Workplace hazards and compliance with OHS regulations among certified refrigeration and air conditioning technicians in Manila, Philippines

This study assessed the association between knowledge of workplace hazards and perceived compliance with occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations among certified refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) technicians. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from June to December 2021. The study ascertained from 204 technicians their knowledge of workplace hazards and perceived compliance with OHS regulations using a self-administered questionnaire. In addition, the association between the technician's knowledge of workplace hazards and their perceived compliance with OHS was estimated using Poisson regression models with log-link, adjusted for confounding factors. Effect size estimates were expressed as crude (cPR) and adjusted (aPR) prevalence ratios with 95% confidence interval (CI). With a 75% workplace hazards benchmark for RAC technicians, the crude and adjusted model analysis (cPR 1.75; 95% CI [1.39, 2.21]; p < 0.001) and 58% (aPR 1.58; 95% CI [1.23, 2.04]; p < 0.001), respectively, indicated a likelihood of perceiving themselves as compliant with OHS regulations compared to RAC technicians with average and below-average industry knowledge of workplace hazards. With knowledge of workplace hazards likely influencing certified RAC technicians, its integration into the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) curriculum as a competency may strengthen OHS compliance.