OSHC-REU6 intensifies safety and health awareness and innovations in Lambunao

LAMBUNAO, ILOILO - The OSHC-REU6 intensified the "Vision 1 Million" though the conduct of a free 1-day safety and health awareness with topics on basic safety and health measures, and innovations at work for the 35-garment workers composing of housewives, senior citizens, LGU job hires, among others.

Melveen Melocoton, OSHC-REU6 focal, facilitated the safety and health topics with discussions, games and workshops. He discussed the topics on accident causation, good housekeeping and innovations on occupational safety and health.

"With a sound policy on safety and health, an active committee, a trained safety officer and occupational health personnel, you'll be able to develop better programs and innovations to prevent losses and thus result to good sales performance towards productivity," he said.

On the other hand, Lambunao Acting Municipal Administrator Sofia G. Halago said that we need to embrace the learning and apply it in our workplace. Doing so implies that we gave value to the efforts of our social partners to equip us with the learning for our own good and thus we need to do our share.

"Let's help one another for the sustainability of the project," she added.

The activity was in partnership with the  Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) via its Shared Facilities Project that is geared towards accelerating competitiveness of micro,small, and medium enterprises (MSME) through provision of state-of-the-art machinery and equipment, and safety and health interventions and innovations.

In Iloilo, garments making became a shared service facility project of the DTI in partnership with the local government of Lambunao, Iloilo. The project started in 2015 which provided the locality with sewing, edging and piping machines, rotary printers, embroidery machine and generator set. // MM

The Occupational Health Nurses Association of the Philippines (OHNAP), Inc. will be holding its 285th Postgraduate Course on Basic Occupational Safety & Health (BOSH) for Nurses from September 16-21, 2019 at exactly 8:00AM-5:00PM at MO2 Westown Hotel, Benigno Aquino Avenue, Mandurriao Iloilo City.

The six-day course is designed for all nurses as required by the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and in compliance with Rule 1960 of the Occupational Safety & Health Standards requiring all nurses in OSH to take up the Basic Occupational Safety & Health (BOSH) course.

Please refer to the link below to get a copy of the invitation letter:

OHNAP BOSH in Iloilo Invitation Letter 

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

New law ensures safer, hazard-free workplaces

Melveen Melocoton, Officer-in-Charge of the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) Regional Extension Unit No. 6, presents the salient provisions of the Department Order No. 198-18 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11058 also known as the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) Law, held Feb. 7 at J7 Hotel in Iloilo City.(Photo by PIA-Iloilo)

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has started implementing the rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 11058 also known as the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) law.

In a press briefing held recently at J7 Hotel in Iloilo City, Melveen Melocoton, officer-in-charge of the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) Regional Extension Unit No. 6, said the coverage of DOLE Department Order No. 198, Series of 2018, Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), shall apply to all establishments, projects, sites and all other places where work is being undertaken in all branches of economic activity.

“These include establishments located inside special economic zones and other investment promotion agencies; utilities engaged in air, sea, and land transportation; industries such as mining, fishing, construction, agriculture, and maritime; and contractors and subcontractors including those engaged in the projects of the public sector,” he said.

He said, however, that the IRR “does not apply to the public sector such as national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations with charters, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges and local government units.”

Based on the IRR, every employer, contractor, or subcontractor, and any person who manages, control or supervise the work shall:

• Equip a place of employment for workers free from hazardous conditions that are causing or are likely to cause death, illness, or physical harm.
• Provide complete job safety instructions and proper orientation to all workers.
• Ensure that the chemical, physical and biological substances and agents, and ergonomic and psychosocial stresses under their control are without risk to health when the appropriate measures of protection are taken.
• Use only approved specific industry set of standards of devices and equipment for the workplace as applicable.”
• Comply with occupational safety and health (OSH) including training, medical examination and when necessary, provisions on protective and safety devices such as personal protective equipment and machine guards.
• Make arrangement for workers and their representatives to participate in the processes of organizing, planning, and implementation, monitoring, evaluation and action for improvement of the OSH management system.
• Provide, when necessary, for measures identifying training and drill, evacuation plans, etc., to deal with emergencies, fires, and accidents including first-aid arrangements.”
• Comply with all reportorial requirements of the OSH standards; and register establishment to DOLE as provided under the OSH standards.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure compliance to OSH standards every worker shall: participate in capacity-building activities on safety and health and other OSH-related topics and programs; proper use of all safeguards and safety devices; comply with instructions to prevent accidents or imminent danger situations; observe prescribed steps to be taken in cases of emergency, including participation on national or local disaster drills; and report any work hazard that may be discovered in the workplace.

Failure or refusal to comply with OSH standards or compliance order shall be deemed willful when done voluntarily, deliberately and intentionally.

An employer, contractor, or subcontractor who is found to have repeatedly violated the same prohibited act shall be penalized of the corresponding fine plus an additional fine equivalent to 50 percent thereof for every instance of repeat violation.

When the violation exposed the worker to death, serious injury, or serious illness, the imposable penalty shall be P100,000.

The department order was signed Dec. 6, 2018; published on Jan. 9, 2019, and was effective Jan. 25, 2019. // PIA-Iloilo

Source:

https://thedailyguardian.net/business/new-law-ensures-safer-hazard-free-workplaces/

Regional OSH advocacy and open forum in Iloilo City

REU6 starts work for 2019

The OSHC-REU6 will be starting its first-day operation tomorrow on January 3, two days after the kickstart of  2019. The new year will be a game changer for all safety advocates in the country due to the much awaited implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 11058, otherwise known as the "ACT STRENGTHENING COMPLIANCE WITH OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF."

To keep the ball rolling, the regional unit will be coordinating with its stakeholders and partners for the speedy posting of the 2019 calendar of OSH-related activities in the entire Western Visayas.  With this, all OSH advocates and enthusiasts will be promptly informed and involved of the OSHC's "Vision 1 Million" crusade. // MM