Assessing the impact of safety assurance practices on telecommunication tower maintenance effectiveness in Malaysia: The moderating role of risk exposure

Abstract

The purpose of research is to explore the impact of key factors in the Occupational Safety and Health Management System (OSHMS) on the effectiveness of telecommunication tower maintenance in Malaysia, with a particular focus on the moderating role of risk exposure. The study investigates the relationship between Hazard Assessment (HA), Incident Reporting (IR), Safety Training (ST), Compliance Audit (CA), Improvement Evaluation (IE), and Effectiveness of Tower Maintenance OHSAA in this high-risk industry. Based on a sample size of 377 (Rasoft), 258 (68.44 percent) industry professionals responded. A stratified random sampling technique and a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire were used to collect information. The obtained data is validated with a reliability coefficient of 0.8 and analyzed using SmartPLS software for CFA, Discriminant Validity, VIF, and Path Analysis. The results reveal a strong positive relationship between hazard assessments and safety training for improved maintenance and OHSAA compliance outcomes. This study also highlights gaps in incident reporting systems, compliance audits, and improvement evaluations, which were found to have limited effectiveness in enhancing safety based on risk exposure. The findings also demonstrate the negative moderating effect of risk exposure, suggesting that safety measures are less effective in high-risk environments. It was concluded that organizations prioritize robust safety training, comprehensive hazard assessments, and ongoing risk management, while urging policymakers to strengthen regulatory frameworks to ensure regular updates to safety protocols. The practical implication of this study shows valuable insight into the role of OSHMS elements in high-risk industries and offers practical recommendations for improving safety practices and guiding future research in occupational health and safety, aligning with ESG under environmental, social, and governance.