Determinants of Workplace Productivity Decline in the Tunisian Onshore Oil and Gas Industry.

BACKGROUND

This study explored the impact of occupational stress, personal factors, and physical conditions on work productivity decline (WPD) among workers in the Tunisian onshore oil and gas industry.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 246 onshore oil installation workers of a Tunisian private oil company. 94 employees (48%) participated in this study. We used the Job Content Questionnaire to evaluate occupational stress and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire to assess the WPD.

RESULTS

Data were analysed using R software. This study exclusively included male workers, with an average age of 41.1 ± 9.5 years. Binary logistic regression analysis identified low social support and job-strain situation as the most associated risk factors (OR >3). The random forest model suggested that professional category, job-strain situation, low social support, and iso-strain situation were the most important variables in predicting WPD.

CONCLUSION

These data provided evidence that petroleum workers faced a monotonous lifestyle in the workplace, leading to high levels of occupational stress that affected their work productivity. This study is the first in Tunisia in the oil sector.