Rapid Assessment on Occupational Health and Safety Issues Faced by Young Workers in Indonesia Construction Sectors

The construction sector is a significant contributor to Indonesia's economy. However, this sector is a high-risk industry for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH), especially for young workers. This study aimed to analyze the OSH issues facing young workers in construction, including social & welfare issues, the knowledge and perceptions regarding OSH legal requirements, and the implementation. The sample size is 440 young workers aged 15–24 using Slovin’s formula (95% CI). These data were collected from 4 large-scale public and private construction companies; power plants, transportation, residential, and office building projects using a questionnaire by interview, focus group discussion, and field visits to construction industry sites. The majority of respondents were male (86%), 21–24 years old (73,4%), and 1.8% were aged 15–17. 93% worked for >5 days per week. 71.6% worked overtime for <14 h per week. Another result showed that 83.6% had a single marital status (unmarried), and 54.5% are active smokers with about 11 cigarettes per day. The average smoking history is >5 years (35.8%). 9.8% consume alcoholic beverages, 74.3% sleep for <8 h per day, and 65.5% regularly exercise. The worker’ perception found that 95.2% stated their company had provided OSH information properly. 83% said their company implements OSH’s supporting factors (reward, information, rules, and engagement). Also, 74% revealed their company is good in compliance with OSH regulation, adherence in OSH implementation, and budgeting on OSH. There is a need for an occupational health program for young workers, mainly promoting health.