Labour Ministry deploys occupational health and safety testing teams to assess bus driver health
Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Manpower (Kemnaker) has deployed occupational health and safety testing teams to examine the physical condition and fatigue risks of bus and travel vehicle drivers at six major monitoring points during the holiday exodus period.
The six inspection locations are situated at terminals and bus pools, travel companies, and organisations conducting group holiday trips in Jakarta, Bekasi, Bandung, Surabaya, Medan, and Samarinda.
“This assessment aims to ensure drivers are in optimal condition. This is important because driver or human factors (human error) resulting from fatigue during long-distance journeys with extended working hours represents one of the factors that can increase the risk of traffic accidents,” said Ismail Pakaya, Director General of Labour Supervision, Occupational Safety and Health (Binwasnaker & K3) at the Ministry of Manpower, in a statement in Jakarta on Monday.
Ismail stated that this measure was undertaken because the safety of holiday travellers is not only determined by vehicle condition and road conditions, but also by the driver’s physical readiness and alertness.
During long-distance journeys with extended working hours, fatigue can reduce concentration and increase the risk of traffic accidents.
“These inspections represent an important step to ensure drivers are in optimal condition before and during their duties transporting passengers,” he said.
He explained that occupational health and safety testing teams conduct direct assessments of drivers, ranging from identifying work patterns and rest periods, basic physical health checks, to evaluating various factors that could trigger fatigue during travel.
These inspections are expected to serve as an early prevention measure to reduce road risks.
Beyond physical examinations, the Ministry of Manpower also provides education to drivers and transport operators regarding the importance of work fatigue management.
This education emphasises that the human body has physiological limits in maintaining alertness, particularly when driving for extended periods amid the high volume of holiday traffic.
“This activity is part of a promotional and preventive approach in implementing occupational safety and health in the land transport sector, emphasising the importance of controlling human factors in the transport safety system,” said Ismail.
According to him, this effort is not merely a technical inspection, but part of a collective endeavour to protect the public.
Drivers who are healthy and not fatigued will be crucial in determining passenger safety until they reach their destination.
Ismail added that this proactive measure is the result of intensive collaboration between the Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Transportation, and regional governments.
“This synergy is expected to strengthen awareness among drivers and transport operators regarding the importance of work fatigue management in supporting safe, orderly, and comfortable holiday travel,” said Ismail.