3K establishments up for safety inspection

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in Western Visayas said 3,540 establishments are up for inspection with its compliance with occupational safety and health standards.

The Department Order No. 198, Series of 2018 applies to all establishments, project and sites and all other places where work is being undertaken in all branches of economic activity. It stipulates the duties of both the employers and the workers in maintaining a safe workplace.

Under the DO, the employers must have approved specific industry set of standards of devices and equipment for the workplace, comply with Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) including training, medical examination, provisions on protective and safety devices such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and machine guards, provide complete job safety instructions to all workers, among others.

On the other hand, the workers have the duties to participate in capacity building activities on safety and health, use all safeguards and safety devices properly, observe prescribed steps to be taken in cases of emergency, among others.

“As of now, we will start inspecting all the establishments, may routine inspection. so once nga may complain from the workers, priority naton na ina-una naton iinspection,” said DOLE-6 Regional Director Cyril Ticao.

Ticao said 24 inspectors will be deployed to the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental.

“We can immediately deploy inspectors when there are concerns on occupational safety,” he added.

Fines shall be imposed on business owners who willfully fails or refuses to comply with the OSHS.

Establishments that exposed its workers to death, serious injury or illness shall be fined P100,000. The penalty shall be computed on a per day bass until full compliance reckoned from the day of notice of violation.

The DO, however, does not apply to the public sector such as national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations with original charters, government financial institutions, state universities and colleges and local government units.