Noise sensitivity, safety climate, risk perception & protection behaviour among maintenance workers

Noise exposure remains a critical concern for workers in the maintenace, especially among those in maintenance roles who face high-risk acoustic environments. This study investigates how Noise Sensitivity, Safety Climate, and Risk Perception influence Protection Behaviour among maintenance workers in Malaysia. The objective was to determine whether these psychological and organisational factors significantly predict the consistent use of hearing protection devices (HPDs). A quantitative research design was adopted using a structured questionnaire distributed to 110 maintenance workers. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple linear regression. The results revealed that all three independent variables had a statistically significant and positive relationship with Protection Behaviour, with Safety Climate emerging as the strongest factor. These findings highlight the importance of fostering a supportive safety culture, recognising individual sensitivity to noise, and enhancing risk awareness to improve compliance with hearing conservation practices. The study contributes to the field of occupational safety and health by providing evidence that both psychological and organisational factors jointly influence protection actions in high-noise industrial settings. The results are useful for employers, policymakers, and safety practitioners aiming to develop more effective noise control and hearing protection programs tailored to vulnerable worker groups