PC 5 – Construction Engineering

Management: Construction Occupational

Safety and Health (COSH)
Unit 1: Introduction to OSH

Adapted from:
Prepared by:
Basic Occupational Safety and Health Training
Occupational Safety and Health Center ENGR. KARLA ANN D. PICOY
Department of Labor and Employment Faculty, Civil Engineering Department
Republic of the Philippines
 Unit 1
INTRODUCTION TO OSH

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Explain the major fields of OSH;
2. Discuss the importance and benefits of safety and health;
3. Discuss the problems, issues and challenges associated with OSH conditions in the country; and
4. Identify laws and policies which govern OSH administration in the Philippines.

Unit Contents

Module 1: OSH Foundations and its Benefits

Module 2: Global and National Situation in OSH
Module 3: International OSH Standards by the International Labour
Organization
Module 4: Philippine Legislation

Time Frame

This unit can be covered in two weeks.

 Unit 1
INTRODUCTION TO OSH

Module 1: OSH Foundations and its Benefits

Module 1, aims to provide a background on the foundation of OSH and its benefits. We
will be discussing the definition of OSH, its importance and relation to the accidents,
hazards and risks at work.

What is Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)?

Occupational safety and health is a discipline with a broad scope involving three major
fields – Occupational Safety, Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene.

 Occupational safety deals with understanding the causes of accidents at work

and ways to prevent unsafe act and unsafe conditions in any workplace. Safety at
work discusses concepts on good housekeeping, proper materials handling and
storage, machine safety, electrical safety, fire prevention and control, safety
inspection, and accident investigation.
 Occupational health is a broad concept which explains how the different hazards
and risks at work may cause an illness and emphasizes that health programs are
essential in controlling work-related and/or occupational diseases.
 Industrial hygiene discusses the identification, evaluation, and control of
physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic hazards.

“In its broadest sense, OSH aims at:

• the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental
and social well-being of workers in all occupations;
• the prevention of adverse health effects of the working conditions
• the placing and maintenance of workers in an occupational environment
adapted to physical and mental needs;
• the adaptation of work to humans (and NOT the other way around).

In other words, occupational health and safety encompasses the social, mental and
physical well-being of workers, that is, the “whole person”.

Successful occupational health and safety practice requires the collaboration and
participation of both employers and workers in health and safety programs, and involves
the consideration of issues relating to occupational medicine, industrial hygiene,
toxicology, education, engineering safety, ergonomics, psychology, etc.

Occupational health issues are often given less attention than occupational safety issues
because the former are generally more difficult to confront. However, when health is
addressed, so is safety - a healthy workplace is by definition also a safe workplace. The
reverse, though, may not be true - a so-called safe workplace is not necessarily also a
 healthy workplace. The important point is that both health and safety issues must be
addressed in every workplace.” (Your health and safety at work: INTRODUCTION TO
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, International Labour Organization, accessed 25 April 2005
[Link]

IMPORTANCE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

The construction industry is prone to many hazards and potential accidents. Construction
materials, machinery, tool, and handling techniques all come with their own dangers, that’s why
health and safety in construction needs to be front of mind in every aspect at all times. It is not a
matter to be taken lightly.
Most type of accidents which can cause death or serious injury on construction sites include
falls, collapsing materials, incidents with site vehicles and contact with overhead power lines can be
avoided by implementing stringent health and safety protocols and ensuring those protocols are
constantly maintained.

Seven Main Problems of OSH in the Philippines

1. OSH Standards & the implementing guidelines are inadequate & not up-to-date.
2. There is a need to have training in the correct interpretation of OSH Standards for the
enforcing authority as well as safety & health practitioners.
3. There is weak enforcement of OSH Standards.
4. Statistics does not give reliable data, due to low rate of compliance, absence of strict
penalties, fragmented OSH administration.
5. There is lack of OSH facilities & lack of trained OSH personnel.
6. There is low priority given to OSH.
7. Lack of education & awareness on OSH among workers & management.
Importance of OSH
 It is mandated by law
 It preserves the lives of workers & the company
 It is a form of motivation
 It creates understanding

What is Safety?

Safety is a state in which hazards and conditions leading to physical, psychological or

material harm are controlled in order to preserve the health and well-being of individuals
and the community.

Accidents
Interrupts or disrupts the normal & orderly progress of any activity & may result in injury
(minor, serious or fatal) to people and/or damage or destruction of property that result to
losses.
 Freedom of oneself from HAZARDS.
 Control of hazards through injury prevention & damage control.
 Control of hazards to attain an acceptable level of RISKS.
The terms hazard and risk are often interchanged. Because you will be encountering
these throughout the course it is a must that you understand the difference between
them.

Hazard – a source or situation with a potential to cause harm in terms of injury, ill
health, damage to property, damage to the environment or a combination of these.

Risk – a combination of the likelihood of an occurrence of a hazardous event with

specified period or in specified circumstances and the severity of injury or damage to
the health of people, property, environment or any combination of these caused by
the event.

The hazards affecting the workplace under each major area should be detected,
identified, controlled and, at best, prevented from occurring by the safety and health
officer of the company. Occupational safety and health should be integrated in every
step of the work process, starting from storage and use of raw materials, the
manufacture of products, release of by-products, use of various equipment and
ensuring a non-hazardous or risk-free work environment.

Sources of Hazards

Samples of Unsafe Act

 Failure to warn/secure
 Unauthorized operation of equipment
 Removing/destroying safety devices
 Using defective equipment/tools
 Using PPE improperly
 Improper placement/lifting/loading
 Horseplay
 Operating at improper speed

Samples of Unsafe Condition

 Inadequate guards/barriers
 Defective tools/equipment/materials
 Congestion or restricted body movement
 Inadequate warning systems
 Fire/explosion hazards
 Poor housekeeping/disorder
 Noise/radiation exposure
 Extremes of temperature/ventilation
Module 2: OSH Situation in the Global and Local Levels

Module 2, aims to provide a background on both the local and international OSH
situation. We hope that by being aware and focusing on the magnitude of work-
related accidents, injuries and illness, you will understand the prevalent conditions
that exist which contribute to the accidents and illness at work.

Let us share with you a historical event which led to OSH improvements in the early
19th century. During the industrial revolution of 1800 – 1900s, the use of machines,
equipment and chemicals were intensive as manufacturing processes, agriculture and
train/steam engine transport were the driving force of the economy. However,
numerous work-related accidents and deaths occurred arising from hazards in these
industries. Statistics, at that time, showed that safety hazards, chemical exposures and
injuries from manufacturing work were very high. This led to the development of
guidelines and standards to protect workers from work-related hazards and risks in the
above-mentioned industries.

As work patterns change, trends on accidents and diseases may also reflect how
workers are affected. In the late 20th century and until the present, we see that
predominance of the service sector (wholesale and retail trade, education, hotels and
restaurants, banks, health-care etc.), and we are now confronted with data that reveal
work-related muscle and joint injuries experienced by the service sector workers and
the emergence of the science of ergonomics which will be discussed at length in the
Occupational Health module.

Global OSH figures

The International Labour Organization (ILO) Safework Introductory Report in 2008

showed that close to 50% of work-related deaths occur in Asia. In developing
countries, fatality rates are five to six times higher than in industrialized nations and in
developing countries where, every year, around 170,000 agricultural workers and
320,000 people die from exposures to biological risks such as viral, bacterial, insect or
animal related risks.
The latest ILO figures reveal that,

“Every 15 seconds, 160 workers have a work-related accident. Every 15 seconds, a

worker dies from a work-related accident or disease.

Everyday, 6,300 people die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related

diseases – more than 2.3 million deaths per year. Over 337 million accidents occur on
the job annually; many of these resulting in extended absences from work. The human
cost of this daily adversity is vast and the economic burden of poor occupational safety
and health practices is estimated at 4% of global Gross Domestic product each year.

The safety and health conditions at work are very different between countries,
economic sectors and social groups. Deaths and injuries take a heavy toll in developing
countries, where a large part of the population is engaged in hazardous activities such
as agriculture, fishing and mining. Throughout the world, the poorest and least
protected – often women, children and migrants – are among the most affected.”
(Safety and Health at Work, International Labour Organization, accessed September 6, 2011
[Link] )

To see figures in other countries, you may refer to these websites

United States of America

[Link]
[Link]

Canada
[Link]

Japan
[Link]

Philippines
[Link]
[Link]

International Labour Organization

[Link]
[Link]
Philippine Labor and OSH statistics
According to the latest Labor Force Survey (LFS) of the National Statistics Office (NSO),
the Philippine labor force/ economically active population, which refers to persons 15
years old and above who are employed or underemployed, totals 38.905M in October
2010.

“Of the estimated 36.0 million employed persons in 2010, more than half (51.8%) were
engaged in services and about one-third (33.2%) were in agriculture. Most of those
who worked in the services sector were into wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor
vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods (19.5% of the total employed).

Of the total employed persons, the laborers and unskilled workers comprised the largest
group (32.3%). This was followed by farmers, forestry workers and fishermen (16.0%);
officials of government and special interest organizations, corporate executives,
managers, managing proprietors and supervisors (13.8%); and service workers, shop
and market sales workers (10.6%). The rest of the major occupation groups each
comprised less than 10 percent ranging from 0.4 percent to 7.7 percent. The majority
(54.4%) of the employed were wage and salary workers, most of whom were in private
establishments (40.4% of the total employed). Thirty percent were self-employed
without any paid employee, four percent were employer in own family-operated
business or farm while nearly 12 percent worked without pay in own family-operated
farm or business.

More than half (63.5%) of the total employed were full time workers or have worked for
at least 40 hours per week. On the average, employed persons worked 41.7 hours a
week in 2010.

The number of underemployed workers in 2010 was 6.8 million, representing an annual
underemployment rate of 18.7 percent. Underemployed workers are persons who
express the desire to have additional hours of work in the present job, or to have an
additional job, or to have a new job with longer working hours. The lowest
underemployment rate was observed in Central Luzon (9.1%) while the highest was
noted in Bicol Region (36.8%).

About 2.9 million Filipinos were unemployed in 2010 representing an unemployment

rate of 7.3 percent for the year. The unemployed persons who have attained high school
accounted for 45.2 percent of all unemployed. The proportion of unemployed males was
greater than that of their female counterparts (63.3% compared to 36.7%).”
(2010 ANNUAL LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS, released February 8, 2011,
[Link] release/2011/[Link])
(2010 ANNUAL LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT STATUS, released February 8, 2011,

According to the July 2011 Current Labor Statistics of the DOLE Bureau of Labor and
Employment Statistics (BLES), there are 8M OFWs with 1.47M deployed in 2010. Of the
OFWs deployed in 2010, 1,123,676 are land based and 347,150 are sea-based. After
knowing these statistics, the question that comes to mind is “how many Filipino
workers are protected from accidents and illnesses while they work?”
 Taken in 2007-2008 and released in 2010, the
latest Bureau of Labor and Employment
Statistics (BLES) Integrated Survey (BITS) on
cases of occupational injuries and diseases that
affected private sector establishments
covered 6,460 sample non-agricultural
establishments with 20 or more workers. It has
expanded its coverage 65 industries including
building and repairing of ships and boats
(manufacturing industry); bus line
operation (transport, storage and
communications); accounting, bookkeeping and
auditing activities; tax consultancy,
architectural, engineering and related
technical consultancy; call center activities,
medical transcription and related outsourcing
activities (real estate, renting and business
activities); and animated films and cartoons
production (other community, social and
personal service activities) industries.

The BITS results reveal that a total of 44,800 occupational accidents occurred in 4,600 non-
agricultural establishments employing 20 or more workers in 2007, a figure lower by 14.7%
than the 52,515 accidents that affected 4, 824 establishments in 2003. Occupational injuries
resulting from workplace accidents declined by 20.7% from 58,720 in 2003 to 46,570 in 2007.

Cases that required absence/s from work stood at 23,265 in 2003 and 20,386 in 2007 or a
reduction of 12.4%. Almost all cases with workdays lost in 2007 were temporary disabilities
(20,109). This is 12.4% lower than the caseload of 22,964 in 2003.

Fatalities decreased by 31.8%

Figure 2
(from 170 in 2003 to 116 in
2007. However those
permanently incapacitated
increased by 23.7 % (from
131 in 2003 to 162 in 2007).

Contributing factors to
occupational accidents and
injuries include machines,
equipment, hand tools,
materials, buildings,
structures and chemical
substances.
On the other hand, training on the proper handling and correct operation of machines,
use of personal protective equipment (PPE) precautions and carefulness in work
prevent accidents and promote safety in establishments.

The largest caseload of injuries with workdays lost in 2007 was recorded in
manufacturing establishments at 61.0% (12,427). This industry also posted the biggest
share at 61.9% four years earlier. The rest of the industries had lower shares ranging
from 0.2% (financial intermediation) to 9.2% (hotels and restaurants) in 2007 and from
0.3% (mining and quarrying) to 11.6% (wholesale and retail trade) in 2003. (Table 1).

Relative to their specific industry totals, private education injury cases with workdays
lost had multiplied by as much as three times its 2003 level (from 132 in 2003 to 436 in
2007). Other noticeable percentage increases were recorded in mining and quarrying
at 58.3% (from 60 in 2003 to 95 in 2007) and in hotels and restaurants at 57.1% (from
1,195 in 2003 to 1,877 in 2007). On the other hand, remarkable decreases were noted
in other community, social and personal service entities at 66.1% (from 546 in 2003 to
185 in 2007) and in financial intermediation activities at 52.0% (from 100 in 2003 to 48
in 2007).
Definition of Terms:

Occupational accident - an unexpected and unplanned occurrence, including acts of violence

arising out of or in connection with work which results in one or more workers incurring a
personal injury, disease or death. It can occur outside the usual workplace/premises of the
establishment while the worker is on business on behalf of his/her employer, i.e., in another
establishment or while on travel, transport or in road traffic.

Occupational injury - an injury which results from a work-related event or a single

instantaneous exposure in the work environment (occupational accident). Where more than
one person is injured in a single accident, each case of occupational injury should be counted
separately. If one person is injured in more than one occupational accident during the reference
period, each case of injury to that person should be counted separately. Recurrent absences
due to an injury resulting from a single occupational accident should be treated as the
continuation of the same case of occupational injury not as a new case.

Temporary incapacity - case where an injured person was absent from work for at least one
day, excluding the day of the accident, and 1) was able to perform again the normal duties of
the job or position occupied at the time of the occupational accident or 2) will be able to
perform the same job but his/her total absence from work is expected not to exceed a year
starting the day after the accident, or 3) did not return to the same job but the reason for
changing the job is not related to his/her inability to perform the job at the time of the
occupational accident.

Permanent incapacity - case where an injured person was absent from work for at least one
day, excluding the day of the accident, and 1) was never able to perform again the normal
duties of the job or position occupied at the time of the occupational accident, or 2) will be able
to perform the same job but his/her total absence from work is expected to exceed a year
starting the day after the accident.

Fatal case - case where a person is fatally injured as a result of occupational accident whether
death occurs immediately after the accident or within the same reference year as the accident.

Injuries incurring days away from work recorded a Frequency Rate (FR) of 2.79 in 2007.
This was 1.28 percentage points lower than the FR of 4.07 in 2003. Expectedly, this was
coherent to the 12.4% reduction in the number of cases of occupational injuries to
20,386 in 2007 from 23,265 in 2003.
Categories by incapacity for work on cases with workdays lost recorded frequency
rates as follows:
Definition of Terms:

Frequency Rate (FR) – refers to cases of occupational injuries with workdays lost per
1,000,000 employee-hours of exposure.

Incidence Rate (IR) – refers to cases of occupational injuries with workdays lost per 1,000
workers.

Severity Rate (SR) – refers to workdays lost of cases of occupational injuries resulting to
temporary incapacity per 1,000,000 employee-hours of exposure.

Average Workdays Lost – refer to workdays lost for every case of occupational injury resulting
to temporary incapacity.

Cases of occupational diseases in non-agricultural establishments employing 20 or

more workers decreased by 14.8% from 55,413 in 2003 to 47,235 in 2007. Incidences
of occupational diseases decreased in almost all types of diseases in 2007 except in
bronchial asthma (+29.9%), occupational dermatitis (+18.6%) and essential
hypertension (+7.8). Work-related musculoskeletal diseases were most prevalent in
non-agricultural establishments employing 20 or more workers both in 2003 and 2007.
This type of disease accounted for 37.2% (2003) and 28.1 % (2007) of the totals. Other
types which made up more than 10% of the total diseases in 2007 were bronchial
asthma (18.5%), infections (13.8%), essential hypertension (13.0%) and occupational
dermatitis (12.6%).

Source of data: Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics, BLES Integrated Survey (2003/2004 and
2007/2008).
Module 3: International OSH Standards by the International Labour
Organization

The present local data does not present a total picture of OSH situation in the
Philippines. As you can see, the Bureau of Labor and Employment Statistics (BLES)
Integrated Survey (BITS) survey is limited only to the 6,460 companies covered out of
the estimated 780,500 existing establishments in the country. Many companies do not
report accidents and injuries.
Data gathering has been problematic because of the following conditions:

 Under reporting of work-related accidents and illnesses. Rule 1050 of the

Philippine Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) requires all
employers to report all work accidents or occupational illnesses resulting to
disabling conditions to the DOLE Regional Office in their area. However, very
few companies submit reports.

 Limited coverage of the OSH information and education and OSHS

implementation. Vulnerable groups such as the informal sector (which amounts
to 28M or 80% of the Filipino workforce) are often left out in the OSH
education, information and program implementation because they are do not
have the capacity to pay for trainings and most of the time are not even aware
that they can protect themselves from accidents and illnesses. Many of them
think that the diseases and accidents they experience is part of the nature of
their work and cannot be prevented. On a positive note, OSHC has been doing a
lot of OSH awareness campaigns for informal workers.

 Inadequate number of trained OSH personnel. There has been an upsurge of

OSH awareness worldwide and companies both here and abroad require
companies to hire trained OSH personnel. This has caused an exponential
increase in the number of workers who have undergone and are wanting to
avail of OSH trainings but because accidents continue to happen, more
dedicated and trained personnel are needed.

 Absence of strict penalties. There is no system of fines for violations of the

different provisions of the OSHS.

 Weak enforcement of OSH laws –problem is traceable also to the absence of

strict penalties on violations of OSH standards.

 Fragmented OSH administration. There is no central authority to coordinate all

OSH efforts.

 Public apathy on OSH concerns. Most people do not generally pay attention to
OSH concerns.

 Low priority on OSH concerns by both management and labor. The former is
more concerned about profit while the latter is with wages and other monetary
benefits.
Emerging issues in OSH

 Aside from the problems already identified, participants should also be aware
that there are emerging OSH issues – such as women workers’ issues, OSH and
child labor, OSH in the informal sector, agriculture, in schools and lifestyle
diseases such as AIDS and diabetes, and many others.

 Women are often faced with multiple burdens. They have take on the burden
of the home they perform the role of a wife and a mother. These may also affect
her performance at the workplace and add to the stresses that come with the
job. The hazards that a women worker is exposed to while at work to can affect
her reproductive health and for a pregnant worker, her unborn child.

 There are 250 million child laborers around the world of which 3.7 million are
found in the Philippines. Of these, 2.2M are in hazardous jobs. Employing
children in these types of work greatly affects the quality of their life and in
serious cases, may even cause serious disabilities or death. The OSHC
researches on the footwear industry, fishing, mining, and agriculture, helped in
the formulation of policies, in advocacy campaigns to take children out of
hazardous work.

 The use of pesticides in farms is also another issue. Farmers or farm workers
who handle pesticides may be unaware of the hazards that they are exposed to.
Constant exposure of a worker, has enormous adverse effects his or her health.
Workers handling pesticides may even bring home residues of the chemicals and,
affecting their families and the community.

 There is also little mechanism on OSH for the informal sector considering that
they represent more than half of the total workforce and is the sector badly in
need of OSH information since they have the tendency to ignore such concerns
just to get their daily incomes.

 In schools, students are also exposed to hazards such as chemicals and

electricity, while bullying and hazing (both psycho-social issues) are becoming
more common. Many school buildings are also risks themselves.

Although the number of work-related accidents and illnesses has decreased in the
recent years here in the Philippines, cases of occupational injuries and diseases continue
to occur. We at the OSHC subscribe to the principle that “one life lost is one too many.”
Everyone must therefore be involved in the effort to contain OSH concerns to enhance
one’s working life. After all, most of us work mainly for economic purposes - “ang hanap-
buhay ay para ikabuhay, hindi para ikamatay.”
Module 4: Philippine Legislation

Republic Act No. 11058

With the enactment of Republic Act No. 11058, Filipino workers are given better protection in the
workplace. This law ensures safer workplaces by requiring employers to provide complete safe work
procedures, information dissemination about work-related hazards, safety and health training, and
protective equipment. Workers are also encouraged to have a better understanding of the risks that come
with their occupations, to know that they have the right to refuse unsafe work, to report accidents, and to
participate in the safety and health program of their employers.

What Establishments are covered by the Law?

The law covers all establishments, projects, sites, including Philippine Economic Zone Authority
establishments, and all other place where work is being undertaken in all branches of economic activity,
except the public sector. The rules implementing the law (the “IRR”) explicitly mention:
(a) Establishments located inside special economic zones and other investment promotion agencies;
(b) Utilities engaged in air, sea, and land transportation; and
(c) Industries such as mining, fishing, construction, agriculture, and maritime.
The rules also cover contractors and subcontractors, including those engaged in the projects of the public
sector.

Occupational Safety Health (OSH) Program

The law requires employers to have an Occupational Safety Health (OSH) Program with the following
guidelines or information: a commitment to comply with OSH requirements, general health and safety
guidelines related to drugs and illness control, details of company projects, the composition of the OSH
committee, the safety personnel and facilities, safety training and education, accident reporting, worker
wellness, emergency preparedness, waste management systems and prohibited acts. Such program is
subject to the approval of the DOLE.
To ensure the enforcement of the OSH Program, employers are required to have an OSH Committee. The
committee shall be composed of a representative of the employer as the chairperson, the respective
safety officers of the company, contractors and subcontractors, health personnel if applicable, and
representatives from the workers. Along with the OSH Committee, Safety Officers help ensure that the
OSH program is followed, these officers ensure overall management of the OSH program and assist
government agencies in the conduct of inspections and issue work stoppages when necessary.
All covered workplaces shall have qualified occupational health personnel such as physicians, nurses,
certified first-aiders, and dentists duly complemented with the required medical supplies, equipment and
facilities. The number of health personnel, equipment and facilities. The number of health personnel,
equipment and facilities, and the amount of supplies shall be proportionate to the total number of
workers and the risk of hazard involved, the ideal ratio of which shall be prescribed by the DOLE.
Consistent with the Labor Code, the Secretary of Labor and Employment (SOLE) is given visitorial powers
to ensure compliance with RA 11058. The SOLE is also given the power to delegate to a competent
government authority the conduct of industrial safety inspections. The employer, project owner, general
contractor, contractor or subcontractor, if any, and any person who manages, controls or supervises the
work being undertaken are jointly and solidarily liable for such compliance.
OSH LEGISLATION

Regulate safety and health at work of all economic activities (both industrial and non-
industrial establishments). The scope has been expanded to cover offices, commercial
premises, educational institutions, hospitals, clinics, laboratories and other workplaces. The
legislation imposes general duty of care on employers, occupiers of premises and employees,
and set down basic requirements in accident prevention, fire prevention, working
environment, workplace hygiene, first aid, manual handling operation and use of display
screen equipment.
The Way Things Were
 First half of the 20th century one fatality was factored
for every $1M in construction.
 Labor was readily available and the injured were
replaced on the spot.
 Safety was for wimps. Risk taking was expected and
rewarded by more work.
 Unions were first to drive focus on workplace safety.

Flawed Mindset – 1930’s

 The Golden Gate Bridge
o One fatality per $1 million dollars was acceptable.
o Cost to build the bridge was &35 million which
allowed for 35 fatalities.
breakthrough
o Since only in regards
11 people died during to
theemployee safety.
construction
o it Project
project, came in “below
was considered a budget” in terms of deaths.

Where are YOU?

Phase
PHASES1:OFI don’t have time
PERSONAL for Safety. It slows me down!
SAFETY
Phase 2: Safety is OK, but Management places to much
emphasis on it because “things
happen.”
Phase 3: I believe in safety and work safe whenever I can.
Phase 4: Safety is a value to me. I try to prevent injuries and
incidents from occurring.
injuries.
Phase 5: Safety is instinctive to me. I am dedicated to the
prevention of all incident and
LIFE VISION
The LIFE Vision is for each individual to go home, each and everyday, in the same or better
condition than they left!
To achieve this Vision, a LIFE culture must be created that is dedicated to eliminating all:
Injuries!
Incidents!
Near Misses!
Content: A consolidation of labor and social laws to afford full protection to labor, promote
employment and human resources development and ensure industrial peace based on
social justice.
OSH SITUATIONER
– Provide a safe place of employment
– Give complete job safety instructions to all workers.
– Comply with the requirements of the Standards.
– Use only approved PPEs, devices and equipment.
– Cooperate with the employer in carrying out the
– provisions of the Standards
– Report any work hazard in the workplace
– Make proper use of all safeguards and safety devices
Follow all instructions by the employer in compliance
with theand
RULE 1030 – Training OSHS provisions of Personnel in OSH (RA 11058
Accreditation
& DO 198-18)
-Required Safety Man/Officer
-Requirements for Accreditation
- Prohibition in the practice of OSH
• Duties of Safety Man

• Advice the employer, supervisors and workers on

Investigate accident
OSH
 • Coordinate safety training program
• Conduct safety and health inspection
• Act as secretary of HSC
• Maintain accident records system
•
SAFETY OFFICER
In the implementation of OSH program, safety officer shall be employed
or designated with the following duties and responsibilities:
a) Oversee the overall management of the OSH program is
coordination with the OSH Committee;
b) Frequently monitor and inspect any health or safety aspect of the
operation being
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PERSONNEL AND FACILITIES
Covered workplaces shall have qualified occupational health personnel such as certified
first aiders, nurses, dentists, and physicians duly complemented with the required medical
supplies, equipment and facilities. The number if health personnel, which may be
classified as full (FT) or part-time (PT), equipment and facilities, and the amount of
supplies shall be proportionate to the total number of workers and the risk r hazard
involved in the workplace, the ideal ratio of which shall be as follows:
Policy Framework
The focus of our discussion will be on those laws which are specifically administered by the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) under the Labor Code of the Philippines (LCP).

1. Labor Code of the Philippines

 Article 162 – Safety and health standards. The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, by
appropriate orders, set and enforce mandatory occupational safety and health standards to
eliminate or reduce occupational safety and health hazards in all workplaces and institute new,
and update existing, programs to ensure safe and healthful working conditions in all places of
employment.

 Article 164 – Training programs. The DOLE shall develop and implement training programs to
increase the number and competence of personnel in the field of occupational safety and
industrial health.

 Article 164 – Administration of safety and health laws.

a. The DOLE shall be solely responsible for the administration and enforcement of occupational
safety and health laws, regulations and standards in all establishments and workplaces wherever
they may be located; however, chartered cities may be allowed to conduct industrial safety
inspections of establishments within their respective jurisdictions where they have adequate
facilities and competent personnel for the purpose as determined by the DOLE and subject to
national standards established by the latter.

b. The Secretary of DOLE may, through appropriate regulations, collect reasonable fees
for the inspection of steam boilers, pressure vessels and pipings and electrical installations, the test
and approval for safe use of materials, equipment and other safety devices and the approval of plans
for such materials, equipment and devices. The fee so collected shall be deposited in the national
treasury to the credit of the occupational safety and health fund and shall be expended exclusively
for the administration and enforcement of safety and other labor laws administered by the DOLE.

Article 128 Visitorial and Enforcement Power.
a. The Secretary of Labor and Employment or his duly authorized representatives, including labor
regulation officers, shall have access to employer’s records and premises at any time of the day or
night whenever work is being undertaken therein, and the right to copy there from, to question any
employee and investigate any fact, condition or matter which may be necessary to determine
violations or which may aid in the enforcement of this Code and of any labor law, wage order or
rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto.

b. Notwithstanding the provisions of Articles 129 and 217 of this Code to the contrary, and in cases
where the relationship of employer-employee still exists, the Secretary of DOLE or his duly
authorized representatives shall have the power to issue compliance orders to give effect to the
labor standards provisions of this Code and other labor legislation based on the findings of labor
employment and enforcement officers or industrial safety engineers made in the course of
inspection. The Secretary or his duly authorized representatives shall issue writs of execution to the
appropriate authority for the enforcement of their orders, except in cases where the employer
contests the findings of the labor employment and enforcement officer and raises issues supported
by documentary proofs which were not considered in the course of inspection. (As amended by
Republic Act No. 7730, June 2, 1994).

An order issued by the duly authorized representative of the Secretary of Labor and Employment
under this Article may be appealed to the latter. In case said order involves a monetary award, an
appeal by the employer may be perfected only upon the posting of a cash or surety bond issued by a
reputable bonding company duly accredited by the Secretary of Labor and Employment in the
amount equivalent to the monetary award in the order appealed from. (As amended by Republic Act
No. 7730, June 2, 1994).

c. The Secretary of Labor and Employment may likewise order stoppage of work or suspension of
operations of any unit or department of an establishment when non-compliance with the law or
implementing rules and regulations poses grave and imminent danger to the health and safety of
workers in the workplace. Within twenty-four hours, a hearing shall be conducted to determine
whether an order for the stoppage of work or suspension of operations shall be lifted or not. In case
the violation is attributable to the fault of the employer, he shall pay the employees concerned their
salaries or wages during the period of such stoppage of work or suspension of operation.

d. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to obstruct, impede, delay or otherwise render
ineffective the orders of the Secretary of DOLE or his duly authorized representatives issued
pursuant to the authority granted under this Article, and no inferior court or entity shall issue
temporary or permanent injunction or restraining order or otherwise assume jurisdiction over any
case involving the enforcement orders issued in accordance with this Article.

e. Any government employee found guilty of violation of, or abuse of authority, under this Article
shall, after appropriate administrative investigation, be subject to summary dismissal from the
service.

f. The Secretary of DOLE may, by appropriate regulations, require employers to keep and maintain
such employment records as may be necessary in aid of his visitorial and enforcement powers under
this Code.

2. Presidential Decree 626

You may click this link - [Link]

3. Presidential Decree 856 – Code on Sanitation

You may click this link - [Link]

4. Republic Act 8504 – An act promulgating policies and prescribing measures for the prevention and
control of HIV/AIDS in the Philippines, instituting a nationwide HIV/AIDS information and educational
program, establishing a comprehensive HIV/AIDS monitoring system, strengthening the Philippine
National Aids Council, and for other purposes.
You may click this link - [Link]

5. Republic Act 9165 - An act instituting the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 repealing
Republic Act No 6425, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, as amended, providing
funds therefore, and for other purposes.
You may click this link - [Link]

6. Republic Act 6969 - An act to control toxic substances and hazardous and nuclear wastes,
providing penalties for violations thereof, and for other purposes.
You may click this link - [Link]

7. Local Government Act - decentralizes some national government functions to LGUs. Ex. Inspection
of buildings, health care provisions, etc.

8. Executive Order 307 – An Executive Order issued during President Corazon C. Aquino’s term,
establishing the Occupational Safety and Health Center in the Employees’ Compensation
Commission” attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment as the national focal
point on OSH trainings, researches, information and technical services.
For further readings, you may click this link - [Link]
The Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS)

OSHS is actually a codification of all safety and health rules and regulations, including safety orders
then in existence at the time.
OSHS has many provisions. To some extent, many of its provisions have already been discussed in
the technical discussions that have been undertaken in the previous modules.

Selected OSHS Provisions

What will be discussed instead are the significant and major provisions. These are significant in the
sense that these are the most often-asked questions and which relates to items that will seriously
affect the operations of the company. These are:

Rule 1001 - Purpose and Scope

1. The objective of this issuance is to protect every workingman against the dangers of injury,
sickness or death through safe and healthful working conditions, thereby assuring the conservation
of valuable manpower resources and the prevention of loss or damage to lives and properties,
consistent with national development goals and with the State’s commitment for the total
development of every worker as a complete human being.
2. This standards shall apply to all places of employment except as otherwise provided in this
Standards.

Rule 1005 - Duties of Employers, Workers and other Persons

1. Each employer covered by the provisions of this Standards shall:
a. Furnish his workers a place of employment free from hazardous conditions that are causing or are
likely to cause death, illness or physical harm to his workers.
b. Give complete job safety instructions to all his workers, especially to those entering the job for the
first time, including those relating to the familiarization with their work environment, hazards to
which the workers are exposed to and steps taken in case of emergency;
c. Comply with the requirements of this Standards; and
d. Use only approved devices and equipment in his workplace.

2. Every worker shall cooperate with the employer in carrying out the provisions of this Standards.
He shall report to his supervisor any work hazard that may be discovered in his workplace.

3. Every worker shall make proper use of all safeguards and safety devices furnish in accordance with
the provisions of this Standards for his protection and that of others, and shall follow all instructions
given by the employer in compliance with the provision of this Standards.

Rule 1012.02 – Abatement of Imminent Danger

1. An imminent danger is a condition or practice that could reasonably be expected to cause death or
serious physical harm before abatement under the enforcement procedure can be accomplished.

2. When an enforcement officer finds that an imminent danger exists in a workplace, he shall inform
the affected employer and workers of the danger and shall recommend to the Regional Director the
issuance of an Order for stoppage of operation or other appropriate action for the abatement of the
danger. Pending the issuance of the Order the employer shall take appropriate measures to protect
the workers.

3. Upon receipt of such recommendation, the Regional Director shall immediately determine
whether the danger exists and is of such a nature as to warrant the issuance of a Stoppage Order or
other appropriate action to minimize the danger.
The Order shall require specific measures that are necessary to avoid, correct or remove such
imminent danger and to prohibit the presence of any worker in such location where such danger
exists, except those whose presence are necessary to avoid, correct or remove such danger or to
maintain a continuous process or operation. Where stoppage of operation is ordered, the Order shall
allow such correction, removal or avoidance of danger only where the same can be accomplished in
a safe and orderly manner.

5. Immediately after the issuance of Stoppage Order, the Regional Director shall furnish the
Secretary, through the Director, within forty-eight (48) hours a copy of the Order and all pertinent
papers relating thereto, together with a detailed description of the work conditions sought to be
corrected, the safety and health rule violated by the employer and the corrective measures imposed.
The Secretary shall review the Order issued by the Regional Director and within a period of not more
than five (5) working days, issue a final Order either lifting or sustaining the Order of the Regional
Director.

6. The Order shall remain in effect until danger is removed or corrected.

Rule 1013 - Hazardous Workplaces

For purposes of this Standards, the following are considered “hazardous workplaces:”
a. Where the nature of work exposes the workers to dangerous environmental elements,
contaminants or work conditions including ionizing radiation, chemicals, fire, flammable substances,
noxious components and the like;
b. Where the workers are engaged in construction work, logging, fire-fighting, mining, quarrying,
blasting, stevedoring, dock work, deep sea fishing, and mechanized farming;
c. Where the workers are engaged in the manufacture or handling of explosives and other
pyrotechnic products;
d. Where the workers use or are exposed to power driven or explosive powder actuated tools;
e. Where the workers are exposed to biologic agents like bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoas,
nematodes, and other parasites.

Rule 1043.01 - Health and Safety Committee

The Health and Safety Committee is the planning and policy making group in all matters pertaining to
safety and health. The principal duties of the Health and Safety Committee are:
1. Plans and develops accident prevention programs for the establishment.
2. Directs the accident prevention efforts of the establishment in accordance with the safety
programs, safety performance and government regulations in order to prevent accidents from
occurring in the workplace.
3. Conducts safety meetings at least once a month.
4. Reviews reports of inspections, accident investigations, and implementation of programs.
5. Submits reports to the manager on its meetings and activities.
6. Provides necessary assistance to government inspecting authorities in the proper conduct of their
activities such as the enforcement of the provisions of this Standards.
7. Initiates and supervises safety training for employees.
8. Develops and maintains a disaster contingency plan and organizes such emergency service units as
may be necessary to handle disaster situations pursuant to the emergency preparedness manual for
establishments of the Office of Civil Defense.
Rule 1050 – Notification and Keeping of Records of Accidents and/or Occupational Illnesses
1053 Report Requirements
1053.01:
1. All work accidents or occupational illnesses in places of employment, resulting
in disabling condition or dangerous occurrence as defined in 1053.02 shall be reported by the
employer to the Regional Labor Office or duly authorized representative in duplicate and a copy
furnished the employee of his duly authorized representative using form DOLE/BWC/HSD-IP-6. The
formal report shall be submitted by the employer on or before the 20th day of the month following
the date of occurrence of the accident or when the illness is established and an investigation report
in the prescribed form shall be submitted by the Regional Office or duly authorized representative on
or before the 30th day of the same month. In case of temporary total disability where the injured or
ill employee has not reported back to duty on the closing date of reporting, an estimate of the
probable days of disability shall be made and entered in the report and corrected after the return of
the injured, the corrected days of absence shall be used.

2. Where the accident or illness results in death or permanent total disability, the employer, in
addition to the written report required under sub-paragraph (1) above, shall initially notify the
Regional Labor Office or duly authorized representative within twenty four (24) hours after
occurrence using the fastest available means of communication.

3. All deaths and permanent total disabilities shall be investigated by the Regional Office or duly
authorized representative within forty eight (48) hours after receipt of the initial report of the
employer, prepared in duplicate using the prescribed form DOLE/BWC/OHSD-IP-6a.

Reporting Forms
In summary, the following are the reporting requirements of the OSHS, which you can download at
this link: [Link]
 registration of establishments-IP-3
 report of safety and health organization- IP-5
 employer’s work accident/illness report-IP-6
 annual work accident/illness exposure data report-IP-6B; and
 annual medical report form 47-A.

Rule 1070 – Occupational Health and Environmental Control

It is the basis for the conduct of work environment measurements (WEM) by the OSHC. It provides
for certain values on the permissible level exposures of many contaminants and other physical
hazards.
You may read the whole content of Rule 1070 at the Occupational Safety and Health Standards.
For additional information, you can download DOLE Memorandum Circular #1, series of 2000 entitled
Implementing Guidelines for the Conduct of Workplace Environment Assessment (WEA) in Hazardous
Establishments and Work Processes (see Appendix Number)

Rule 1080 - Personal Protective Equipment

1081 – General Provision

1081.01: Every employer as defined in 1002:

5. Shall at his own expense furnish his workers with protective equipment for the eyes, face, hands
and feet, protective shields and barriers whenever necessary by reason of the hazardous nature of
the process or environment, chemical or radiological or other mechanical irritants or hazards capable
of causing injury or impairment in the function of any part of the body through absorption,
inhalation or physical contact.
6. Deduction for the loss or damage of personal protective equipment shall be governed by Article
114, Book III, Labor Code of the Philippines, and Section 14, Rule VIII, Book III, Omnibus Rules
Implementing the Labor Code.

1081.02: All personal protective equipment shall be of the approved design and
construction appropriate for the exposure and the work to be performed.

1081.03: The employer shall be responsible for the adequacy and proper maintenance of personal
protective equipment used in his workplace.

1081.04: No person shall be subjected or exposed to a hazardous environmental condition without

protection.

Rule 1980 - Authority of Local Government

1981.01: Types of Inspection:
For the purpose of this Standards, inspection activities shall be divided into Technical Safety
Inspection and General Safety Inspection.
1. Technical Safety Inspection – shall refer to inspection for the purpose of safety determination of
boilers, pressure vessels, internal combustion engines, electrical installations, elevators, hoisting
equipment and other mechanical equipment.
2. General Safety Inspection – shall refer to inspection of the work environment, including the
location and operation of machinery other than those covered by technical safety inspections,
adequacy of work space, ventilation, lighting, conditions of work environment, handling, storage or
work procedures, protection facilities and other safety and health hazards in workplace.

Rule 1990 – Final Provisions

1995: Penal Provisions
All violations of the provisions of this Standards shall be subject to the applicable penalties provided
for in the Labor Code, PD 442 as amended.
Please read the links on [Link]

Government responses aside from enforcement

With regards to government legislation as a whole, instructor reminds participants that enforcement
is only one response but not the only response of the government. Such approaches include:
• Zero Accident Program (ZAP)
• Employees’ Compensation Program (ECP)
• Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE)
• Program on OSH in the Informal sector
• OSH in Schools
• Child Labor
• Quick Reaction Teams like Work ALERT, medical surveillance on SJS, and many others.

For the DOLE as a whole, voluntary compliance is still the best, where organizations implement OSH
measures because they know that it will be to their great benefit. The OSHC flagship program of ZAP
is an example of such program which emphasizes the spirit of voluntarism. Another key DOLE
program is the Employees Compensation Program (ECP), the preventive aspect of which is
implemented by OSHC.
Below are additional references you can check out to learn more about this module

[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]

Assessment
Essay Writing: Write an essay about the following.
Make your answers brief and direct to the point. Minimum of 8sentences per question.

1. Why is it important to study OSH specifically in the field of civil engineering?

2. In your own words, define the terms Occupational Safety, and Occupational Health.
3. Differentiate hazard from risk. Cite some situations where the two can be easily identified.
4. Discuss the problems, issues, and challenges associated with OSH conditions in the country.
5. In your own understanding, define Republic Act No. 11058.
6. Summarized the different OSH Legislations in the Philippines.
7. Enumerate Filipino traits and characteristics in a workplace that may result in unsafe/unhealthy
acts and conditions.

References

1. Department of Labor and Employment, (n.d.). Basic Occupational Safety and Health.
2. Department of Labor and Employment, (n.d.). Occupational Health and Safety Standards.