Unraveling The Effects of Safety Knowledge and Safety Climate on Occupational Accidents: The Mediating Role of Safety Behavior in The Manyar Smelter Project of PT Freeport Indonesia Study SEM-PLS S

Abstract

This study aims to examine the effects of safety knowledge and safety climate on occupational accidents, with safety behavior as a mediating variable among workers at the Manyar Smelter Project of PT Freeport Indonesia. This study employed a quantitative approach with a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 300 workers using a structured questionnaire measured on a five-point Likert scale. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) to examine the direct and indirect relationships among safety knowledge, safety climate, safety behavior, and occupational accidents. The results demonstrate that safety knowledge (β = 0.321, p < 0.001) and safety climate (β = 0.456, p < 0.001) have significant positive effects on safety behavior. Safety behavior has a significant negative effect on occupational accidents (β = −0.398, p < 0.001), indicating that stronger safety behavior is associated with fewer occupational accidents. Furthermore, safety knowledge (β = −0.215, p = 0.008) and safety climate (β = −0.287, p = 0.002) have significant direct negative effects on occupational accidents. The mediation analysis shows that safety behavior significantly mediates the effects of safety knowledge (β = −0.128, p = 0.013) and safety climate (β = −0.181, p = 0.003) on occupational accidents. The structural model explains 58.2% of the variance in safety behavior (R² = 0.582) and 64.9% of the variance in occupational accidents (R² = 0.649). Safety knowledge and safety climate are important determinants of occupational accident prevention, both directly and indirectly through safety behavior. The findings emphasize that accident prevention in high-risk industrial environments requires not only strengthening workers' safety knowledge and competence but also developing an organizational climate that consistently supports, communicates, and reinforces safe work practices.