Public Health Laws - Sanitation PDF

# Public Health Laws Daven Hazel U. Aragon, RN, CNN, Haad-RN ## Code On Sanitation Of The Philippines **PD 856** **Date of promulgation:** December 23, 1975 ## PD 856: Code on Sanitation of the Philippines **What is PD 856?** It is a consolidation of what used to be a disparate health laws...

# Public Health Laws Daven Hazel U. Aragon, RN, CNN, Haad-RN ## Code On Sanitation Of The Philippines **PD 856** **Date of promulgation:** December 23, 1975 ## PD 856: Code on Sanitation of the Philippines **What is PD 856?** It is a consolidation of what used to be a disparate health laws and sanitation, which covered all present day business, enterprises and establishments. **Objective:** * Improvement of the way Filipinos are directing public health services towards protection and promotion of the health of the people. * To assist local health agencies in developing public health programs, issue permits to establish and operate and prescribe standard rates of fees. **Who are involved in this law?** * The Department of Health * The Secretary of Health * The Regional Director of Health office * City health officer * Provincial Health Officer, City or Municipal health officer * Sanitary Engineer ## Water Supply * Standards for drinking water and their bacteriological and chemical examinations, together with the evaluation of results, shall conform to the criteria set by the National drinking water standards. * **Sites of water sources before their construction** * **Delivery of water to consumers from new or recently repaired water systems** * **Operations of a water system after an order of closure was issued by the department** * **Plans and specifications of water systems of subdivisions and projects prior to the construction of housing units** * **Certification of potability of drinking water** ## Food Establishments - Sanitary Permit - Health Certificate - Quality and Protection of Food: All food must be obtained from sources approved by local health authority - Structural requirements on food establishment - Food handlers - Vermin control - Toilet and washing facilities - Equipment and utensils: storage and cleaning - Bactericidal treatment: immersion for at least half a minute in clean hot water at a temperature of at least 170F (77C) - Dry storage and refrigerated storage - Evaluation of food establishment - Responsibility of the local health authority ## Markets And Abattoir * Suitability of site on elimination of nuisance condition and prevention of contamination are concerned * Availability of adequate drainage facilities * Accessibility of adequate drainage facilities * Durability of construction to protect vendors and customers from any hazard and exposure to elements * Facilities for sanitation maintenance, such as cleaning and elimination of harborages of vermin ### Market 1. Inspection on sanitary condition 2. Supervise and control the proper care and use of market stalls. 3. Prohibit the construction of living quarters within any market and its premises. ### Abattoirs 1. Inspection on sanitary condition. 2. Enforce the requirements on the examination of meat. 3. Permit the slaughter of animals for public consumption in other designated areas in certain exigencies, provided public health is adequately protected. 4. Supervise the sanitary disposal of all abattoir wastes. 5. Ensure that only healthy animals shall be slaughtered, and that the method of slaughtering, the techniques of dressing and the storing, handling, and transporting procedures in accordance with prescribed standards. ## Public Laundry * Sanitary Permit * Public laundry is a laundry established and operated for commercial purposes open to the public and not to an exclusive clientele. ## School Sanitation and Health Services * Site traffic hazard * Permit playgrounds, athletic fields and school gardens * Prevention of fire hazards * Sanitary facilities * Should be located away from disturbances and places which give undesirable influance * Faculty members can rest from teaching chores ## Health Services * Periodic physical and medical examination * Physical exam, periodic immunization, medical and dental treatment * Treatment for common emergencies, counselling and guidance ## Industrial Hygiene * Adequate potable water supply shall be provided to employees * Sewage disposal * Adequate and conveniently located toilet and bath facilities shall be provided for each sex * All wastes incident to the operation of the industrial plant shall be collected, stored, or disposed of in a manner to prevent health hazards, nuisances, and pollution. ## Rest Areas, Bus Terminals, Bus Stops and Service Stations * Adequate number of comfort rooms shall be provided * Waiting sheds for commuters shall be of adequate size to comfortably accommodate a minimum of thirty (30) persons. * Floors shall be smooth concrete finish and adequate sitting facilities provided for. * Sale of foodstuffs in those establishments shall be monitored. ## Public Swimming Or Bathing Places Protection of Customers to protect the health and safety of persons who use them, the DOH shall promulgate: * Sanitary Permit * Correct sanitary practices for persons swimming or bathing to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases. * Correct sanitary procedures for personnel working in those places to maintain their adequate sanitation and cleanliness of accessories used by customers. * Adequate number of trained personnel and necessary equipment needed for life-saving and rescue work. * Post conspicuous signs to warn the public of the presence of artificial or natural hazards and sanitary structural requisites for swimming pools and bath houses to prevent pollution of their waters and to facilitate sanitation maintenance. * Sanitary structural standard toilets; shower baths and dressing rooms to eliminate the risk of infection. * Methods of determining the sanitary quality of water, particularly that whic is used in swimming pools. * Limitation of swimming or bathing loads of swimming pools in accordance with the type of water treatment applied. ## Responsibility Of The Local Health Authority 1. Inspect the state of sanitation of public swimming or bathing places. 2. Ascertain if their personnel are examined regularly for the presence of any infections or contagious disease. 3. Recommend to the department about the revocation of their permits when it is deemed necessary for the protection of public health. ## Tonsorial (Hairdresser) And Beauty Establishment A sanitary permit shall be procured, maintained clean and sanitary at all times with a health certificate. ### Correct Sanitary Practices 1. Working personnel shall wash their hands with soap and water before serving customers. 2. They shall wear clean working garments. 3. They shall not smoke nor eat while working. 4. Tools of their trade shall be cleaned and disinfected before and after their use. 5. Customers shall be supplied with clean and fresh towels, drapes, and other linen necessary. 6. Precautionary measures to prevent disease transmission shall be observed when serving customers showing any form of dermatoses. ## Massage Clinic And Sauna Bath Establishment ### Massage Clinic and Sauna bath Establishments * Should be properly lighted and ventilated with a sliding curtain at the entrance, and equipped with a suitable and clean massage table. * Sanitary and adequate handwashing, bath and toilet facilities. * Customers shall be provided with soap, clean towels, sanitized rubber or plastic slippers. They shall be required to take a thorough bath before massage. * Masseur and masseuse attendants shall wash their hands with soap and water before and after massaging a customer. * The establishment and its premises shall be maintained clean and sanitary at all times. * The sauna room shall be properly lighted, provided with thermometers, and maintained clean and sanitary at all times. ### Personnel Requirements * **Masseur:** Certificate as a registered masseur, issued by the Committee on Examiners for Masseur of the Department. He must possess an up-to-date health certificate. * **Massage Clinic Attendant:** Registered and authorized by the local health authority to work as a massage clinic attendant, satisfactory completion of a training course or study, and up-to-date health certificate. Must have clean working garments when attending to customers. * **Sauna Bath Attendant:** Up-to-date health certificate, must wear clean working garments when attending to customers. ## Hotels, Motels and Apartments, Lodging, Boarding, Or Tenement Houses And Condominiums All establishments shall provide their patrons with adequate water supply, toilet and bath facilities shall be kept clean and sanitary at all times. They should also have a sanitary permit. Any extension or additional construction in an establishment shall require a sanitary permit before it could be operated. Periodic insect and vermin control measures are done. Animals, fowls, and pets shall be housed in appropriate kennels or cages separate from living quarters. No person shall be employed in establishments without procuring a health certificate from the local health authority. ### Hotels, Motels, and Condominium 1. The storage, preparation, and serving of food to customers shall be in accordance with the law. 2. Customers shall be provided with clean linen such as bedsheets, pillow cases, towels, and napkins. 3. When rooms or cabins are vacated, their toilet or baths shall be sanitized and clean with fresh linen shall be provided before the room or cabin is rented for occupancy. 4. Consider availability of bus and taxi transportation services. Nearness to place of work, schools, police stations, and clinics. 5. Availability of low-cost goods. 6. Parking facilities and playground for children. 7. Facilities for disposal and cleanliness of buildings, and efficiency of lifts. ## Port, Airport, Vessel And Aircraft Sanitation 1. Every port and airport shall be provided with potable drinking water and wholesome food supplied from sources. 2. The drinking water and food shall be stored and handled in a manner to ensure their protection against contamination. 3. The local health authority shall conduct periodic inspections of equipment, installations, and premises, and collect regularly samples of water and food for laboratory examination. 4. Medical and Health services with adequate staff, equipment and facilities free of rodents, free from mosquito vectors of yellow fever, malaria, and other diseases of epidemiological significance. ## Sewage Collection And Disposal, Excreta Dosposal And Drainage 1. Flush toilets properly connected to a community sewer. 2. Flush toilets connected to a septic tank constructed in accordance with the law.. 3. Any approved type pit privy built in accordance with the law. ### Types of Privies * **Privy:** A structure which is not connected to a sewage system and is used for the reception, disposition and storage of feces or other excreta from the human body. * **Septic Privy:** Where the fecal matter is placed in a septic tank containing water and connected to a drain field but which is not served by a water supply under pressure. * **Box and Can Privy:** A privy where fecal matter is deposited in a can bucket which is removed for emptying. * **Concrete Vault Privy:** A pity privy with the pit lined with concrete in such manner as to make it water tight. * **Chemical Privy:** A privy where fecal matter is deposited into a tank containing a caustic chemical solution to prevent septic action while the organic matter is being decomposed. ## Disposal Of A Dead Person Except when required by legal investigation or when permitted by the local health authority, no embalmed remains shall remain unburied longer than 48 hours after death. When the cause of death is a dangerous communicable disease, the remains shall be buried within 12 hours after death. They shall not be taken to any place of public assembly. Only the adult members of the family of the deceases may be permitted to attend the funeral. It shall be unlawful for any person to bury remains in places other than those legally authorized shall be at least 25 meters distant from any dwelling house. No burial ground shall be located within 50 meters from either side of a river or within 50 meters from any source of water supply. No remains shall be buried without a death certificate. This certificate shall be issued by the attending physician or mayor or secretary of the municipal board or councilor. Shipment of remains abroad shall be governed by the rules and regulations of the Bureau of Quarantine Graves where remains are buried shall be at least on and one-half meters deep and filled well and firmly.