Driving away accidents through awareness

ILOILO CITY - As an advocacy to drive away work-related accidents and illnesses in the city, the Occupational Safety and Health Center Regional Extension Unit 6 (OSHC-REU6), together with the Department of Labor and Employment Regional Office 6 (DOLE-RO6), conducted an OSH orientation to the workers of  the Light of Glory Taxi Services, one of the recognized and trusted taxi services in the city.

A total of 34-attendees with the presence of management, staff, mechanics, painters, and drivers benefited from the activity. They were all been oriented of the OSHC mandates and programs as well as occupational safety and OSH legislation topics.

Through the orientation, the workers became more aware of the importance of safety and health thus empowered them to further plan and implement effective safety and health policies. The company will comply with the OSH standards as its commitment to the advocacy, said Lourdes A. Espera, human resource manager.

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.

OSHC, Pushing the the envelope in 2016

The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) will be further extending its reach to the workers through enhanced preventive strategies in reducing work-related accidents and illnesses. With the proposal of the 2016 planning tool framework, effective implementation of OSH programs that will enhance productivity and subsequently contribute to national economic development efforts will be carried out. This endeavor will contribute to the universal coverage, expanded benefits, accessibility of social protection and safe work for all.

OSHC Executive Director Dr. Ma. Teresita S. Cucueco, presented the planning tool to the heads and regional representatives during the Year-End Assessment at the Center. Included in the presentation were the agency strategies and expected outcomes, the targets, and innovations.

A number of training schedules and appreciation courses for various participants including the workers from the local government units, the management and union representatives, informal sector and vulnerable sector, are in store this new year.

Activities of OSHC especially in Region-6 will be posted and updated accordingly in the OSHC website for clients to be able to contact the right personnel for their inquiries and concerns. Preferentially, they can visit the nearest Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Regional Offices for information.

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.

First Aider: First Come, First Serve!

According to Rule 1960 of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Standards, "Every employer shall establish in his place of employment, occupational health services." This statement strengthens the importance of health and safety in the workplace, whether public or private, hazardous or non-hazardous. Accidents can happen anytime, maybe through machine problems or human problems. Thus, it is mandated that every establishment must acquire the services of a qualified occupational health personnel, especially a first-aider.

A first-aider is duly certified or qualified person trained by the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) or by any organization accredited by them who can render first-aid. He is someone who gives first aid treatment that are immediate and necessary in case of injury or abrupt illness endured by workers, whether or not the injury/illness is occupational in nature until advanced life support arrives.

Rule 1964.01 of the OSH Standards states that, "A first-aider must be able to read and write and must have completed a course in first aid conducted by the PNRC or any organization accredited by the same." And, in order to maintain the competency of the first-aider, Rule 1963.03 affirms that, "The first-aiders of every establishment shall undergo a minimum of eight (8) hours refresher training course in their respective fields at least once a year."

The first-aiders must be fully aware of their duties. These includes:

1. Rendering immediate temporary treatment in case of injury or illness, before the services of a physician becomes available. If the case needs a physician, the first-aider shall immediately call or refer the injured to one;
2. Involve himself in the maintenance of OSH programs, as a member of the Safety Committee, and;
3. Maintain medical services and facilities.

The OSH Standards states that in every company with 50 or less employees, the employer must seek the services of a  certified first-aider. A first-aider can be anyone who is duly certified and, aside from his usual duties, is delegated as such. Although, if the company has more than 50 employees, the services of a nurse, doctor and dentist are required. Lastly, safety officers are highly recommended to be first-aiders as long as they have undergone the prescribed training from the PNRC.

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.