Marking Kartini Day, KPB Women Strengthen Workplace Safety Culture through WPSI

Wednesday, 22 April 2026

Amid the busy refinery project activities, a simple message about safety comes from the closest source: family. PT Kilang Pertamina Balikpapan (KPB) is using the momentum of Kartini Day to strengthen the workplace safety culture through the Woman Positive Safety Intervention (WPSI), by involving female workers in an active role.

Unlike formal approaches that often feel rigid, WPSI prioritizes more personal and humanistic communication. KPB’s female workers are directly involved on-site, interacting with fellow workers, and raising awareness that every action on-site has consequences—not only for oneself but also for family members at home.

That message resonates even more strongly when workers’ families are present and witness workplace activities firsthand. Their presence serves as a reminder that every worker who leaves for work is always eagerly awaited to return home safely.

“Be careful at work, always wear personal protective equipment, so you can come home safely,” said Mei, a family member of one of the workers.

Emmanuel, a worker with the Precommissioning Contractor, admitted to having a different experience. “On this special day, I was surprised by the arrival of a wife who brought positive energy, representing the wives of all workers, urging us to always take care of ourselves and our colleagues around us,” he said.

Currently, the number of female workers at PT KPB stands at 12.47%, totaling 212 workers. In the oil and gas industry, which is dominated by male workers, this percentage highlights the tangible role women play in various functions, while also serving as a vital component in building an inclusive safety culture within the workplace.

Asep Sulaeman, Vice President of Legal & Relations at PT KPB, noted that Kartini’s spirit aligns with efforts to build a safety culture in the workplace in line with Pertamina’s HSSE Golden Rules: Compliance, Intervention, and Care.

“The willingness to remind one another is the core of workplace safety. Women at KPB are taking on that role, bringing a more down-to-earth and heartfelt approach,” he said.

He added that a safety culture is not just about compliance with procedures, but also about a collective awareness to look out for one another.

“Ultimately, what we want to ensure is simple: that every worker can return home safely every day,” said Asep.