Government agencies should be mindful of the safety of its personnel during natural disasters, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) said on Monday.
“Sadly, there are government workers who get caught in the middle of a disaster, calamity, or emergency while on official duty,” CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala said in a statement.
“A well-crafted Risk Management System, Crisis Management Plan and Contingency Program can help agencies to analyze and address potential risks in times of disasters or emergencies to ensure safety and provide appropriate assistance/interventions for their employees,” added the CSC chief.
Bala gave these remarks a few weeks after the country was battered by successive strong typhoons.
Last May, the CSC together with the Department of Health and Department of Labor and Employment signed Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1, s. 2020. The JMC aims to institutionalize Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards in government workplaces.
Among the requirements for government agencies is to establish a Risk Reduction Management System and a Crisis Management Plan and Contingency Program to mitigate the effects of emergencies and improve their response capacity.
In establishing these emergency response systems, agencies must consider emergency occurrences such as earthquakes, typhoons, floods, fires, emergence of infectious diseases, occupational-related accidents, among others.
"The JMC also mandates agencies to conduct trainings and drills on disaster risk reduction and management for employees; ensure that emergency supplies such as fire extinguishers and first aid kits, among others, are adequate and available at all times; a first aider trained and duly certified or accredited by the Philippine Red Cross or by any authorized organization qualified shall administer first-aid during emergencies; and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding/Agreement with the nearest government health facility that can provide emergency medical services in case of accidents or injuries," the CSC said.
"Agencies should have their own OSH Program, create a Safety and Health Committee and/or a Special Investigation Committee, and appoint or designate a Safety Health Officer, to ensure their compliance with OSH Standards and the promotion and effective implementation of OSH in their workplaces," it added.