Modelling the predictors of personal hearing protector (php) use among manufacturing workers / Nur Syafiqah Binti Fauzan

Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology

Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang - 2025

Includes bibliographical references

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered as important measure for protecting workers’ safety and health. Workers who are exposed to excessive noise levels at the workplace should be provided with a suitable personal hearing protector (PHP), and the proper use of PHP by persons exposed to excessive noise should be ensured. The consistency of PHP usage among workers is crucial to minimising noise hazard exposure at the workplace. However, there remains unclear indicators of the significant factors that could influence the usage of PHP among industrial workers. This study aims to develop a PHP Use Prediction Model (PHPredict) for industrial workers. A combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was adopted to achieve the study objectives. This study employed a combination of systematic literature and critical reviews. In addition, a survey was conducted using a new validated questionnaire, distributed to industrial workers working in Malaysian manufacturing industries. A total of 305 respondents from two states, Negeri Sembilan and Johor were selected based on the inclusion study criteria. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation were used in the initial analysis. Subsequently, the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) method was used to assess the measurement and structural models. The results highlighted that interpersonal influence (p-value = 0.000, β = 0.231), perceived self-efficacy (p-value = 0.001, β = 0.265) and cues to action (p-value = 0.000, β = 0.312), are significantly associated with PHP use among industrial workers. The effect size (f2) for cues to action represents the highest value (0.062) compared to the other two significant predictors. The PHP Use Prediction Model (PHPredict) was successfully validated, with a coefficients of determination (R2) value of 33%, which represents a moderate level. Furthermore, the PLS Predict evaluation shows that the PHP Use Prediction Model has a strong predictive power. Therefore, this study has successfully developed the PHPredict by integrating the two behavioural theories and producing a validated model in predicting the use of PHP among manufacturing workers. The study provides consequences for shaping preventive behaviours in the workplace. These findings have significant implications to assist OSH practitioners, HR managers, or policymakers in designing effective intervention programs aimed at minimising the statistics of noise-related hearing disorders among industrial workers working in Malaysia.