DESCRIPTION OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND BEHAVIOURS REGARDING THE USE OF PPE AMONG FISH UNLOADING WORKERS AT THE CILACAP OCEAN FISHERIES PORT IN 2025

Abstract

Fish loading and unloading activities at ports, including Cilacap Fishing Port, involve interactions between heavy equipment, humans, and the environment that have the potential to cause occupational accidents. The use of personal protective equipment is one of the preventive measures that must be implemented to protect workers from physical hazards and maintain the hygiene and quality of fish catches. Therefore, a comprehensive study is needed on the importance of using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for loading and unloading personnel, focusing on knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours. This study aims to determine the current state of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours regarding the use of PPE among fish loading personnel at the Cilacap Ocean Fisheries Port in 2025.

The method used is a quantitative descriptive approach with a cross-sectional design. The population and sample in this study consist of all fish unloading workers, totaling 80 respondents. Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire and analysed using univariate analysis.

The results of the study showed that most respondents had good knowledge (56.3%), adequate attitudes (55.0%), and adequate behaviour in using PPE (50.0%). Although the level of knowledge is relatively high, there is still a gap between understanding and the practical use of PPE. Discomfort and perceptions of wastefulness are the main reasons for this.

The study concludes that there is a need to strengthen training, supervision, and the provision of appropriate personal protective equipment to improve work safety.