DOLE warns companies: Hire trained safety officers

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The Department of Labor and Employment in Negros Oriental had called on all companies, especially those in the construction business, to train and hire qualified safety officers in their respective work places, as mandated by law otherwise they will be sanctioned.

DOLE provincial head Maritess Mercado, during the forum on occupational safety and health standards sponsored by the Philippine Information Agency in this city, said her office has been urging companies to comply with the law and giving them enough time to have their qualified employees undergo training at the Occupational Safety and Health Network (OSHNET)-Negros Oriental chapter.

Mercado explained that the government had aimed for a zero casualty, zero accident or zero illnesses in the work place, or at least minimize these by having a trained safety officer from among the employees, as well as to have a nurse and Red Cross-trained first-aiders.

The employer should make sure that the work place is safe and healthy, not only for its workers but for clients, visitors and even the company owners themselves, Mercado said.

Meanwhile, OSHNET-Negros Oriental chapter was established a few years ago but it was only in early 2014 that it became fully functional, according to its head, Engineer Renato Infante.

Infante said there are two types of training OSHNET provides for the companies: 1) COSH (Construction Occupational Safety and Health) for the construction industry; and 2) BOSH (Basic Occupational Safety and Health) for other industries.

These trainings, which run for 40 hours or five days per program with a fee of about P6,000 per person, are accredited by the DOLE with certifications from these programs being honored even by overseas companies, said Infante.

A shorter version of the safety programs, cut down to at least eight hours with modules designed for the general work force is also available from OSHNET for free, he said.

While the law is very strict in the compliance of the occupational safety and health standards program, so far, no one has yet been penalized here or issued a work stoppage order.

A number of companies has already sent representatives for training. OSHNET, for its part, had already conducted 12 trainings for about 50 participants who are now qualified to become safety officers in their respective companies, Infante added.