Employees’ Burnout and Adverse Safety Performance Metrics Model (ASPMM) Solutions in High-Risk Industries

Abstract

Globally, employee burnout has become rampant, particularly in high-risk industries. Yet, contemporary research on employee burnout and the prevalence of adverse safety incidents in high-risk industries is scarce. This study investigates employees’ perceptions of burnout in high-risk industries and proposes an Adverse Safety Performance Metrics Model (ASPMM) for effective management. The key research question is: To what extent do high-risk workers agree that burnout contributes to adverse safety outcomes? Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, 67 questionnaires and seven semi-structured interviews were conducted across construction, agriculture, and oil and gas industries, validated with four years of THOR archive data (2019-2022). The research data were analysed using thematic analysis and MS Excel for their descriptive statistics. Findings show that 74% of participants identified excessive workload, poor personal habits, and burnout as major contributors to adverse safety incidents. Also, organisational leadership, time, and work pressure have a significant impact on employees’ burnout. The ASPMM is proposed as a proactive framework for detecting and managing burnout-related risks. Other impactful findings are reported in the conclusion section of the paper.