DOLE pushes accreditation of occupational safety and health practitioners

The Department of Labor and Employment prodded companies to have their occupational safety and health (OSH) practitioners accredited with its Bureau of Working Conditions, to ensure the protection of workers.

DOLE Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said ensuring OSH practitioners are qualified can help enhance the "culture of safety and voluntary compliance to labor standards, particularly on occupational safety and health.”

"I also encourage Filipinos who are so inclined to become OSH practitioners. Being responsible for the safety and health of workers in the workplace is an important and valuable line of work," she said.

She added the accreditation of OSH practitioners aims as well to increase the number of people qualified to carry out the provisions of occupational safety and health standards.

Citing figures from the Bureau of Working Conditions, the DOLE said there are presently 1,249 accredited safety and health practitioners nationwide as of June 2014.

Qualifications

To qualify as OSH practitioner, an applicant must complete the prescribed 40-hour Basic Occupational Safety and Health Training Course from any DOLE-accredited or -recognized organization.

He or she must also have relevant experience in occupational safety and health. Three years experience is required if an applicant is duly licensed; four years if he or she is a graduate of any four- or five-year college course without license; and 10 years experience if the applicant is a college undergraduate.

Relevant experience may mean actual work experience on OSH or a combination of actual work experience and attendance or participation in various training and seminars. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News