Background In Malaysia traffic crashes are a huge problem with 414 421 road crashes and 6872 deaths in year 2010 (PDRM, 2011). Motorcycle deaths contribute about 60% of total fatalities in Malaysia.

Aim The main aim of this study is to determine the factors that influence standard of the safety helmets used amongst food delivery workers by presence of Standard and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (SIRIM) certification label.

Methods A cross sectional study was conducted amongst 150 food delivery workers from fast food outlets in Malaysia. During observation, safety helmets were classified as standard safety helmet in the presence of SIRIM label. They were approached for questionnaire participation once consent was obtained and were requested to exchange their safety helmet voluntarily with a new one after the interview. χ² and logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the significance and OR of the variables studied, respectively (penetration test, age, education level, knowledge, crash history, types of safety helmet, marital status and years of riding experience) against the presence of SIRIM label.

Results More than half (55.3%) of the fast food delivery workers are using non-standard helmets. Safety helmets that failed the penetration test, half-shell safety helmets and riders with more years of riding experience were in high odds of being/using a non-standard safety helmet.

Significance Non-standard (non-SIRIM approved) helmets were more likely to be half-shell helmets, were more likely to fail the standards penetration test, and were more likely to be worn by older, more experienced riders.