Effects of safety interventions toward workers’ behaviors using the theory of planned behavior in the rubber wood processing industry

Abstract

Objectives. Rubberwood manufacturing has a wide range of occupational safety hazards. Workers’ safety behaviors are substandard. This quasi-experimental study aimed to determine the factors affecting safety behaviors using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and compare the effects of safety intervention programs on workers’ behaviors. Methods. The sample comprised workers from a rubberwood processing factory. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to validate the TPB constructs. The constructs were also analyzed before and after the interventions using structural equation modeling to confirm the observed variables. The interventions included conducting job safety analysis, establishing safety standard operation procedures and launching a behavioral promotion campaign. A t test was used to compare the constructs’ intervention effects. Results. The structural equation model adequately fit the data and confirmed that the constructs were aligned with the TPB. Most path coefficients were statistically significant after the interventions were implemented. ‘Attitude’ and ‘perceived behavioral control’ directly and significantly affected ‘intention’. ‘Intention’ was an essential mediator to ‘behaviors’. The improvement in workers’ behaviors was evident. Conclusions. According to the TPB, safety program interventions helped enhance workers’ behaviors. Hence, based on participatory approaches, sustainable safety interventions should be maintained for all levels of personnel in the organization.

KEYWORDS:

• theory of planned behavior
• rubber wood
• safety interventions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by undergraduate research funding from Walailak University.