Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh safety leadership, production pressure, dan safety knowledge terhadap safety performance, baik secara langsung maupun melalui safety awareness sebagai mediator, pada pekerja first line industri manufaktur otomotif. Penelitian kuantitatif dengan desain eksplanatori cross- sectional ini melibatkan 432 responden dari Plant 1 dan Plant 2 Perusahaan X. Data dikumpulkan melalui kuesioner terstruktur dan dianalisis menggunakan Structural Equation Modeling berbasis Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) dengan SmartPLS 4. Model pengukuran terdiri atas 52 indikator final yang telah memenuhi kriteria validitas dan reliabilitas. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa safety leadership (β = 0,342), safety knowledge (β = 0,318), dan production pressure (β = -0,198) berpengaruh signifikan terhadap safety awareness. Safety awareness (β = 0,452) merupakan prediktor dengan koefisien jalur terbesar menuju safety performance, diikuti safety leadership (β = 0,218), safety knowledge (β = 0,176), dan production pressure (β = -0,143). Safety awareness terbukti memediasi secara parsial pengaruh ketiga variabel eksogen terhadap safety performance (H8–H10 didukung). Model mampu menjelaskan 48,6% varians safety awareness dan 61,2% varians safety performance (SRMR = 0,062). Implikasi praktis penelitian ini menekankan pentingnya penguatan praktik safety leadership, pengelolaan production pressure yang terstruktur, peningkatan safety knowledge berbasis risiko, serta pengembangan safety awareness sebagai mekanisme kognitif kunci dalam pembentukan perilaku keselamatan di industri manufaktur.

This study examined the influence of safety leadership, production pressure, and safety knowledge on safety performance, both directly and indirectly through safety awareness as a mediator, among first-line workers in an automotive manufacturing company. Using a quantitative cross-sectional explanatory design, data were collected from 432 respondents across Plant 1 and Plant 2 of Company X via structured questionnaires. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 4 was employed for analysis, with a final measurement model comprising 52 validated indicators. Results showed that safety leadership (β = 0.342), safety knowledge (β = 0.318), and production pressure (β = -0.198) significantly predicted safety awareness. Safety awareness (β = 0.452) had the largest direct path coefficient toward safety performance, followed by safety leadership (β = 0.218), safety knowledge (β = 0.176), and production pressure (β = -0.143). Safety awareness partially mediated the effects of all three exogenous variables on safety performance (H8–H10 supported). The model explained 48.6% of variance in safety awareness and 61.2% in safety performance (SRMR = 0.062). Practical implications emphasize the importance of strengthening safety leadership practices — particularly feedback and recognition — managing production pressure systematically, enhancing risk-specific safety knowledge, and developing safety awareness as the primary cognitive mechanism driving safe work behavior in manufacturing environments.