ENHANCING CONSTRUCTION WORKERS’ AWARENESS OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (K3) THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE IN PANDEGLANG, BANTEN

Abstract

Indonesia's construction sector still records many work accidents, many of which are caused by low awareness and knowledge of occupational safety and health (K3). This problem is also found in Pandeglang, Banten, where construction workers generally have low education levels, limited K3 training, and poor compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) use. To address this issue, a community service program was carried out by Universitas Mercubuana in collaboration with PT Tunas Engineering using a participatory approach. The activities included K3 socialization, discussions, practical demonstrations, and distributing 21 PPE sets (helmets, gloves, and boots). Pre-test and post-test questionnaires were administered to evaluate participants' knowledge before and after training. The results showed a significant increase in awareness, with knowledge of PPE use, hazard recognition, and workplace communication improving by more than 50%. This program demonstrates that participatory training supported by hands-on practice and PPE provision effectively enhances workers' safety awareness and behavior. However, the program involved a limited number of participants and short-term evaluation, so further development is needed with larger groups, continuous mentoring, and collaboration with contractors and government to ensure sustainability.