DOLE: Transport firms are covered by occupational safety standards

MANILA, Philippines - The labor department on Friday announced that all establishments engaged in land, sea, and air transportation are covered by the Labor Code's Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS). The announcement was made by Labor Secretary Marianito Roque who said that Department Circular No. 2, series of 2008, amended Rule 1003.03 of the OSHS of the 1974 Labor Code of the Philippines. "Previously, these establishments are not covered by the standards except their garages, dry docks, port hangars, and maintenance and repair shops. With the amendment, however, all worksites aside from garages, dry docks, port hangars, and maintenance and repair shops of establishments engaged in land, sea, and air transportation in the country are now bound to comply with OSHS," Roque said. Considered hazardous under the OSHS are workplaces where the nature of work exposes the workers to dangerous environmental elements, contaminants or work conditions which include ionizing radiation, chemicals, fire, flammable substances, and noxious components. o This will also cover industries where workers are engaged in construction work, logging, fire fighting, mining, quarrying, blasting, stevedoring, dock work, deep sea fishing and mechanized farming. o Another sector which is included in the memo are workers are engaged in the manufacture or handling of explosives and other pyrotechnic products or areas where workers are exposed to power-driven or explosive powder actuated tools. o Workers exposed to biologic agents such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoas, nematodes, and other parasites are also covered by the memo. Roque said that any worker or concerned person may request the DOLE to inspect any establishment which could be violating the OSHS and, thus, threatening the lives of its workers. According to Roque, should the DOLE inspector found that an imminent danger exists in a workplace, the inspector shall inform the affected employer and workers of the danger and will submit recommendations to the concerned DOLE Regional Director the issuance of an order for stoppage of operation or other appropriate action to abate the danger. Any stoppage order issued by the DOLE due to OSHS violation shall remain in effect until the danger is removed or corrected,"added Roque. - GMANews.TV