The work of workers is still dominant in the realization of most construction projects and therefore has a great impact on the productivity of contractors and, thereby, on the sustainability of realization of the goals of contractors and clients. This article provides an overview of the results of more than 100 studies from the previous decade on the impacts of factors related to the personal attributes of workers on the productivity and performance of construction projects. Based on the reviewed literature and semi-structured interviews with experienced professionals in the construction industry, the relation between worker characteristics and other influences on labor productivity is defined and a list of worker characteristics suitable for research in Croatia is compiled. A survey of 262 workers, engineers, and managers from construction industries of Croatia’s eastern region, Slavonia and Baranja, showed that the worker characteristics that most influence labor productivity are experience and dexterity. It was also noticed, with a high correlation between the different groups of respondents, that physical strength and morale and morality of the workers were rated as highly influential, while education level was rated as the least influential. The research results are useful because they indicate the possibility of significantly improving the productivity of construction contractors by selecting workers with appropriate physical abilities and cognitive and non-cognitive skills, as well as developing a suitable system for training and motivation of employees.

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Steam traps play a significant role in condensate evacuation from steam as well as in heating ventilation and cooling systems (HVAC), i.e., industrial climate chambers. Preventive maintenance and periodical audit of steam traps increase reliability and reduce the number of facility off hours. In some elements of the system, condensate can damage some parts, which means that monitoring their function is one of the basic preventive maintenance tasks. One way of checking steam traps is by using infrared thermography. The paper presents the simplicity of steam trap control by using an infrared thermography camera.