Occupational Health And Safety Behaviors And Workplace Environment Of Employees In Companies Located In Tak Province

Abstract

Occupational health and safety (OHS) in the workplace is a critical factor influencing employee well-being, productivity, and organizational performance. This study aimed to examine the behaviors related to OHS and the workplace environment among employees in companies located in Tak Province, Thailand, and to investigate the relationships between personal factors, information channels, and safety behaviors. A quantitative research design was employed, with data collected from 200 employees using a structured, closed-ended questionnaire. The instrument consisted of three sections: personal demographic characteristics, perception of safety information channels, and self-reported OHS behaviors across six safety domains, including slips and falls, collisions, material handling, office equipment, electrical safety, and ergonomics. Simple random sampling was applied, and the questionnaire was validated for content and reliability, achieving Cronbach’s alpha values exceeding 0.70. Descriptive statistics revealed that the majority of respondents were female (92.4%), aged 29–38 years (49.2%), and had completed secondary education (47.7%). Most respondents were daily-wage employees (85.6%) with 1–3 years of work experience (30.3%) and had prior safety training (83.3%). Overall, employees demonstrated high levels of safety awareness (M = 4.60, SD = 0.42) and OHS behaviors (M = 4.47, SD = 0.64), indicating strong adherence to workplace safety protocols. Inferential analyses, including t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple regression, identified significant effects of personal factors such as gender, age, education, position, work experience, and prior training on OHS behaviors (p < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis further indicated that specific safety information channels, namely Safety News, bulletin boards, and company websites, significantly predicted employees’ OHS behaviors, accounting for 97% of the variance (R² = 0.970, F = 672.79, p < 0.001). The findings underscore the critical role of effective communication and targeted training in promoting safe workplace practices. Practical implications include the need for organizations to optimize information dissemination, tailor training programs to employee demographics, and foster a positive safety culture. Future research should expand to diverse industries and regions, employ longitudinal designs, and incorporate observational measures to strengthen the understanding of factors influencing OHS behaviors.