The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) Universitas Indonesia (UI) held a Doctoral Promotion Session on Monday, June 23, 2025, at the Auditorium of Building G, FPH UI. This session marked an important milestone for FPH UI, as it celebrated the graduation of another doctoral candidate from the Public Health Sciences Program. On this occasion, Yusef Dwi Jayadi successfully defended his dissertation titled “Development of an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Education Model as a Preventive Measure Against Work Accidents and Occupational Diseases Among Palm Oil Plantation Workers.”
Yusef’s research stems from the alarming state of workplace safety in the palm oil plantation sector. In 2023, this sector recorded the highest rate of occupational accidents in Indonesia, reaching 60.5%, with an annual increase of 18–20%. The two main factors contributing to this high rate were poor management oversight and the low level of workers’ knowledge and awareness regarding Occupational Health and Safety (OHS). To address these issues, Yusef designed a structured intervention model through the development of an OHS Education Module and the establishment of “Palm Cadres.”
The OHS Education Module serves as a learning guide specifically designed to deliver information on OHS implementation, including occupational risks and conditions within palm oil plantations. This module fills a critical gap in comprehensive safety materials and has been officially registered as an Intellectual Property (IP) with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. The model aims to increase literacy and safe work practices among plantation workers.
The research was conducted over six months using a mixed-method exploratory approach in three main phases. The first phase involved analysis of OHS implementation and nutritional assessment of workers. The second phase consisted of developing the OHS module through literature reviews and expert judgment, along with the recruitment of Palm Cadres. The final phase involved an intervention trial using a quasi-experimental method and Wilcoxon Test to measure impact.
Yusef’s dissertation findings show that the OHS education intervention significantly improved the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of palm oil plantation workers. Knowledge scores increased from 38.68 to 50.60; attitudes from 61.87 to 68.13; and behaviors from 25.38 to 30.53. The average improvement in the intervention group was 7.4 times higher than in the control group. Notably, the rate of workplace accidents was drastically reduced from 66.7% to just 10%, while occupational illnesses decreased from 43.3% to 33.3% post-intervention.
The doctoral candidate recommended that the government prioritize OHS in the palm oil plantation sector through stronger compliance enforcement and integrated supervision. Palm oil companies are encouraged to adopt this program sustainably by forming dedicated units, integrating OHS education into internal committees (P2K3), and formalizing it as a mandatory policy. At the worker level, the model should be implemented regularly through cadre mentoring and module usage to foster a safe and healthy work culture. Yusef also suggested further research to customize the module based on job tasks, include health service access information, expand peer-based cadre development, and enhance cadre training via a Training of Trainers (ToT) program led by OHS experts.
Yusef’s dissertation was supervised by Prof. Dr. Robiana Modjo, S.K.M., M.Kes. as the main advisor, with support from two co-promoters: Prof. Dra. Fatma Lestari, M.Si., Ph.D., and Mila Tejamaya, S.Si., MOHS., Ph.D. The doctoral session was attended by an examining committee comprising Prof. Dr. dr. Sabarinah Prasetyo, M.Sc.; Prof. Dr. drg. Sandra Fikawati, M.P.H.; Dr. Sugiarti, M.Pd.; Dr. dr. Sudi Astono, M.S.; and Dr. drg. Heny Mayawati, M.K.K.K.
Based on the open defense results, Yusef Dwi Jayadi graduated with cum laude honors and a cumulative GPA of 3.90. He is the 12th doctoral graduate of the Public Health Sciences Doctoral Program at FPH UI in 2025, the 351st from the program overall, and the 458th doctoral graduate produced by FPH UI. This achievement reflects his dedication and contribution to advancing public health science, especially in the labor sector.
Born in Pematang Panjang in 1991, Yusef not only achieved academic excellence through his dissertation but also published a book titled “OHS Education for Palm Oil Plantation Workers,” which has been released as a nationally registered ISBN e-book in 2025. This work is expected to serve as an essential reference in strengthening workplace safety culture in Indonesia’s plantation sector and extending the scientific impact of his research.
Through this doctoral session, FPH UI reaffirms its role as an institution that produces high-quality doctoral graduates who excel academically and contribute meaningfully to addressing public health challenges. The OHS education model developed by Yusef offers new hope for creating safer, healthier, and more sustainable working environments, particularly in strategic sectors like palm oil plantations. (DFD)