Strict compliance of occupational health and safety urged

With the passage of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law, RA 11058, and the DOLE Department Order 198, stiffer and higher fines and penalties await those erring companies, contractors and subcontractors.

Engr. Concepcion T. Sto. Tomas, chief of Safety Division of the Occupational Safety and Health Center, said that all establishments should adhere to the requirements of the law so as to avoid fines and penalties.

“Unang una kailangang may safety officer [sa ating establishment] na nakapag undergo ng mandatory safety trainings. Kailangang kailangan po kasi ang kaalaman at tsaka experience para malaman ang risk levels sa kanilang mga trabaho sa company,” Engr. Sto. Tomas said. 

According to the implementing rules and regulations of the RA 11058, as a minimum requirement, every establishment should have at least a Safety Officer 1 and must have attended the basic occupational safety and health training and other mandatory courses.

A recently conducted Public Information Campaign by the OSHC and the DOLE Region IV-B, which was attended by hundreds of representatives coming from different establishments in the province, provided in-depth information to the participants on how to comply with the latest requirements of the D.O. No. 198 series of 2018. 

Director Joel M. Gonzales, regional director of DOLE MIMAROPA, delivered his welcome remarks, lauding the representatives of all companies and establishments who attended the said event.

There was also an awarding of winners of Himig Kaligtasan at Kalusugan and Selfie for Health and Safety, where the two declared winners were from Rio Tuba Nickel Corporation.

The Department of Labor and Employment through the initiative of the OSHC, launched the Vision 1 Million to produce at least 1 million safety advocates. At present, there are nearly about a million establishments in the country, which in turn should have their own safety advocate, paving way in reaching the Vision 1 Million of the agency.

In addition, OSHC launched the 11th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK), which is a national award given by the DOLE in recognition of the outstanding achievement of establishments and individuals in terms of responding to the safety and health needs of workers, of workplaces and community.

The GKK aims to encourage institutions/companies to implement safety, health and environment programs and in the process achieve productivity and zero accident in their workplaces, and to recognize outstanding institutions, enterprises, or individuals who have implemented successful safety and health programs and ideas.

In Palawan, Petrosphere Incorporated is the only safety training organization that provides the DOLE-mandated courses, Basic Occupational Safety and Health, Construction Safety and Health, including the Loss Control Management and Safety Program Audit. Monthly training courses are conducted to cater the increasing demands for immediate compliance.