The finding highlights the importance of workplace conditions in manufacturing, particularly industries where employees face physical risks during production. PT XYZ operates in the plastic recycling sector, where production activities can involve machinery, equipment, materials, and other workplace hazards.
The researchers noted several workplace issues that provided important context for the study, including workplace accidents, sickness-related absenteeism, unexplained absences, and employee tardiness. Such conditions can disrupt production, increase workloads for other workers, and potentially signal problems with employee satisfaction.
Why Workplace Safety Matters
Occupational safety is more than simply preventing accidents. A safe working environment can give employees a stronger sense of security and comfort while carrying out their duties.
At PT XYZ, the researchers identified room for improvement in safety practices, particularly employee compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE). Although the company had provided adequate protective equipment, employee compliance was not yet optimal. The researchers therefore emphasized the importance of strengthening the workplace safety culture and accident-prevention practices.
Occupational health was another important factor. The study identified sickness-related absenteeism among production employees as an issue requiring attention. Workplace cleanliness, health facilities, and regular efforts to maintain employees' physical and psychological well-being were considered important components of a healthy working environment.
Study Involved All 45 Eligible Production Employees
Nazhirah and Abdurahman used a quantitative research approach. Their respondents consisted of all contract employees in the production department of PT XYZ who had worked for more than one year. Because the population consisted of only 45 employees, the researchers included the entire group rather than selecting a smaller sample.
Information was collected through questionnaires, interviews with human resources personnel, workplace observations, and company documentation. The documentation included employee attendance records, workplace accident reports, and information about PPE use.
The researchers then analyzed the data using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27. Statistical testing was used to examine whether occupational safety and occupational health individually and collectively influenced job satisfaction.
The survey instruments also passed the researchers' validity and reliability checks. The reliability scores were 0.936 for occupational safety, 0.854 for occupational health, and 0.918 for job satisfaction, indicating that the measurement instruments met the study's reliability criteria.
Employees Rated Safety and Health Conditions Positively
The descriptive results showed generally positive perceptions among production employees.
- Occupational safety: Average score of 4.42, categorized as very safe.
- Occupational health: Average score of 4.22, categorized as highly appropriate.
- Job satisfaction: Average score of 4.20, categorized as satisfied.Within occupational safety, the highest score was recorded for creating safe working conditions, at 4.64. Accident prevention through safe work practices received the lowest safety score, at 4.21, suggesting that preventive practices remained an area where the company could continue improving.
For occupational health, employee health maintenance received the highest score at 4.25, while occupational health facilities received 4.21. Overall, employees viewed the company's health practices positively.
Safety and Health Together Explain 57.5% of Job Satisfaction
The statistical analysis found that occupational safety had a significant positive relationship with job satisfaction. Its significance value was 0.019, below the commonly used 0.05 threshold.
Occupational health also had a significant positive relationship with job satisfaction, with a significance value of 0.010. The researchers concluded that both factors independently contributed to higher employee job satisfaction.
When occupational safety and occupational health were analyzed together, their combined effect was also statistically significant. The F-test produced a value of 28.448, compared with a reference value of 3.21, with a significance value below 0.05.
One of the study's most notable findings was the 57.5% R-squared value. This means occupational safety and occupational health together accounted for 57.5% of the variation in employee job satisfaction among the employees studied. The remaining 42.5% was associated with other factors outside the study.
Nazhirah and Abdurahman of Jenderal Achmad Yani University explain that effective safety measures can strengthen employees' sense of security and comfort, while effective health programs can help maintain workers' physical and mental well-being. Together, these conditions can contribute to greater satisfaction at work.
Implications for Companies
The findings provide practical guidance for companies seeking to improve both employee welfare and organizational performance.
For PT XYZ, the researchers recommend strengthening supervision of PPE compliance, conducting regular safety training, and consistently enforcing standard operating procedures. These measures can help reduce workplace accident risks and maintain a safer production environment.
The company is also encouraged to maintain workplace cleanliness and sanitation, conduct regular health examinations, and provide adequate occupational health facilities. Beyond safety and health programs, the researchers recommend fair rewards, improved employee welfare, career development opportunities, and better communication across departments to sustain job satisfaction.
The study therefore places occupational safety and occupational health not only within the framework of workplace protection, but also within human resource management. A safer and healthier workplace can contribute to employee satisfaction and potentially support sustainable productivity.
Author Profiles
Haifa Arfiani Nazhirah is the first author and corresponding author from the Faculty of Economics and Business, Jenderal Achmad Yani University. Her article focuses on occupational safety, occupational health, and employee job satisfaction. The published article does not state her academic degree.
Khaerul Rizal Abdurahman is the second author from the Faculty of Economics and Business, Jenderal Achmad Yani University. The article does not explicitly state his academic degree or a more specific professional specialization.
The journal article does not explicitly provide the university's city in its author-affiliation information, so no city is added here to avoid introducing unsupported information.
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