COGNITIVE ADAPTATION MEASUREMENT AMONG AQUATIC WORKERS IN HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

Occupational diving, offshore oil extraction, and nautical rescue activities are examples of aquatic workplaces which subject workers to extreme and volatile risks which can significantly compromise mental processing. The current study aims to quantitatively measure cognitive adaptation of aquatic workers using a structured environmental profiling and neuropsychological testing approach. Assessment of the participants by cognitive tasks and biometric monitoring in real-time yielded results which were analyzed using a newly developed Cognitive Adaptation Index (CAI) which was then normalized against a Hazard Intensity Index (HII). From the results, it was noted that workers in dynamic environments, particularly offshore rescue operators, displayed the highest cognitive adaptability, while workers in more static environments – but still under persistent stress, such as in the fisheries – demonstrated the lowest adaptation scores. Statistical testing showed strong associations between the exposure to the range of hazards and the reaction time reliability, indicating that mental fortitude typically improves with repeated exposure to risks. The findings highlight the value of cognitive assessment in dangerous jobs and could assist in strengthening frameworks for training, hazard planning, staff management, and cognitive workload balancing. The research introduces a tailored, scalable, and situational approach for assessing mental performance under aquatic stressors.