Mineral oil hydrocarbon (MOH) contamination in the vegetable oils and fats supply chain has gained stakeholders’ attention due to health risk concerns based on the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) risk assessment. Although the potential source of MOH introduction in vegetable oils is already known, the human causal factors were not attentively investigated. Hence, the present study aims to gauge the impact of food safety knowledge, maintenance programmes and training effectiveness on the food safety practices of food handlers employed in palm oil mills (POM) in Johor, Malaysia. One hundred cross-sectional samples were collected from POM using a validated survey questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used for demographic information analysis, while partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), a second-generation statistical tool was applied for predictive-causal design testing. Results showed majority of the POM food handlers were not trained on good milling practice. The PLS-SEM analysis illustrated that maintenance programmes and training effectiveness have a significant and positive impact on POM food handlers’ food safety practices. Meanwhile, food safety knowledge did not reveal a significant impact on food safety practices. Predictive causal analysis confirmed the model has strong predictive power for food safety practices. Overall, the present study highlighted the role of human factors that are latent in an organisation which needs to be emphasised by palm oil mill management in mitigating MOH risk