Protection of oil palm workers from risk and hazards using HIRARC Model – is it aligned to Islamic ethics?

In Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification system, Principle 4 covers the responsibility to social, health, safety, and employment based on the HIRARC model. From the Islamic perspective, the HIRARC model is reviewed to be aligned to the Islamic ethics with excerpts of verse in the holy Quran depicting Islam not only stress on the safety aspect, but it also focuses on to evade man from peril or unsafe acts. HIRARC is known in oil palm plantations. The objective of this case study was to investigate the knowledge and awareness about HIRARC of palm oil workers in an oil palm plantation in Kalabakan, Sabah. The conceptual framework was based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour where cognition pertained to the three factors: attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control determined with scale type of questions guided by MSPO Principle 4. Data was also collected on demographic of the workers through face-to-face interview. The outcome of the study showed that age and education levels have not only influenced the workers’ level of knowledge and awareness of HIRARC of palm oil workers in preventing injuries accordingly to their job types. Attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control have significant positive effects. As 96.4% of the workers in the case study were of Islamic faith, the outcome of the study could be attributed to the spiritual and moral obligation of every person to performing responsible activities to protect themselves from harm and injuries.