Displaced OFWs complete safety and health training

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

OSHC Celebrates World Day for Safety and Health at Work 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

Senate approves bill strengthening work safety and health standards on second reading

Senate Bill No. 1317 or the Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof passed the scrutiny of senators on second reading on Valentine’s Day.

Senate Bill 1317: AN ACT STRENGTHENING COMPLIANCE WITH OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF

Sources: 

• https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/02/15/senate-oks-bill-strengthening-work-safety-and-health-standards-on-second-reading/
• https://www.senate.gov.ph/lis/bill_res.aspx?congress=17&q=SBN-1317
• http://www.ikot.ph/non-compliance-occupational-safety-health-standards-crime-villanueva/

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.