Job-Site Safety Institute Announces New Grant to Develop Bilingual Fatigue-Reset Toolkit for Hispanic and Early-Career Construction Workers
Mick McDonald
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 4, 2026) – The Job-Site Safety Institute (JSI), a nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to improving safety and protecting lives, has announced a new grant to the Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation, Inc. to develop and field-test a bilingual fatigue-management toolkit for Hispanic and early-career workers employed by small residential construction contractors.
On smaller job-sites, there are often tight schedules and minimal safety resources. Rather than resting, fatigued workers frequently continue working, increasing the likelihood that a minor misstep results in an accident or injury. Fatigue can affect balance, reaction time, and hazard recognition, which are essential functions for workers on ladders, scaffolds, and rooftops.
“Falls, struck-by incidents, and costly rework on small residential job-sites are often the direct result of unmanaged fatigue, and the workers most at risk are Hispanic and early-career workers who frequently lack access to safety resources in their language,” said Dr. Tommy Tafazzoli, Assistant Professor of Construction Management at Georgia Southern University. "This project will convert that unmet safety need into a practical, field-tested solution. The final toolkit will require no technology, no apps, and no subscriptions, just a printed card and a supervisor’s voice. We are proud to partner with JSI to bring this tool to the contractors and workers who need it most.”
The project will compile evidence-based fatigue management practices from construction and safety-critical industries. It will also field-test low-cost fatigue mitigation strategies across small residential construction sites in Georgia, with participation from Hispanic and early-career workers. Findings will be validated by using workers self-assessment data and physiological monitoring. In addition, the project will produce a bilingual toolkit that will include worker pocket cards, supervisor response sheets, toolbox talk modules, an implementation checklist, and a bilingual demonstration video.
“Projects like this are critical because far too often workers, especially those on small residential job-sites, lack access to practical, accessible safety resources,” said Erik Anderson, JSI Board Chair. “By supporting the development and real-world testing of this bilingual fatigue management approach, JSI and Georgia Southern University are working together to turn research into tools that can directly reduce preventable injuries on job-sites by addressing one of construction's most significant safety risks: worker fatigue.”
Learn more about the Job-Site Safety Institute at www.jssafety.org.
About JSI: Founded by Builders Mutual, JSI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. This research and educational organization is dedicated to eliminating all job-site related injuries and deaths in the construction industry. Research by JSI will play a critical role in improving on-the-job safety and saving lives.
About Georgia Southern University: Georgia Southern University is a public doctoral research institution and the largest university in southeast Georgia, serving approximately 26,000 students across three campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, and Hinesville. Founded in 1906, Georgia Southern is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a Doctoral University with High Research Activity and offers more than 250 degree programs across ten colleges. The university is nationally recognized for its commitment to applied research, student success, and economic development in the region. The Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, home to the S.A.F.E. (Safety, Applied Research, Fatigue, and Ergonomics) Lab, conducts field-based research on construction worker safety, fatigue monitoring, and human factors, with an emphasis on translating scientific findings into practical tools for industry. Georgia Southern is dedicated to advancing scholarship and innovation that directly benefits workers, communities, and industries across Georgia and beyond.