DOLE-DTI Joint Memorandum Circular

No. 20-04

Salient Provisions of the Memorandum Circular

Clarence A. Catapang
T&S HSSE Advisor Philippines

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Salient Provisions of DOLE-DTI Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04

Workplace Safety and Health Remarks

Employers to provide psychosocial support, promote work-life balance, and align company policies
Implemented/In place
with the minimum public health standards and guidelines (page 3).

Face shield is a new requirement that needs to

be complied.
Added in the COVID-19 Guidelines to
Minimum public health standards in the workplace include face mask and face shield to be always
emphasize the regulatory requirement.
worn together, when interacting with colleagues, clients and/or visitors (pages 3-4).
Please refer to the later slide which
areas/activity will require wearing of face
shield.

Employers classified as large and medium sized private establishments, i.e., those with total assets
Not mandatory but encouraged
above PHP15M, are enjoined to provide shuttle services to their employees (page 5).

Workplace: Natural air flow exchange is highly

encouraged
Adequate ventilation should be strictly enforced inside the workplace and shuttle service (page 5).
Shuttle service: Opening of windows should be
practiced whenever possible

Employers shall conduct mandatory advocacy awareness-raising programs on COVID-19 (page 5). Implemented/In place

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Salient Provisions of DOLE-DTI Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04

Workplace Safety and Health Remarks

New requirement needs to be complied.
Terminal to provide individual booths and if
Designated smoking areas in the workplaces shall be provided with individual booths (page 5).
can’t be done, one person only in the smoking
area is allowed.
Most-at-risk population (MARP) for COVID-19 in the workplace (e.g. senior citizens, pregnant
women, individuals with underlying health conditions) and those below 21 years old, shall continue to
observe work-from-home arrangements.
Implemented/In place
When needed to occasionally report to work, they may be allowed to, provided a certificate of fit to
work is secured from the OSH personnel and must stay in the workplace only for a specified number
of hours. They shall limit physical contact inside the premises.

Mass gatherings are restricted (page 6). Implemented/In place

Employers shall adopt staggered meal schedules to further restrict contact among its employees.
Implemented/In place
Eating alone in the workstation is highly encouraged (page 6).

Health declaration forms upon entrance are still required (page 7). Implemented/In place

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Salient Provisions of DOLE-DTI Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04

Management of Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Employees in the Workplace Remarks

Employees should have access to telemedicine services (page 7). Implemented/In place

Establishments are encouraged to designate an isolation area of one room for every 200 employees,
which shall be other than the company clinic, and must be situated near the entrance/s or in a nearby Implemented/In place
facility.
New requirement needs to be complied (for
Additional rules on contact-tracing, i.e., using contact-tracing forms, etc. (pages 8-9). discussion with Shell Health and Corporate
HSSE to seek guidance)
New requirement needs to be complied (for
On testing, identified priority workers shall under RT-PCR test once every quarter (see page 10-11 for
discussion with Shell Health and Corporate
the scope).
HSSE to seek guidance)

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Salient Provisions of DOLE-DTI Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04

Company’s Occupational Safety and Health Committees Remarks

The OSH Committee and/or safety officer of the workplace shall oversee enforcement and monitoring
Implemented/In place
of the minimum public health standards for COVID-19 prevention in the workplace and this JMC

Notification and Reporting Remarks

Even before testing, the OSH Officer/employer must report COVID-19 positive employees,
symptomatic employees, and their close contacts, to the local health office having jurisdiction over the Implemented/In place
workplace and the Barangay Health Emergency Team (BHERT)

Rules on Disinfection and Closure of Buildings/ Workplaces in case of COVID-positive cases Remarks
New requirement needs to be complied (for
discussion with Shell Health and Corporate
The building must be locked down for 24 hours prior to disinfection to lessen transmission to HSSE to seek guidance as the memorandum
sanitation personnel. During the disinfection process, all doors and windows should be opened to mentions building only).
maximize ventilation. The building may only be opened 24 hours after the disinfection process While waiting for further guidance, please
apply only to workplace within a building
(office, canteen).
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Salient Provisions of DOLE-DTI Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04

Leave of Absences and Entitlements Remarks

Use and entitlement to be aligned with existing regulations (usual rules) (page 13) Implemented/In place

Employers are highly encouraged to provide sick leave benefits, medical insurance coverage,
including supplemental pay allowance, for COVID 19 RT-PCR test- confirmed employees or close Implemented/In place
contacts made to undergo a 14-day quarantine (page 13

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 Activities that will require and will NOT
require face shield

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Activities that will require face shield

Activity Location Required to wear face shield?

Entering and exiting the terminal Terminal entrance/exit gate Yes

Non-operational areas (waiting

Toolbox meeting, pre and post -job safety briefing, common break Yes
area, office, canteen, etc)

Operational areas of the

No, but must wear safety glasses and
Toolbox meeting, pre and post -job safety briefing, common break terminal (tank farm, near
comply with social distancing
gantry area, etc)
Interface (chat) of two or more people in waiting area (check if people can
prevent talking to each other, if yes, not required and keep the social Waiting area Yes
distancing but if unsure require wearing of face shield)

Riding in a vehicle with two or more people (EXCEPT driver) Inside vehicle Yes

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Activities that will NOT require face shield

Activity Location Required to wear face shield?

No, but must comply with social
Walking to the worksite and leaving the worksite (take note that face shield
Inside the terminal distancing and no interaction with
is required in certain areas)
others

Inspection area, gantry, post-

Pre-entry inspection, gantry loading, post-load inspection No
load platform

Tanker receiving and ethanol receiving activities (tank gauging, sampling, Operational areas of the
No
receiving operations, line patrolling, etc) excluding toolbox meeting terminal

Maintenance activities (requires PPEs which includes safety glasses or other No, but must wear safety glasses and
All areas in the terminal
eyes/face protection) comply with social distancing

Construction activities (requires PPEs which includes safety glasses other No, but must wear safety glasses and
All areas in the terminal
eyes/face protection) comply with social distancing

 Please take note that the law requires wearing of face shield and mask ONLY when there is interaction with other people (colleagues, workers, clients, and/or visitors)
 Face shield may be removed if poses risk or if there is other occupational safety requirement like need to wear safety glasses or other eye/face protection so kindly do risk
assessment before imposing face shield. Seek HSSE guidance if needed.

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