Guimaras barangay officials trained to advocate workplace safety and health

Graduation pictorial with the stakeholders and participants.

REU6, ILOILO CITY - A total of (34) barangay officials were beneficiaries of the free Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) Training organized by the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), through its Regional Extension Unit, last September 4-8, 2017, at the Stargazer Inn, New Site, Brgy. San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras.

With the strong presence of informal sector units in the locality, barangay officials were trained with the basic knowledge and skills on occupational safety and health (OSH) in order to capacitate them in the promotion of a culture on OSH in their locality. Furthermore, the activity provided them the competency in assisting the government and other stakeholders in the future conduct of OSH-related activities.

Barangay officials from various municipalities of Sibunag, Jordan, Buenavista, and Nueva Valencia, were trained on vital topics regarding occupational safety, industrial hygiene, and occupational health. Specific topics included unsafe/unhealthy acts & conditions in the workplace, materials handling & storage, good housekeeping, machine safety, fire safety, electrical safety, hazards in the workplace, control measures, PPE: principles & application, safety & health inspection, accident investigation, workplace emergency preparedness, OSH legislation, and OSH programming, among others.

Class pictorial at the wind farm in
Brgy. Suclaran, San Lorenzo, Guimaras.

As part of the training course, the class visited the 54-MW wind farm of PHINMA Renewable Energy, located in Brgy. Suclaran, San Lorenzo, Guimaras. The activity was designed to provide the class with an actual situation to practice learnings attained. The class was welcomed by Engr. Edwin Gallego, Plant Manager, who oriented them on the background and best practices in OSH of the company. After which, The class was grouped to assess specific areas of safety and health compliance.

At the last part of the course, the participants were instructed to develop their re-entry plans regarding vital OSH-related activities to be done upon return to their respective barangay. Some wrote that the activities are to be done within the week up to the fourth quarter with foreseeable concerns such as budget constraints for the meals during the conduct of sessions, and lack of cooperation and support from stakeholders, among others.

Through the endeavor, every barangay official will be able to advocate workplace safety and health and subsequently develop a culture on OSH in their locality towards a zero accident province.