department, BINUS Graduate Program, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta 11480, Indonesia ' Industrial Engineering Department, BINUS Graduate Program, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta 11480, Indonesia ' Industrial Engineering Department, BINUS Graduate Program, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta 11480, Indonesia

Abstract: In industries which run continuous and heavy-duty plants such as oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, shift work is commonly applied to ensure production flow. After the outbreak of COVID-19, businesses need to adapt quickly so that their activities can run. This study discusses the influence of COVID-19 on control room operators' psychological fatigue in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industry. A simple yet effective method was implemented to measure sleep quality and quantity, cognitive performance, and fatigue incidents. It was used to observe the effect of the COVID-19 situation on the psychological fatigue of control room operators due to the new policy implemented. Because of the pandemic, it is important to examine the fatigue effect on control room operators during. This study aims to provide a suggestion that can be used by decision makers to address human errors with fewer workplace accidents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: control room operator; oil and gas industry; petrochemical industry; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI; psychological fatigue.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2021.119052

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2021 Vol.8 No.4, pp.393 - 407

Received: 02 Oct 2020
Accepted: 29 Apr 2021

Published online: 18 Nov 2021 *

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