The Relationship of Duration of Employment, Age, and Length of Service with Fatigue Among Construction Workers on the Oncology Building Project at RSUP H. Adam Malik Medan

Abstract

Work-related fatigue is an important occupational safety and health (OSH) issue, particularly in the construction sector, which is characterized by high physical workloads and relatively long working hours. Fatigue can reduce workers’ concentration, alertness, and productivity, thereby potentially increasing the risk of occupational accidents. This study aimed to determine the relationship between working hours, age, and length of service and work-related fatigue among construction workers at the Oncology Building Construction Project of H. Adam Malik General Hospital, Medan, in 2026. This quantitative study employed an observational analytic approach with a cross-sectional design. The study was conducted from January 14 to April 25, 2026, involving 75 respondents as the research sample. In this study, working hours were operationally defined as the accumulated number of overtime working hours per week. The measurement focused on overtime working hours because the normal working hours of all respondents were relatively the same, resulting in insufficient variation for analysis. Data were collected using questionnaires, while the level of fatigue was measured using the Industrial Fatigue Research Committee (IFRC) questionnaire. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses with the Chi-Square test. The results showed that 59 respondents (78.7%) experienced fatigue. The bivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between working hours and fatigue (p<0.000; PR=2.18). In contrast, age was not significantly associated with fatigue