Background Tugboat crewmembers are susceptible to fatigue during their 24-h work shifts, despite the availability of rest time. The fatigue experienced by seafarers contributes to marine accidents and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, which have long-term effects. This study aimed to analyse the association between working hours and fatigue and other possibly related factors in tugboat crewmembers. Method This comparative cross-sectional study included 127 tugboat crew members from 15 randomly chosen tugboats in Samarinda Harbor, Indonesia. Their fatigue levels while at work were measured using a reaction timer and standardised questionnaire. Personal and occupational data of crewmembers, including age, marital status, rating (job ranking), duration on board, length of seafaring experience, watch system, smoking status, coffee and alcohol consumption, and working hours, were collected. Moreover, sleep quality and stress levels related to work-family conflict were measured and analysed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Work-Family Conflict Scale (WCFS), respectively. Results The study found that 40.2% of the subjects were classified as having fatigue. The determinant factors were long working hours (> 72 h/week), poor sleep quality, and work-family conflict [adj. OR = 13.32; 95%-CI (4.78–31.23)] and p < 0.001, [adj. OR = 4.49 (1.39–14.52)] and p = 0.012, [adj. OR = 2.87 (1.12–7.33)] and p = 0.028, respectively. However, personal and occupational factors, including age, marital status, duration on board, length of seafaring experience, smoking status, and coffee and alcohol consumption, were not significantly associated with crewmember fatigue. Conclusion The incidence of fatigue among Indonesian tugboat crewmembers operating on the Mahakam River was considerably high. Working hours, sleep quality, and work-family conflict were strongly associated with fatigue in tugboat crewmembers; therefore, the working hours of tugboat crewmembers need to be improved. Crewmember lifestyle variables need to be studied further.
Background Tugboat crews are susceptible to fatigue their 24-hour stay in the working environment even in their rest time. The fatigue experienced by the seafarers contributes to marine accidents and metabolic and cardiovascular diseases which are long-term effects. This study aimed to analyze the association between working hours and fatigue, along with other possible related factors in tugboat crews. Method: This comparative cross-sectional study included 127 tugboat crew members from a randomly chosen tugboat in Samarinda Harbor, Indonesia. Their fatigue levels at work were subjectively measured using the reaction timer and standardized instrument questionnaire. Data on the crews' personal and occupational factors included age, marital status, rating (job position), duration on board, length of seafaring experience, watch system, smoking habit, coffee and alcohol consumption, and working hours. Moreover, sleep quality and levels of stress-related to the family conflict were measured and analyzed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Work-Family Conflict Scale (WCFS), respectively. Results It was found that 40.2% of the subjects experienced fatigue due to long working hours (≥ 72 hours/week), poor sleep quality, and being non-officer crews, with adj. OR and 95%CI values of (12.76; 3.91–41.70), (5.84; 1.67–20.47), and (4.38; 1.28–14.92), respectively. However, the variables of crews' characteristics and occupational factors included age, marital status, duration on board, length of seafaring experience, smoking habit, coffee and alcohol consumption were not statistically associated with the crews' fatigue. Conclusion The incidence of fatigue among Indonesian tugboat crews is considerably high. Working hours, sleep quality, and job rating were strongly associated with fatigue in tugboat crews. Working hours monitoring of tugboats crews needs to be improved.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.