Unsafe Behavior and Weak Supervision Drive Workplace Accidents in Modern Industry
Workplace accidents in Indonesia’s modern industrial sector are still heavily driven by unsafe worker behavior, inadequate supervision, and inconsistent safety system implementation, according to new research published in 2026 by Hanifah Handayani and Amri from Institut Teknologi Petroleum Balongan.
The study, published in the International Journal of Natural and Health Sciences, examined workplace accident risks in modern industries across West Java using a mixed-method approach that combined worker surveys, interviews, and integrated safety analysis tools. The findings are significant as Indonesia continues to expand its manufacturing and logistics sectors while facing persistent occupational safety challenges.
Researchers found that human error and unsafe behavior remain the most dominant causes of industrial accidents, even in workplaces that formally implement Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) systems. The study also revealed that many companies already have safety procedures in place, but implementation is often inconsistent at the operational level.
Industrial Growth Continues to Raise Safety Concerns
Modern industries increasingly rely on automation, high-speed operations, and complex production systems. While these developments improve productivity, they also introduce new workplace hazards. In Indonesia, particularly in industrial regions such as West Java, rapid industrial growth has not always been matched by strong enforcement of safety standards.
The researchers explained that workplace accidents remain a major concern because many organizations still struggle to translate safety policies into daily practice. Unsafe work behavior, lack of routine training, and weak monitoring systems create conditions where accidents become more likely.
According to the study, safety management is no longer only about regulatory compliance. Companies are now expected to build a strong workplace safety culture that actively prevents risks before incidents occur.
Research Combined Surveys, Interviews, and Risk Analysis
The research was conducted over three months and involved 40 operational workers from manufacturing and logistics industries in West Java. Researchers also interviewed six key informants, including OHS officers, operational supervisors, managers, and workers.
To identify accident causes, the study used several risk-analysis approaches simultaneously, including:
- HIRARC (Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Risk Control)
- Fishbone Diagram analysis
- 5 Why root-cause analysis
- Statistical regression analysis using SPSS software
This integrated approach allowed researchers to connect numerical findings with real workplace experiences and operational conditions.
The study examined four main variables:
- Human factors
- Work environment factors
- Organizational or management factors
- OHS system implementation
These variables were then analyzed against workplace accident rates.
Unsafe Behavior Emerged as the Biggest Risk Factor
Among all variables, human factors recorded the highest influence on workplace accidents.
Researchers found high scores in:
- Unsafe behavior
- Non-compliance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
- Lack of awareness
- Work fatigue
Workers admitted that production pressure often pushed them to ignore safety procedures in order to complete tasks more quickly.
One operational worker interviewed in the study stated:
“Sometimes we actually know it's dangerous, but because of the target, we still do it.”
Another worker added:
“When things get rushed, we just skip some procedures to finish faster.”
The findings show that unsafe behavior is not simply caused by lack of knowledge. Instead, it is closely connected to organizational pressure, productivity demands, and weak supervision.
The researchers concluded that workplace accidents should not be viewed solely as individual mistakes, but as the result of interactions between workers and broader management systems.
Hazardous Work Environments Still Common
The study also identified workplace environment risks as a major contributing factor to accidents.
Workers reported:
- Exposure to hazardous operational areas
- Unsafe equipment
- Poor workplace layouts
- Ergonomic problems
Although environmental factors had a weaker influence than human behavior, researchers noted that dangerous workplace conditions become significantly more harmful when combined with unsafe actions.
An operational supervisor interviewed in the study explained:
“Some work areas are quite tight, so if you're not careful, it can be dangerous.”
Researchers observed that several operational areas still contained unsafe conditions that increased accident risk during busy work periods.
Weak Supervision Limits Safety Performance
Organizational and management weaknesses were another major finding of the study.
The research identified several recurring problems:
- Limited safety supervision
- Inconsistent training programs
- Weak enforcement of safety rules
- Gaps between formal policy and field implementation
The researchers found that many workers did not receive regular safety training, while companies often lacked enough supervisors to monitor operational safety consistently.
An OHS officer interviewed in the study said:
“We have limited supervisors, so monitoring is not always optimal.”
Meanwhile, an operational manager acknowledged:
“Training is provided, but not all workers receive it regularly.”
The study concluded that even well-designed OHS systems may fail if organizations cannot consistently enforce them at the operational level.
Safety Systems Exist, But Implementation Remains Inconsistent
The researchers reported that many companies already use safety systems aligned with international standards such as ISO 45001. However, implementation quality remains uneven.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) usage showed relatively high compliance, but monitoring systems and risk controls were still weak.
According to the researchers, this creates a dangerous gap between policy and practice.
Hanifah Handayani explained that workplace safety systems are only effective when supervision, training, and risk controls operate consistently across all departments.
The integrated HIRARC, Fishbone, and 5 Why analyses further identified inadequate supervision as the root cause behind many workplace accidents.
Findings Could Help Improve Industrial Safety Policies
The study offers several practical recommendations for industries seeking to reduce workplace accidents.
Researchers recommend that companies:
- Strengthen workplace safety culture
- Conduct continuous risk-based training
- Improve supervision systems
- Enforce SOP compliance consistently
- Integrate HIRARC risk analysis into daily operations
The findings may also support policymakers and industrial regulators in improving occupational safety standards across Indonesia’s rapidly growing industrial sector.
The researchers emphasized that reducing workplace accidents requires more than written policies or certification systems. Effective safety management depends on continuous implementation, worker participation, and strong organizational commitment.
Author Profiles
Hanifah Handayani
Hanifah Handayani is a researcher affiliated with Institut Teknologi Petroleum Balongan with expertise in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), industrial risk management, and workplace accident analysis.
Amri
Amri is a researcher from Institut Teknologi Petroleum Balongan whose work focuses on industrial safety systems, risk assessment, and safety management implementation in modern industry.
Source
Article Title: Analysis of Factors Causing High Workplace Accidents and Efforts to Improve the Implementation of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Systems in Modern Industry
Journal: International Journal of Natural and Health Sciences
Publication Year: 2026
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