COSH Training for Safety Officers on July '17

The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment - Regional Office 6 (DOLE-RO6) and the Western Visayas Occupational Safety and Health Network, Inc. (WVOSHNET), will be conducting the 40-hours mandated basic course for safety officers in the construction industry required under the Occupational Safety & Health Standards of the Philippines, specifically Rule 1030, as amended by Department Order No. 16 – Series of 2001 and Department Order No. 13 (DO-13) “Guidelines Governing Occupational Safety & Health in the Construction Industry” of the Department of Labor and Employment, respectively. 

In addition, COSH is also a requirement for the application and renewal of the PCAB License as well as for construction company’s appointed STEs. Furthermore, the training aims to provide participants with knowledge and skills on occupational safety and health (OSH) that will enable them to plan and develop their company’s Safety and Health Program and improve their knowledge and skills on the principles and methods of accident and illness prevention in the workplace.

For further inquiries, please visit our Facebook page at OSHC REU6.

OSHC on safety standards during LMC area-wide orientation in Iloilo City

The OSHC-Regional Extension Unit No. 6, together with the Labor-Management Cooperation (LMC) Convergence Team, conducted an orientation on one of the vital programs and services of DOLE last April 19, 2017, at the NCMB-RB6 Office, Jaro, Iloilo City. A total of 15-representatives from 11- different companies attended the activity.

Melveen Melocoton, the Administrative Officer of OSHC-REU6, discussed the key points in the OSH Standards especially Rule 1030 on the training of safety officers and Rule 1040 on the creation and strengthening of a safety and health committee which are vital to the LMC.

During the discussion, participants voiced concerns about the need for training of a safety officer and organization of a safety and health committee even if there are only less than (5) workers in a certain establishment. Also, some voiced out on the need to reassess the OSH policies and programs of their respective companies so that it will be parallel with the OSH Standards.

Furthermore, he informed the attendees that the OSHC conducts training via the OSHNet and STOs on a monthly basis to cater the demands of establishments and will provide technical assistance to enhance and strengthen the implementation of OSH programs in order to safeguard the workers against occupational hazards, accidents, and illnesses.

After the activity, the team met and proposed for an area-wide training-workshop on May 29 & 30, 2017. One representative each from labor and management from (15) small and medium companies will be invited. These are the companies (with or without LMCs, OSH, PIP and Family Welfare committees) invited since January up to April area-wide convergence activities.

The LMC Convergence Team (LMC-LCT) in Western Visayas strengthens the delivery of its mandates to establishments in Iloilo City via the area-wide orientation. Later on, all of the LMC-LCT’s programs and services shall be converged through a plant-level structure to address decent work deficits, foster harmonious labor-management relationships and industrial peace, and increase productivity and competitiveness of enterprises. // MM

Kick Start of Construction Safety and Health Training in Bacolod

OIC-Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao
giving his welcome address.

A total of 48 participants attended the DOLE-mandated construction safety and health training for CY2017. It was conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) in cooperation with the Department of Labor and Employment - Negros Island Region (DOLE-NIR), and the Safety Organization of Negros Occidental, Incorporated (SONO, Inc.) last February 20-24, at the Sugar Workers Development Center, Cottage Rd., Bacolod City.

DOLE-NIR OIC-Regional Director Cyril L. Ticao, welcomed the participants and thanked the facilitators for their full support in the capacity building of safety officers in the region. "Don't take the training for granted. We will assist you in very step of the way to keep our workers safe and healthy. You will be the contact of DOLE in partnership for the promotion of the welfare, protection, and promotion of the people," he said.

Participants having their workshop.

OSHC-REU6 Administrative Officer, Melveen Melocoton, restated that the training is a basic requirement towards a career in occupational safety and health for safety officers. Afterward, the participants should do their best to acquire the credentials required to level up in becoming DOLE-accredited OSH practitioners and later on as OSH consultants.

"We will enhance our collaboration with the DOLE-NIR and the SONO, Inc. to further schedule more training in the region. One of them is the ergonomics training which will be conducted by the OSHC on Mar. 1-2, at Bacolod Pavillon Hotel," he added.

Site visit activity

During the training, the participants visited (2) on-going construction sites from Almana Construction Development Corporation and J. Santos Construction Inc. to provide an actual situation of unsafe conditions, hazards and good points on OSH by each contractor. Then, the consolidated report on assessments and recommendations will be given to the contractors to serve as free safety and health audit of their projects.

With the training of more competent safety officers in the region, the attainment of a healthy, well-protected working population in the region is at hand.//MM