Predicting the Impact of Cognitive Load and Psychological Well-Being among Workers in Manufacturing Environments

Abstract

The integration of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing environments has significantly advanced production capabilities but has also introduced complex challenges for occupational health and safety. While previous studies have extensively explored the physical and technical impacts of these technologies, the psychological aspects, particularly cognitive load and psychological well-being, remain underexplored. This gap is significant because psychological factors play a critical role in influencing human performance and safety in complex, high-tech work environments. This study aims to address this gap by quantitatively investigating how cognitive load and psychological well-being affect safety incidents in smart manufacturing environments. Through a survey of 100 employees at a manufacturing company in Lagos, Nigeria, the relationship between cognitive load, psychological well-being, and reported safety incidents was analyzed. The findings reveal significant associations: higher cognitive load correlates with increased safety incidents, while better psychological well-being correlates with fewer incidents. This research underscores the critical need for interventions that manage cognitive load and enhance psychological well-being to improve safety outcomes in technologically advanced manufacturing settings.