COSHEMAP COSH Schedule in Iloilo on February

Please click link for the invitation letter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwccZlG-njbLUFF6WDA0R3RQckE/view?usp=sharing 

Training on Occupational Safety and Health at Large

The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment – Regional Office 6 (DOLE-RO6), and Western Visayas Occupational Safety and Health Network, Inc. (WVOSHNET), conducted its first mandated 40-hours (5-days) Construction Occupational Safety and Health (COSH) Training for 2016, last Jun. 27-Jul. 1, at the HRT Service Center, Iloilo Science and Technology University, La Paz, Iloilo City.

The training was attended by 50-pax from various private and public organizations. The participants present were contractors, safety officers, management staff, foremen, among others.

Salome O. Siaton, OIC-Regional Director of DOLE-RO6, welcomed the participants and thanked the partners for their full time support towards the achievement of zero accidents in the region. She echoed her experiences on OSH and sadly verbalized that there are those who take OSH for granted. “We can compromise benefits but never the lives of workers,” she said. Let us help one another, not just for compliance but to make Western Visayas a zero accident area, she added.

Engr. Maximo J. Pareja, President of WVOSHNET, Inc., said that their organization will keep on working hand-in-hand with OSHC and DOLE-RO6 to increase schedules of both BOSH and COSH due to high demands in the region; 

Melveen M. Melocoton, Admin Officer of OSHC in Region-6, commended the inspiring efforts of WVOSHNET as the extending arm of the OSHC and DOLE-RO6 in most of its activities on OSH.

During the training, the participants were able to embrace the fundamentals of occupational safety and health wherein they discussed topics on occupational safety, industrial hygiene and occupational health. They were also able to learn the roles of a safety officer, legislations, and its career opportunities. Furthermore, they integrated their learnings attained via a safety and health audit at the Atria Avida Storey 1 and Tower 1, Brgy. San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.

The COSH training is in pursuance with the Occupational Safety and Health Standards and DOLE Department Order 13, series of 1998.

CSHP Training: First of its kind in Region 6

Due to the increasing issues and concerns on occupational safety and health (OSH) in the region, the Department of Labor and Employment Region 6 (DOLE-RO6) formed the network of networks (N2N), consisting of different organizations (private and public) involved in the zero accident program to facilitate the planning and implementation of effective, responsive, and sustainable OSH-related programs, projects and activities to reinforce the advocacy on OSH.

Through productive meetings to address increasing construction activities resulting to further demand for monitoring and ensuring the safety and health of workers, the N2N was able to spearhead the conduct of the 2-days Construction Safety and Health Program (CSHP) Training last March 29-30, 2016, where 63-participants from the various LGU of Panay Island and personnel from the DPWH attended and shared their experiences and grievances on the matter pertaining to the CSHP.

Regional Director Ponciano M. Ligutom of the DOLE-RO6 graced the activity with his presence and stated that the 2-days CSHP training was the first of its kind. He sadly verbalized that there are plenty of construction projects with no CSHP. “Hindi pera, hindi DOLE ang pinag-usapan natin dito kundi buhay ng tao.” Let us find a solution that will not compromise our principles. If others can’t do it, let’s do it, he added.

During the training, topics included were OSH legislation, OSH programming, work site inspection, construction heavy equipment and personal protective equipment. On the 2^nd day, the participants put into practice the knowledge gained via workshops on CSHP preparation and evaluation. Finally, an open forum was moderated by the DOLE where participants got more opportunities to voice out their grievances and recommendations revolving around the CSHP and its implementation.

The 2-days CSHP training was designed for the participants to recognize the process flow in the preparation of a CSHP, to be able to prepare a correct and comprehensive CSHP, intensify the promotional activities, and raise the level of awareness of the public in the promotion of a zero accident in the construction sites.

Yes to OSH in Negros, the war against accidents in the construction industry

In order to address the need for more competent safety officers in Negros Occidental, the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Safety Organization of Negros Occidental, Inc., conducted the construction safety training (CST) in Bacolod City, last Sept. 28 - Oct. 2, 2015.

The CST was attended by a total of 37-participants from various industries such as the construction industry, manufacturing industry, among others. It is a 40-hours (5-days) worth of training on topics including introduction to safety and health, occupational safety, environmental safety, occupational health, and responses to occupational safety and health (OSH)  issues and challenges.

Cyril L. Ticao, Assistant Regional Director of the DOLE Region 6, welcomed the participants and thanked the OSHC and SONO, Inc., for the strong partnership in promoting occupational safety and health (OSH) in Negros Occidental.

Dyan Grace A. Mayang, a compensation and benefits officer of FocusDirect, Inc., was asked regarding her reason for attending the training. She replied, "In order to learn more information regarding safety practices in the workplace." The training provided me with knowledge and skills  in identifying hazardous practices that can be applied at home as well, she added.

On the other hand, Anthony G. Altarejos, a nurse by profession and safety officer of The Doctors' Hospital, Inc in Bacolod, said that as a nurse without engineering academics and hands-on experience in the construction industry, the training contributed much to his knowledge and awareness on safety. Hence, he will be able to pursue safety programs that can benefit not only the employees but also his patients.

Rhoel S. Historia, environmental, safety & health (ESH) coordinator of Panay Electric Development Corp. - 3, stated that the training can provide compliance and maturity of safety culture in his company.

We can help anybody by sharing the knowledge we learned by making them aware of the hazards in all kinds of work. Also, we educate the people to avoid such hazards that can harm o deter them from working on a productive aspect, said Carlo Doniel Labis of Meilleur Manpower Services.

With the vigorous commitment of OSHC, DOLE, and SONO in the creation of safe and healthy workplaces in the region, more upcoming activities on safety and health are anticipated. Because, it is more fun in a safe and healthy region.

Cyril l. Ticao, ARD of DOLE-Region 6, giving the welcome address.

Ruge P. Balladares, SONO President, discussing the topic on unsafe/unhealthy acts and conditions in the workplace.

Class pictoral.

Balladares, a champion on OSH in Region 6

Ruge Pisueña Balladares, 2015 President of the Safety Organization of Negros Occidental (SONO), Inc., was one of the guests during the Morning Chow of ABS-CBN, yesterday.

He was interviewed regarding the background and mission of the organization. Also, he announced to the public the conduct of the Construction Safety Training in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 and Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) Regional Extension Unit No.6.

As an Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Practitioner, accredited by DOLE Region VI, he champions the advocacy of OSH and the commitment towards the safety and health of workers wherever he goes.

As SONO President, he excelled in the leadership and management of his organization which resulted to the increased conduct of safety and health training schedules in Negros Occidental and advocacy activities on occupational safety and health. During his leadership, the activation of the Junior SONO (J-SONO), a group of students who also allies in the cause for a safe and healthy workplace, was done to enhance the eyes, hands and voices of the organization.

Mr. Balladares, continues to be an asset in the mission towards establishing a culture on OSH in the region.

Mr. Ruge P. Balladares (front), together with Engr. Bernard Gasendo (left side), being interviewed by the host.

Officers of SONO, Inc.

OSHC Trains More Promising Safety Officers in Negros

The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Office 6 and Safety Organization of Negros Occidental (SONO), Inc., conducted the Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) training for Safety Officers last February 23-27, 2015, at O-Hotel, Sebastian St., Bacolod City.

 The BOSH training is part of a labor mandate to strengthen the call for zero accidents in all workplaces in the country. It is a 5-days worth of lectures, exercises, presentations, workshops, and a plant visit so that participants will get a full comprehension of the topics involved in occupational safety and health.

Ruge P. Balladares, 2015 President of SONO, Inc., encouraged more potential safety officers of the labor force to keep on updating their knowledge and enhancing their skills on OSH. He even advised that all who already have long been practicing the art to apply as an active member of SONO and to push through for accreditation to become a proud OSH practitioner.

Through the efforts of each organization, the gap between a worker from obtaining a safe and healthy workplace is now increasingly being identified and fixed. And soon, with companies more engaged in OSH practices, and the presence of more OSH practitioners in the country, especially in Region 6, zero accidents in the workplace will finally be goals met.