Title: Safety in the Workplace.

Let us be familiarized with what Occupational safety and Health Standards (OSHS) is.

- This was formulated in 1978 in compliance with the constitutional mandate to safeguard the
workers’ social and economic well-being as well as their physical safety and health.

- The Department of Labor and Employment under Article 162 of the Labor Code of the
Philippines, the OSHS was pormulgated for the guidance and compliance of all concerned. This
body of rules and regulations is referred to as “Standards”

- OSHS aims to protect every workingman and woman against the dangers of injury, sickness or
death through safe and healthful working conditions.

Here are some definitions you also have to understand:

“Employer” includes any person acting directly or indirectly in the interest of an employer, in relation to
an employee, and shall include government owned or controlled corporations and institutions, as well as
non-profit private institutions or organizations.

“Employee” shall mean any person hired, permitted or suffered to work by an employer.

“Safe or Safety” shall refer to the physical or environmental conditions of work or employment, which
substantially comply with the provisions of these Standards.

“Health” shall connote a sound state of the body and mind of the worker, which enables him to perform
his job normally, in a state of well-being.
“Work Accident” shall mean an unplanned or unexpected occurrence that may or may not result in
personal injury, property damage, work stoppage or interference or any combination thereof, which
arises out of and in the course of employment.

“Work injury” shall mean any injury or occupational illness suffered by a person, which arises out of or in
the course of his employment.

“Workplace” means the office, premises or work site, where the workers are habitually employed and
shall include the office or place where the workers, who have no fixed or definite work site, regularly
report for assignment in the course of their employment.

Duties of Employers, Workers and other persons:

(1) Each employer – covered by the provisions of these Standards shall:

a. Furnish his workers a place of employment free from hazardous conditions that are
causing or are likely to cause death, illness or physical harm to his workers.

b. Give complete job safety instructions to all his workers, especially to those entering the
job for the first time, including those relating to the familiarization with their work
environment, hazards to which the workers are exposed to and steps taken in case of
emergency.

c. Comply with the requirements of this standards; and

d. Use only approved devices and equipment in his workplace.

(2) Each worker shall:

a. Cooperate with the employer in carrying out the provisions of this Standards.
 b. Report to his supervisor any work hazard that may be discovered in his workplace.

c. Make proper use of all safeguards and safety devices furnished in accordance with the
provisions of this Standards for his protection and that of others, and shall follow all
instructions given by the employer in compliance with the provisions of this Standards.

d. Use personal protection and safety equipment as required by the employer

e. Follow work safe procedures

(3) It shall be the duty of any person, including any builder or contractor or enforcement agent,
who visits, builds, renovates, or installs devices, or conducts business in any establishment or
workplace, to comply with the provisions of this Standards and all regulations of the employer
issued there under as well as with other subsequent issuances of the Secretary.

Now that our country is in time of crisis, here are some SPECIFIC GUIDELINES that DOH implements:

1. The employer must ensure that the workspace is properly disinfected,

ventilated, and maintained.

2. The employer shall also provide proper visual reminders

For safety policies around the workplace to improve compliance.

3. Other prevention and control measures are:

a. Conduct daily temperature and symptom monitoring and recording of all staff who report for
work.

b. Establish referral network for employees who will develop symptoms.

c. Employers must enforce infection control procedures such as physical distancing, wearing of
mask, meticulous hand hygiene, and cough etiquette.