OSHC-REU6 receives DOH Golden Award

With the active participation of the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) on the National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) of the Department of Health-Center for Health Development Western Visayas, the regional unit was awarded the golden award during the DOH-CHD WV Regional Recognition of Partners and Stakeholders last December 7, at the EON Centennial Resort, Jaro, Iloilo City.

Melveen Melocoton, Regional Focal of OSHC-REU6, received the award during the event.

The partnership existed since 2017 when the regional unit was invited for a series of collaboration on "TB Advocacy in Business Community/Workplace." The involvement of the OSHC became an integral part of the DOH's advocacy in the elimination of TB via collaborative meetings/awareness activities with various stakeholders and the development of assessment checklists and strengthening of referral systems for the proper documentation of all TB cases in the entire region.

The regional unit also became an active member of the Center for Infection Control and Treatment, Inc. (CICAT) as a mark of its commitment towards public-private partnership in the advocacy of occupational safety and health, and addressing occupational health issues in the entire region.

With the release of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 11058, entitled "An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof," all private companies covered must have well formulated and implemented comprehensive OSH programs especially on TB in the workplace or be penalized with administrative fines upon thorough inspection and investigation by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). //MM

OSHC empowers sanitary inspectors in Western Visayas

The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) conducted an OSH orientation for the (10) sanitary officers/inspectors/engineers from various local government units in Western Visayas. The orientation was an inclusion to the 2-days Training of Trainers on Implementing Rules & Regulations on Presidential Decree 856 - Chapter 7 on "Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Health," last September 6-7, 2018, at the Forest Park Resort Hotel, Bacolod City.

The participants were oriented to familiarize with the OSH situations in the global and local setting; Identify the problems and issues associated with OSH conditions in the country; Describe OSH situations in different companies; Define and differentiate accidents, unsafe/unhealthy acts and conditions; Identify and enumerate different situations and practices that constitute unsafe/unhealthy acts and conditions; Recognize industrial hygiene principles; Explain the key concepts of occupational health, among others.

During the OSH situationer topic, the participants were informed of the trending cases of OSH-related accidents and illnesses in the country. The 2015-2016 Philippine Statistics Authority Integrated Survey on Labor and Employment (PSA-ISLE) revealed that workers mostly fell victims of various accidents like superficial injuries and open wounds, dislocations, sprains and strains, fractures, among others. While occupational diseases were mostly related to work-related musculoskeletal disorders like carpal tunnel syndrome and shoulder tendonitis.


On industrial hygiene and occupational health, the participants were made aware of the (4) basic environmental stresses/hazards arising in the workplace. They were physical hazards, chemical hazards, biological hazards, and ergonomic hazards. Each hazard, if not controlled as soon as possible, would lead to adverse health effects that may temporarily or permanently disable a worker, or kill the worker. Thus, the participants gathered their collective ideas on how can they provide good recommendations for establishments with the presence of various hazards.

The OSHC also informed the participants of its mandate and technical services such as capacity-building on OSH, testing of personal protective equipment, and the provision of the work environment measurement (WEM). Thus, the OSHC is looking forward to a strong networking with the sanitary inspectors because of issues in connection with poor industrial hygiene and occupational health practices of some companies they have visited.

"Our goals in creating safe and healthy workplaces in the region are complementary," said Melveen Melocoton, officer-in-charge of OSHC-REU6. Let us work hand-in-hand in assisting establishments to be compliant with OSH rules and regulations, he added.

Most of the sanitary inspectors were enlightened on how to deal with OSH-related issues arising in workplaces that they have visited. They are now aware that a safety officer and occupational health personnel can assist them in determining unsafe/unhealthy working conditions that may lead to accidents and illnesses. Also, they are now mindful of the DOLE requirement for the number of safety officers and health personnel and their duties in ensuring good sanitary practices for the workers and the general public. With this, they are looking forward to also be trained on the DOLE mandated 40-hours basic occupational safety and health for safety officers so that they can perform a more comprehensive assessment and provide better recommendations in every workplace that they will soon visit.

The OSHC will continue to assist the sanitary inspectors through a series of meetings and invitations to upcoming capacity-building activities so that they'll be more competent in enforcing and administering the rules and regulations under the PD 856-Chapter 7 and the OSH Standards. // MM

President Duterte signs OSH Law

President Duterte signed on August 17, the Republic Act 11058, otherwise known as "An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof”

The new law on OSH will empower the authority of the Department of Labor and Employment on the enforcement of the OSH Standards by administering fines to companies who are not complying with its rules and/or minimum requirements. Also, it will provide positive impacts on the workers for the law will reinforce their rights especially regarding the rights to know, refuse unsafe work, report accidents, and personal protective equipment.

For further information about the law, please click the link: RA 11058

Assuring Safe & Sustainable Abaca Farming in Antique

The OSHC-Regional Extension Unit No. 6 conducted an OSH orientation and risk assessment workshop for the program administrators and abaca farmers' representatives under the supervision of the Antique Development Foundation (ADF), at the ADF conference room, Atabay, San Jose, Antique.

The Antique Development Foundation (ADF), a non-government organization in partnership with Care Philippines, has been implementing the Typhoon Haiyan Reconstruction Assistance (THRA) Project that supports the economic reconstruction of people affected by Typhoon Haiyan in four (4) focus municipalities of Culasi, Tibiao, Barbaza, and Laua-an. The project expanded to additional 10 municipalities in the Province of Antique for the implementation of Household Level Abaca Plantation. It focuses on Abaca Value Chain that intends to establish sustainable and resilient livelihood activities involving the most vulnerable households.

"We are currently working to improve the farming practices, management systems, and farmer knowledge which in turn will contribute to farm productivity, livelihood resiliency of farmers and their families, among others," said ADF Executive Director Rhoda E. Pon-an.

We are also aiming for the sustainability certification of abaca under the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) - Rainforest Alliance Certification System. And, one of the fundamental principles for the certification is occupational safety and health, she added.

Melveen M. Melocoton, OSHC-REU6 officer-in-charge, discussed the facts and figures related to agriculture both in the global and local setting. Also, he discussed the risk assessment approach in order to jump-start the establishment of an OSH system in their entire Abaca Value Chain. The attendees identified hazards up to its control measures according to the production, processing, and marketing of the abaca fibers for endorsement and evaluation.

Conclusively, the need for the program administrators and farmers' association representatives to undergo a 40-hours basic occupational safety and health (BOSH) training for safety officers was considered so that there will be competent persons who can facilitate in the establishment of an OSH system for the Abaca Value Chain and assure its implementation and sustainability.// MM

16th NOSH Congress, Be an OSH Champion, Vision 1 Million

For a copy of the invitation letter, please visit the OSH Activities page and click the link to download.