HIV/AIDS Awareness for WVSUMC Workers

As a strategy for ending the stigma of HIV/AIDS in West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC), a total of 73-personnel consisting of doctors, nurses, housekeeping, laboratory technicians, among others, were oriented on the fundamentals of the silent killer specifically in the workplace.

Melveen Melocoton, regional representative of OSHC in Region 6, discussed the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the workers and their families, enterprises, and the country. During the activity, he conducted a workshop where attendees were tasked to write down the common stigma which hinders them in opening conversations on HIV/AIDS awareness. As a result, most workers still consider the topic as a taboo and awkward.

"HIV & AIDS are workplace issues. The impact is felt by both workers & employers together with their families," said Melveen Melocoton. Workplace intervention can help limit the spread & mitigate the impact of HIV & AIDS, he added.

The workplace allows development of policies & strategies, facilitates promotion of health messages, facilitates referral of workers for care & support, and provides an opportunity for an effective partnership among the private and public sectors. With a well-developed policy on HIV prevention, it will result to minimized workplace disruption & lost productivity; Reduced health care costs by preventing new infections; Company demonstration of concern for the welfare of workers & families; Assurance that people living with HIV (PLWH) receive appropriate counseling, medical, & social support.

HIV/AIDS remains to be a silent killer with no cure. Thus, prevention is the best strategy ending the spread of the virus. And, the OSHC remains to be a valuable partner in the information dissemination on HIV/AIDS awareness. Especially in assisting both private and public sectors in the development and strengthening of policies and programs on HIV prevention.

OSH for sugar regulatory officers in Bacolod

A total of 27 personnel from the Sugar Regulatory Administration - Visayas had a 1-day safety and health awareness course conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), in partnership with the Safety Organization of Negros Occidental, Inc. (SONO, Inc.), held at the SRA Training Center, Araneta St., Singcang, Bacolod City

Engr. Dinah P. Acoyong, a DOLE-Accredited OSH Practitioner and SONO representative, was tapped by the OSHC to discuss the topics on industrial hygiene, control measures, work environment measurement, and PPE; principles and application. The topics were selected by the SRA as indicated in their request letter to the OSHC.

The OSHC is the national authority for research and training on matters pertaining to safety and health at work. It provides the expertise and intervention mechanism to improve workplace conditions in the Philippines.

OSHC orients Lambunao workers on safety and health

The Occupational Safety and Health Center - Regional Extension Unit No. 6 (OSHC-REU6) conducted a safety and health orientation to the workers under the Municipal Economic Enterprise Development Office (MEEDO) consisting of (14) Revenue Generating Unit (RGU) of the Municipality of Lambunao, Iloilo.

The activity was graced by the presence of Mayor Jason Gonzales who welcomed the attendees and inspired them by stating the many accomplishments gained by the municipality through the efforts of all its constituents.

During the activity, the workers present were assigned to the slaughterhouses, traffic enforcement, market office, garments, and prints, among others. The RGU manpower executes both physical and mental tasks daily to guarantee effective services to their clients. Thus, the office of the MEEDO saw that in each RGU, the personnel were in need to have a background in occupational safety and health (OSH) precautions which they can apply in their workplaces.

Melveen Melocoton, the OSHC regional representative, discussed the basic OSH principles, common hazards in the workplaces, and its preventive measures in order to assure a safe and healthy working environment for everyone. Also, a workshop was conducted wherein the attendees were instructed to write down and explain the unsafe acts and conditions currently present in their respective workplaces.

OSHC REU6 continues to extend its reach in Western Visayas to enhance and strengthen OSH policies and programs, delivery of quality OSH services, client-focused responses, management of resources, linkages and information dissemination.

OSHC @ 30

Guimaras barangay officials trained to advocate workplace safety and health

Graduation pictorial with the stakeholders and participants.

REU6, ILOILO CITY - A total of (34) barangay officials were beneficiaries of the free Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH) Training organized by the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), through its Regional Extension Unit, last September 4-8, 2017, at the Stargazer Inn, New Site, Brgy. San Miguel, Jordan, Guimaras.

With the strong presence of informal sector units in the locality, barangay officials were trained with the basic knowledge and skills on occupational safety and health (OSH) in order to capacitate them in the promotion of a culture on OSH in their locality. Furthermore, the activity provided them the competency in assisting the government and other stakeholders in the future conduct of OSH-related activities.

Barangay officials from various municipalities of Sibunag, Jordan, Buenavista, and Nueva Valencia, were trained on vital topics regarding occupational safety, industrial hygiene, and occupational health. Specific topics included unsafe/unhealthy acts & conditions in the workplace, materials handling & storage, good housekeeping, machine safety, fire safety, electrical safety, hazards in the workplace, control measures, PPE: principles & application, safety & health inspection, accident investigation, workplace emergency preparedness, OSH legislation, and OSH programming, among others.

Class pictorial at the wind farm in
Brgy. Suclaran, San Lorenzo, Guimaras.

As part of the training course, the class visited the 54-MW wind farm of PHINMA Renewable Energy, located in Brgy. Suclaran, San Lorenzo, Guimaras. The activity was designed to provide the class with an actual situation to practice learnings attained. The class was welcomed by Engr. Edwin Gallego, Plant Manager, who oriented them on the background and best practices in OSH of the company. After which, The class was grouped to assess specific areas of safety and health compliance.

At the last part of the course, the participants were instructed to develop their re-entry plans regarding vital OSH-related activities to be done upon return to their respective barangay. Some wrote that the activities are to be done within the week up to the fourth quarter with foreseeable concerns such as budget constraints for the meals during the conduct of sessions, and lack of cooperation and support from stakeholders, among others.

Through the endeavor, every barangay official will be able to advocate workplace safety and health and subsequently develop a culture on OSH in their locality towards a zero accident province.