ILOILO City – The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Region 6 is actively conducting inspections across Western Visayas to ensure workplace safety in compliance with Republic Act 11058, or the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS), reports Ime Sornito.
According to the law, all establishments, including those within Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) areas, must adhere to safety standards across various sectors, excluding the public sector.
From January to August 2024, DOLE-6’s labor inspectors have examined 1,310 establishments, covering 135,831 workers, achieving an 82.60 percent compliance rate with OSHS. This follows a 92.92 percent compliance rate among 1,625 establishments inspected throughout 2023.
Melisa Navarra, officer-in-charge assistant regional director and chief of the Technical Support Services Division of DOLE-6, stressed the necessity of appointing a safety officer in each establishment, a requirement embedded in company manuals to ensure employee safety.
Navarra pointed out that having a safety officer and a comprehensive occupational safety and health plan are crucial compliance parameters.
“Normally, our challenge is the requirement for a safety officer in establishments, and of course, they must have an occupational safety and health plan for their employees,” said Navarra.
DOLE-6 is addressing these challenges by offering free basic occupational safety and health training for safety officers, aiming to help establishments comply with regulations.
For micro establishments with around 10 workers, the designated safety officer is required to undergo a four-hour training session available at the nearest DOLE Field Office.
Navarra further explained the Technical Advisory Visit (TAV) approach for micro establishments, where labor inspectors provide guidance on appointing safety officers and delivering technical advice to comply with occupational safety standards.
For micro-establishments, an existing employee can be appointed as a safety officer without the need to hire additional personnel. However, medium and large enterprises typically hire a dedicated safety officer.
Atty. Ma. Ailyne Valaquio-Pueblo, Chief Labor and Employment Officer of DOLE-6, outlined the primary duties of a safety officer, which include ensuring the workplace is safe, maintaining fire extinguishers, properly storing flammable materials, and reporting work-related incidents to DOLE.
This reporting could potentially support claims from the Employee Compensation Commission in case of work-related injuries.
Pueblo emphasized the importance of appointing a safety officer not only for the protection of the establishment but also for the welfare of its workers. She noted that many micro establishments lack a designated safety officer because they are unaware of the law.
The penalties for non-compliance with OSH standards under Section 28 of Republic Act No. 11058 include administrative fines up to P100,000 per day until the violation is rectified, depending on the frequency or gravity of the violation or the damage caused./PN
