Displaced OFWs complete safety and health training

Source: The Daily Guardian | Vol. XVII | Monday, April 30, 2018

Safety Practitioner: A Roaring Career Opportunity for Displaced OFWs

The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), in coordination with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration-Regional Welfare Office VI (OWWA-RWO VI), conducted an OSH orientation for the registered displaced OFWs at the OWWA-RWO VI Training Room, Robinsons Mall, Iloilo City.

The activity was done to enlighten the displaced OFWs about the roaring career opportunities if they will pursue the path of an accredited safety practitioner of the country.

The general public, nowadays, is becoming more conscious about the seriousness of safety and health at work, especially in Western Visayas.

With the recent news about fatalities and deaths related to occupational safety and health (OSH), a concerned citizen would wonder keenly if what "entity" is the vital safeguard between OSH vs. accident at work. How can that entity prevent workers from going home with broken/lost limbs or dreadful work-related illnesses?

The knight in shining armor that we seek is a SAFETY PRACTITIONER. One with sufficient training and experience on OSH based on set standards and accredited by the OSHC. Currently, there are only 32 accredited OSH practitioners versus 523 hazardous establishments that need full-time safety officers in the region.

The OSHC is maximizing its efforts to provide displaced OFWs with the basic knowledge and skills on occupational safety and health (OSH) that will enable them in the promotion of a culture on OSH in their locality and to provide development opportunities that will capacitate them in a career on OSH both in the local and international level.

Finally, with the "BUILD, BUILD, BUILD" Project of the Duterte Administration, we will expect more building of infrastructures and the development of various industries. Hence, the demand for more accredited safety practitioners in the entire region.// MM

OSHC Capacitates OFWs on OSH

OWWA RWO6 - OIC James B. Mendiola giving his
welcome address to the attendees of the activity.

To sustain and maximize the efforts of the government in addressing the needs of repatriated workers, a total of (19) overseas foreign workers (OFWs) were oriented on the programs and services of the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) during the welfare session for OFWs repatriated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia organized by the Oversees Workers Welfare Administration – Regional Welfare Office 6 (OWWA-RWO6) at the OWWA-RWO6 office, 3rd Flr. Robinson’s Place, Iloilo City, last January 19, 2017.

Melveen Melocoton, OSHC-REU6 focal person, discussed OSHC’s programs and services to capacitate the attendees on the government’s commitment to eliminate/reduce work-related injuries, illnesses, and deaths in its working population. Hence, the demand for safety practitioners is high especially with the booming of both the general and construction industry in the Philippines.

"OFWs may want to consider a career path in occupational safety and health (OSH)," Melocoton told the attendees. 

"Safety practitioners are essential in all workplaces, both locally and abroad. And, there are plenty of career opportunities for them like like having jobs as safety officers, trainers, private auditors or consultants, among others," he added.

Class pictorial together with the OWWA-WRO6 OIC,
DOLE-RO6 Focal on Special Programs,
and OSHC-REU6 Focal.

In 2016, a total of 106,655 workers benefitted from OSHC services. This includes those who benefitted from the OSHC technical services as well as the 36,527 participants in the mandatory and specialized OSH training conducted jointly with the Occupational Safety and Health Networks nad DOLE-accredited Safety Training Organizations throughout the country.

This year, OSHC, especially in Western Visayas, hopes to gain more partnerships with stakeholders in order to expand further its zero accident program (ZAP) through its mandated training and technical services.//MM