By Raymart Escopel
DEPARTMENT of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 6 Director Ponciano Ligutom urges workers and concerned citizens to actively participate in the Department’s project dubbed as “Iwas Aksidente Patrol (IwAP Mo!).” The said project is a campaign for safe and healthy workplaces in the region.
According to Lugutom, IwAP Mo! can prevent possible loss of lives and limbs due to work-related accidents or illnesses, especially on workplaces that do not comply with the occupational safety and health (OSH) standards.
He added anyone can be an IwAP Mo! patroller by simply reporting violations to the DOLE regional and field offices.
Ligutom instructed the patrollers can report violations to DOLE through call or text if the workplace has suspected use of hazardous materials and/or practice of unsafe processes; lack/misuse of personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as suspected existence of potential hazards including, but not limited to inadequate machine guarding; working at heights without body harness; substandard scaffolding; defective tools/equipment; fire and explosion absence of warning devices; hazardous atmospheric conditions and excessive noise.
As soon as the DOLE receives the report together with the significant information including the company’s owner/contractor, complete address of worksite, violations listed and the information of the patroller such as name (optional) and contact details, the Department will indorse the case to its intermediaries for further validation. After the process of validation, it will issue a Joint Assessment Authority to Labor Laws Compliance Officers (LLCO) for assessment within 24 hours.
IwAP Mo! was conceptualized due to the imbalance growth of establishments in the region and the low ratio of LLCOs (formerly labor inspectors) thus resulting to unmonitored workplaces.
The participation of workers and concerned citizens are vital for the said program to become successful.
IwAP Mo! was re-launched on May 1 as part of the Labor Day celebration./PN
