OSHC advocates the Vision 1 Million in Boracay Island

Members of the PCCI-Boracay consisting of
representatives from various establishments in the island.

BORACAY, AKLAN - The OSHC, through its regional extension unit, advocated the "Vision 1 Million" during the 1st Quarter General Membership Meeting of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) - Boracay, at the Shangri-La's Boracay Resort and Spa. The activity was organized to inform the members about the OSHC's programs and services that can provide assistance in the development or strengthening of their workplace safety and health policies and programs.

Melveen Melocoton, OSHC REU6 officer in-charge, encouraged the members who were  representatives from various establishments like hotels, restaurants and other services providers, to secure the safety and health of its workers because they are the backbone of the organization. Through the implementation of a comprehensive safety and health program, workers will be more satisfied with their jobs, be more motivated, more productive, and more committed, he said.

The OSHC will provide the necessary training schedules for safety officers in accordance to the new OSH law, through the collaboration with the DOLE-Aklan Field Office, and the DOLE-Accredited Training Organizations operating in the locality.

Boracay Island, which is known for its beautiful white sand beaches and crystal clear waters, is packed with business activities to accommodate the needs and demands of tourists from all around the world. Accordingly, for workers to provide quality services, they must also be assured of quality workplace programs and services by their employers.// MM

Safety Practitioner: A Roaring Career Opportunity for Displaced OFWs

The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Regional Welfare Office VI (OWWA-RWO VI), conducted an OSH orientation for the registered displaced OFWs at the OWWA-RWO VI Training Room, Robinsons Mall, Iloilo City.

The activity was done to enlighten the displaced OFWs about the roaring career opportunities if they will pursue the path of an accredited safety practitioner of the country.

The general public, nowadays, is becoming more conscious about the seriousness of safety and health at work, especially in Western Visayas.

With the recent news about fatalities and deaths related to occupational safety and health (OSH), a concerned citizen would wonder keenly if what "entity" is the vital safeguard between OSH vs. accident at work. How can that entity prevent workers from going home with broken/lost limbs or dreadful work-related illnesses?

The knight in shining armor that we seek is a SAFETY PRACTITIONER. One with sufficient training and experience on OSH based on set standards and accredited by the OSHC. Currently, there are only 32 accredited OSH practitioners versus 523 hazardous establishments that need full-time safety officers in the region.

The OSHC is maximizing its efforts to provide displaced OFWs with the basic knowledge and skills on occupational safety and health (OSH) that will enable them in the promotion of a culture on OSH in their locality and to provide development opportunities that will capacitate them in a career on OSH both in the local and international level.

Finally, with the "BUILD, BUILD, BUILD" Project of the Duterte Administration, we will expect more building of infrastructures and the development of various industries. Hence, the demand for more accredited safety practitioners in the entire region.// MM

OSHC orients Lambunao workers on safety and health

The Occupational Safety and Health Center - Regional Extension Unit No. 6 (OSHC-REU6) conducted a safety and health orientation to the workers under the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office (MEEDO) consisting of (14) Revenue Generating Unit (RGU) of the Municipality of Lambunao, Iloilo.

The activity was graced by the presence of Mayor Jason Gonzales who welcomed the attendees and inspired them by stating the many accomplishments gained by the municipality through the efforts of all its constituents.

During the activity, the workers present were assigned to the slaughterhouses, traffic enforcement, market office, garments, and prints, among others. The RGU manpower executes both physical and mental tasks daily to guarantee effective services to their clients. Thus, the office of the MEEDO saw that in each RGU, the personnel were in need to have a background in occupational safety and health (OSH) precautions which they can apply in their workplaces.

Melveen Melocoton, the OSHC regional representative, discussed the basic OSH principles, common hazards in the workplaces, and its preventive measures in order to assure a safe and healthy working environment for everyone. Also, a workshop was conducted wherein the attendees were instructed to write down and explain the unsafe acts and conditions currently present in their respective workplaces.

OSHC REU6 continues to extend its reach in Western Visayas to enhance and strengthen OSH policies and programs, delivery of quality OSH services, client-focused responses, management of resources, linkages and information dissemination.

OSHC orients on safety standards during the DOLE-LHP in Iloilo & Capiz

The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) conducted an orientation on the key points of the OSH standards during the seminar on labor relation, human relation, and productivity (LHP) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) - Regional Office 6 in Iloilo and Capiz last Mar. 14 & 17, 2017.

The seminar is DOLE’s contribution in the labor education and advocacy aspect to address the challenge of business competitiveness in the workplace. It is a one-day course for employees, supervisors/employers or mixed employees and employers/supervisors. 

Melveen Melocoton, OSHC-REU6 Administrative Officer, emphasized that in order to attain good relationships and better productivity, organizations must safeguard the safety and health of its workers. It is through a company's strong OSH policies and OSH committee that industrial peace and productivity can be fully achieved.

"The OSHC is willing to provide technical assistance and capacity building activities to align company OSH policies with the OSH Standards."

Schedules on training like the 40-hours mandated Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) and the Construction Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) are conducted monthly in Iloilo City and Bacolod City to cater the demands of companies in acquiring competent safety officers.

The OSHC will improve its collaboration with the DOLE-RO6 to further strengthen OSH policies and programs, provide quality OSH services, and expand linkages with stakeholders that support the zero accident (ZAP) program in the region. // MM

Melveen Melocoton of OSHC-REU6 conducting the OSH orientation to 46-attendees
during the LHP Seminar at EON Centennial Resorts Hotel and Waterpark, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Melveen Melocoton of OSHC-REU6 conducting the OSH orientation to 50-attendees
during the LHP Seminar at MVW Tourist Inn & Restaurant, Roxas City, Capiz.

Engaging Company Nurses on Safety and Compensation

A total of (35) company nurses from various organizations attended the (1) day seminar entitled, “Seminar in Occupational Safety & Health and Employees Compensation for Company Nurses” this June 3, 2016, at the Conference Room, DOLE-Region 6, Swan Rose Building, Commission Civil, Jaro, Iloilo City. The activity was organized by the Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) in collaboration with the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 6.

On behalf of the Regional Director, Ma. Agnes N. Capigon, Technical Support Services Division (TSSD) Chief of DOLE-RO6, welcomed the participants. She expressed that each of us, nurse or not, should be active advocates of safety and health. Where we work, it is our social responsibility to help each other in the implementation of OSH.

Topics facilitated were the following

• Prevention (Unsafe/Unhealthy Acts & Conditions in the Workplace)
• Compensation (Employers’ Responsibilities: Records, Reports, and Penal Provisions
• Rehabilitation (Katulong at Gabay sa Manggagawang may Kapansanan)
• Rule 1960: Occupational Health Services
• Good housekeeping (5S)

Mr. Melveen Melocoton, administrative officer of OSHC-REU6, introduced the OSHC, its mandate, programs, and services. Also, he discussed the basics on accident causation and facilitated a workshop on the identification and enumeration of unsafe/unhealthy acts and conditions in the workplace. In addition, he also discussed the standards on general occupational health services where he emphasized the qualifications of an occupational health nurse and his duties and responsibilities in the workplace. Lastly, the participants familiarized themselves on the annual medical report template.

Mr. Stephene Barredo, Information Officer of ECC-REU6, introduced the ECC, its mandate, programs, and services. Also, he explained the provisions of the employees compensation program and its processes.

Atty. Ma. Ailyne Valaquio, Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Board (RTWPB)-6 representative, discussed the fundamentals of good housekeeping and the 5S approach.

The (1) day seminar, in collaboration with DOLE, OSHC, and ECC, was the first of its kind in the region that was customized for occupational health nurses for them to be capacitated with the basic knowledge on the ECP’s prevention, compensation and rehabilitation components, with focus on the employer’s responsibilities, occupational health services, and legislations.

Encouraging innovation through labor-management cooperation

Last Feb. 19, the Occupational Safety and Health Center - REU 6 gave inputs related to the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Program during the National Conciliation and Mediation Board (NCMB) Region 6's enhancement activity on, "Encouraging innovation through labor-management cooperation (LMC) and basic concept of productivity.

The activity was attended by (11) managers from various companies with established LMC committees. The managers were informed of the programs and services of OSHC to further expand the partnership in the advocacy and the empowerment of OSH in their respective workplaces.

Through strong linkages and social dialogue, the advocacy of OSH in the region will amass to a point when issues of lack of awareness of the programs, services, and standards will be dealt with. The NCMB-6 will be hosting more free convergence activities, in partnership with DOLE, RTWPB, OSHC, and ECC, in the near future and they are hoping for more companies to actively participate in the advocacy.

Safeguarding the safety and health of micro-entrepreneurs

PAVIA, ILOILO - To safeguard the safety and health of micro-entrepreneurs in the locality, the Occupational Safety and Health Center - Regional Extension Unit No. 6 (OSHC-REU6) conducted an OSH orientation to its (14) home-made ice cream and barquillos makers last Feb. 10, at the Pavia Livelihood Technology Center. The event was facilitated by the local government unit (LGU) in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), a thrust in implementing the Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GBP) projects, otherwise known as Yaman Pinoy.

During the activity, the attendees were informed of the hazards present in workplaces, even at home. Entrepreneurs were enlightened of the value of safety and health because if they don't then productivity will surely decline. And, when productivity drops, financial stability is threatened. Subsequently, they will be putting the general public at risk.

Topics on occupational safety, control measures and proper hygiene were discussed. Then the attendees were given a workshop to identify the unsafe/unhealthy acts and unsafe/unhealthy conditions that they usually encounter while working.

Upon closing of the activity, an attendee gave his testimony and remarks. He verbalized his experiences with accidents and illnesses in which he was incapacitated to sell his products because he had to stay at home and recover. Hence, he was not able to gain profit and had a hard time in thinking of what to feed his family with the available remaining funds he had. Lastly, he thanked the local government unit for the assistance it gave to the micro-entrepreneurs of the locality.

The LGU will continue to provide a continuous enabling environment for the micro-entrepreneurs through skills training, product development, and marketing as well as to ensure their safety and health.

Expanding ZAP in big enterprises

As a strategy to expand the zero accident program (ZAP) of OSHC in the big enterprises, an occupational safety and health (OSH) orientation was conducted last Jan. 15, at the training room of SM City Iloilo. It was a collaborative activity with the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 6 (DOLE-RO6), and the Employees' Compensation Commission Regional Extension Unit No. 6 (ECC-REU6).

The activity was attended by a total of 24 workers, a mix of managers and rank & file employees from various departments and franchises of SM. They were all oriented on topics including OSH situationer, unsafe and unhealthy acts & conditions in the workplace, OSH legislation & administration, and the employees' compensation program.

Engr. Bladamir M. Pantillo from DOLE-RO6, asserted the importance of safety and health in every workplace. He said that an accident is the worst thing that can happen to a worker and the whole company. It is bad for business wherein it results to poor performance, poor productivity, and a bad reputation for the company, he added.

While employees can gain something once they become victims of work-related accidents, still the costs for promotion of a safe and healthy workplace is more budget-friendly than accidents, said Mr. Stephene Barredo from ECC.

Some employees expressed their sentiments regarding the new information that they have learned from the activity. Furthermore, during the workshop, some revealed actual situations that were happening in their workplaces such as the presence of pests due to poor housekeeping in the warehouses and musculo-skeletal problems due to poor ergonomic practices.

Before the end of the orientation, Nrs. Melveen Melocoton from the OSHC turned over some information, education & communication (IEC) materials to the workers in order to enhance the advocacy of OSH in the company.

OSH at Imperial Appliance Corp., safety is everyone's responsibility

An occupational safety and health (OSH) orientation was conducted at Imperial Appliance Corporation, last Oct. 14, 2015. The activity was a collaborative endeavor of the Occupational Safety and Health Center - Regional Extension Unit No. 6 (OSHC-REU6) and the management of Imperial Appliance Corp., together with their safety office, Queenie V. Sumagaysay, who previously completed the OSHC's mandated 40-hours Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) Training for Safety Officers in Iloilo.

Arlyn R. Barrientos, Human Resource Manager of Imperial Appliance Corp., welcomed the attendees and thanked the OSHC-REU6 for being present to discuss safety and health issues and concerns in the workplace and to establish a partnership for zero accidents in Region 6.

Melveen M. Melocoton, Admin Officer of OSHC-REU6, presented the OSHC, its mandates and services. Also, he discussed the global and local outlook of OSH and the workplace scenarios prone to hazards leading to accidents. Control measures were explained briefly and then an open forum was done where the attendees were able to share their experiences about workplace hazards and thier sentiments as regards to accidents.

The workplace should always be a place of OSH promotion and it is everybody's responsibility. And, the practice of OSH starts with our self-realization on its importance. Lastly, OSH is not just a slogan but a way of life, he said.

The OSHC-REU6 continues to cater establishments that request for orientations on safety and health in the workplace to strengthen its advocacy for zero accidents in the region.

Arlyn R. Barrientos welcoming the attendees.

Melveen M. Melocoton presenting an AVP about OSHC.

Melveen M. Melocoton discussing some topics on OSH.

Attendees watching an AVP on accidents.