By Erma Edera
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reminded business establishments to strictly perform its duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law, including the conduct of mandatory safety seminars for all its workers at no cost.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III
(ROBINSON NIÑAL JR./Presidential Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III released a labor advisory guiding establishments on the effective implementation of the Republic Act No. 11058 or “An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof” which provides full protection for workers against all hazards in their working environment.
“Providing safety seminars and training to workers is an empowering way of building and sustaining a preventative occupational safety and health culture which results to enhanced productivity at workplaces,” Bello said.
In the labor advisory, all establishments must conduct free mandatory OSH seminars for workers which shall be considered as compensable working time, and must be conducted by the safety officer of the establishment or any DOLE accredited OSH practitioner or consultant.
Establishments shall also be responsible in determining its own level of classification whether low risk, medium risk, or high risk on the Hazards Identification and Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC).
It will be the basis for determining the required minimum of safety officers, OH personnel, and medical services in a particular workplace.
The appointment of the safety officer shall be certified by the company’s Human Resource based on the qualification requirements such as the completion of the prescribed training and minimum years of OSH experience.
Employers shall also submit work accident cases reports, annual medical reports to DOLE and must immediately notify the nearest DOLE office for any serious work accidents.