Occupational Health and Safety Overview

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

• OHS is the recognition, assessment, and control of hazards associated with the work environment
• Many incidents could have been prevented through adequate safety management systems
• Example costs of poor safety management include loss of sick leaves, loss of production, and reduced staff morale
• Formulated in 1989, the Occupational Health and Safety Standards is a body of standards assuring the conservation of valuable manpower resources
• The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is responsible for issuing hazard-specific guidelines and implementing rules on occupational health and safety matters

Important OHS Terms

• Health refers to a sound state of the body and mind of the worker, enabling him to perform his job normally
• Safe/Safety refers to the physical or environmental conditions of being protected against failure
• Work accident means an unplanned or unexpected occurrence arising out of and in the course of work
• Occupational illness is any abnormal condition or disorder caused by exposure to environmental factors
• Workplace incident is any event that results in a near miss, injury, or work-related losses
• Damage is normal caused by accidents in buildings, structures, equipment, product, process
• Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and providing penalties for violations

Duties of Employers

• Equip the place of employment for workers free from hazardous conditions
• Provide complete job safety instructions and proper orientation to all workers
• Ensure that chemical, physical, and biological substances and agents are without health risks when appropriate
• Use only approved specific industry sets of standards
• Comply with OHS standards
• Make arrangements for workers and their representatives to maintain the OHS management system
• Provide measures identifying training and drills for dealing with emergencies and accidents
• Comply with all required first-aid arrangements for the OHS standards
• Register establishment to DOLE as provided under the OHS standards

Duties of Workers

• Participate in capacity-building activities
• Proper use of safeguards and safety devices
• Comply with prescribed steps to prevent accidents
• Observe instructions to be taken in cases of emergency
• Report to the immediate supervisor or any other responsible safety personnel any work hazard

Workers' Rights

• Right to know—All workers shall be appropriately informed by the employer about all types of hazards
• Right to refuse unsafe work—Workers have the right to refuse work without threat or reprisal
• Right to report accidents—Workers and their representatives shall have the right to report any accident
• Right to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—The employer shall provide necessary PPE