- Safety and health hazard identification, risk assessment and control (HIRAC)
- Medical surveillance
- First aid and emergency medical services
- Drug-free workplace (RA 9165)
- Mental health services (RA 11036)
- Healthy Lifestyle
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (RA 8504)
- Tuberculosis (EO 187-03)
- Hepatitis B (DOLE DA 05-2010)
- Orientation of all workers on OSH
- Conduct of risk assessment, evaluation, and control
- Safety and health promotion, training and education:
- Orientation of all workers on OSH
- Conduct of risk assessment, evaluation, and control
- Continuous training on OSH of OSH personnel
- Work Permit System
- Occupational Safety and Health Committee – Tasked with observing and enforcing the safety and health program. They are to effectively plan, develop, oversee, and monitor the program’s implementation.
Table 2. OSH Committee Members
Establishment category Composition of Committee Less than ten (10) workers and low risk establishments with ten (10) to fifty (50) workers Chairperson: Company owner or manager
Secretary: Safety officer of the workplace
Member: At least one (1) worker, preferable a union member if organized
One of the workers of the company must undertake first aid training from the Philippine Red Cross of any DOLE recognized organizationMedium to high risk establishments with ten (10) to fifty (50) and low to high risk establishments with fifty-one (51) workers and above Ex-officio chairperson: Employer or representative
Secretary: Safety officer of the workplace
Ex-officio members: Certified first-aider, OH nurse, OH dentist, and OH physician, if applicable
Members: Safety officers representing the contractor or subcontractor, representative/s of workers from unions or elected workers through simple vote of majority.Two (2) or more establishments housed under one building or complex (i.e. malls) Joint Coordinating Committee – composed of all the health and safety committees to plan and implement programs and activities concerning all establishments
Chairperson: Building owner or representative
Secretary: Safety officer of the building
Members: At least two safety officers from any of the establishments and at least two workers’ representatives- Safety Officers – Oversees the overall management of the OSH program as part of the OSH committee; monitors and inspects any health or safety aspect of the operation; assists in the conduct of government inspections or accident investigations; issues Work Stoppage Order (WSO) when necessary. Safety officers must comply with the necessary training and experience requirements based on their category.
Table 3. Safety Officers OSH Training
- Mandatory eight (8)-hour OSH orientation course AND
- Two (2)-hour trainers’ training
- Mandatory forty (40)-hour basic OSH training course applicable to the industry
- Mandatory forty (40)-hour basic OSH training course applicable to the industry;
- Additional forty-eight (48) hours of advanced/specialized occupational safety training course relevant to the industry; AND
- Other requirements as prescribed by the OSH standards
- Mandatory forty (40)-hour basic OSH training course applicable to the industry;
- Additional forty-eight (48) hours of advanced/specialized occupational safety training course relevant to the industry; AND
- An aggregate of three hundred twenty (320) hours of OSH related training or experience
- Other requirements as prescribed by the OSH standards
The minimum classification and number of safety officers for establishments covered by OSH standards are as follows:
Table 4. Minimum classification and number of safety officers
Number of Workers Low Risk Medium Risk High Risk 1 to 9 One (1) SO1 One (1) SO1 One (1) SO2 10 to 50 One (1) SO1 One (1) SO2 One (1) SO3 51 to 99 One (1) SO2 One (1) SO2 and One (1) SO3 100 to 199 One (1) SO2 and One (1) SO3 200 to 250 Two (2) SO2 and One (1) SO3 Two (2) SO3 251 to 500 Two (2) SO3 One (1) SO2 and Two (2) SO3 501 to 750 751 to 1000 Two (2) SO3 Every additional 250 or fraction thereof – – Additional One (1) SO3 or SO4 Every additional 500 or fraction thereof Additional One (1) SO3 Additional One (1) SO3 or SO4 – - Occupational Health Personnel and Facilities – Establishments must have qualified occupational health personnel (i.e. first-aiders, nurses, dentists, and physicians) complemented with the required medical supplies, equipment, and facilities. All personnel must undergo mandatory orientation or training on OSH.
Table 5. Number of health personnel per workplace
Number of Workers Low Risk Medium to High Risk First-
AiderOH Nurse OH Dentist OH Physician First-
AiderOH Nurse OH Dentist OH Physician 1 to 9 1 – – – 1 – – – 10 to 50 – – – – – – 51 to 99 – – – 2 PT – – 100 to 199 2 2 PT – – 2 1 FT 1 PT 1 PT 200 to 500 3-5 1 FT 1 PT 1 PT 3-5 1 FT 1 PT 2 PT 501 to 2000 6-20 1 FT 1 PT 2 PT 6-20 1 FT 1 FT 2 PT or 1 FT >2000 >20 1 FT per shift 1 FT 1 FT and 2 PT >20 1 FT per shift 1 FT 1 FT and 2 PT Every 100 workers or a fraction thereof 1 – – – 1 – – – Every 250 workers or a fraction thereof – 1 FT – – – 1 FT – – Every 500 workers or a fraction thereof – – 1 FT 1 FT or 4 PT – – 1 FT 1 FT or 4 PT - Part Time (PT) = 4h/d, 3d/w; Full Time (FT) = 8h/d, 6d/w
- OH Personnel shall be placed in the shift with the highest number of workers.
- For OH dentists: Establishments can enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for dental services for workers.
- For OH physicians: If more than 1 PT physician is required, a physician must be present in all world days of the establishment.
Table 6. Required training of safety and health personnel
Personnel Training Requirement First-Aider Standard first aid training OH Nurse At least forty (40)-hour Basic OSH training course for OH Nurses OH Dentist At least forty (40)-hour Basic OSH training course OH Physician At least fifty-six (56)-hour Basic OSH training course for OH Physicians Table 7. Medical services and facilities per workplace
Number of Workers Low Risk Medium to High Risk First Aid Treatment Room Clinic (# of beds) Hospital (# of beds) First Aid Treatment Room Clinic (# of beds) Hospital (# of beds) 1 to 9 1 – – 1 – – 10 to 50 – – 1 – – 51 to 99 1 – 2 1 – 100 to 199 Additional 1 for every 100 worker or a fraction thereof – Additional 1 for every 50 worker or a fraction thereof 2 – 200 to 250 2 – – 251 to 500 – – 501 to 750 Additional 1 for every 200 worker or a fraction thereof – Additional 1 for every 100 worker or a fraction thereof – 751 to 1000 – – 1001 to 2000 1 1 Prohibited Acts
The willful failure or refusal to comply with the following OSH standards or with a compliance order issued by the Secretary of Labor and Employment is penalized as follows:
Registration of establishment to DOLE Php 20,000.00 Provision of job safety instruction or orientation prior to work Php 20,000.00 Provision of worker’s training (first aid, mandatory worker training, mandatory OSH training for safety officers and health personnel) Php 25,000.00 Provision of safety signage and devices Php 30,000.00 Provision of medical supplies, equipment, and facilities Php 30,000.00 Submission of reportorial requirements as prescribed by OSH standards Php 30,000.00 Provision of safety officer and/or OH personnel Php 40,000.00 Provision of certified personnel or professionals required by the OSH standards Php 40,000.00 Establishments of a safety and health committee Php 40,000.00 Formulation and implementation of a comprehensive safety and health program Php 40,000.00 Provision of information on hazards and risk Php 40,000.00 Provision of sanitary and welfare facilities Php 40,000.00 Use of approved or certified devices and equipment for the task Php 50,000.00 Provision of PPE or charging of provided PPE to workers Php 50,000.00 Compliance with DOLE issued WSO Php 50,000.00 Compliance to other OSH standards Php 40,000.00 - For the violation of the same prohibited act – penalty of the corresponding fine plus an additional fine of fifty percent (50%) thereof for every instance of repeat violation
- For the following acts, a penalty of one hundred thousand pesos (Php 100,000.00) administrative fine shall be imposed in addition to the daily administrative fine imposed above.
- Repeated obstruction, delay, or refusal to provide the Secretary of Labor and Employment access to the workplace, relevant records and documents, or conduct of investigation;
- Misrepresentation in adhering to OSH standards; knowing a report or record submitted to DOLE to be false;
- Making retaliatory measures such as termination of employment, refusal to pay, reducing wages and benefits, or in any manner against any worker who has given information relative to the inspection being conducted
Contributor: Marivic Arago
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