INFORMATION SHEET 5.2-1

Occupational Health and Safety

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is a cross-disciplinary area concerned with protecting the safety, health and welfare of people engaged in work or employment. Knowing OHS is essential to minimize the hazards and risks not only to students, trainers and other people within the training institution but others who will be affected.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)

The goal of all occupational safety and health programs is to foster a safe work environment. As a secondary effect, OHS may also protect co- workers, family members, employers, customers, supplies, nearby communities, and other members of the public who are impacted by the workplace environment (DOLE Occupational Health and Safety Standards (OHSSAD) Manual).

“Occupational health” as stated in Wikipedia, aims at:

The promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all occupations;
The prevention among workers of departures from health caused by their working conditions;
The protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting from factors adverse to health;
The placing and maintenance of the worker in an occupational environment adapted to his physiological and psychological capabilities; and
The adaptation of work to man and each man to his job.

Reasons for occupational safety and health standards are:

Moral – An employee should not have to risk injury at work, nor should others associated with the work environment.

Economic – Many governments realize that poor occupational safety and health performance results in cost to state (e.g. through social security payments to the incapacitated, cost for medical treatment, and the loss of “employability” of the worker).

Employing organizations also sustain costs in the event of an incident at work (such as legal fees, fines, compensatory damages, investigation times, lost production, lost goodwill from the workforce, from customers and from the wider community).

Legal – Occupational safety and health requirements maybe reinforced in civil law and/or criminal law, it is accepted that without the “encouragement” of potential regulatory action or litigation, many organizations would not act upon their implied moral obligations.

Objective of the OHS Standard

The objective of OHS standard is to protect working man against the dangers of injury, sickness or death through safe and healthful working conditions, thereby assuring the conservation of valuable manpower resources and the prevention of loss or damage to lives and properties.

OHS in Relation to Waste Management and Disposal of Dangerous Chemicals

Infectious waste can be divided into three primary groups such as:

Liquid waste – blood, other bodily fluids or culture media which is known or suspected to be contaminated with a disease agent.
Soft materials – dressings, bandages, beddings, toweling etc. that are saturated to the point that they are capable of releasing blood, body fluids or other potentially infectious materials when handled and compressed.

3. Any object commonly referred to as sharp, that has been contaminated with blood, body fluids or other infectious agent which could penetrate the skin or could do so if broken. Examples: broken glass, pipettes (glass and hard plastic), scalpel blades and lancets.

Liquid or special waste – Determination and disposal are coordinated with the Department of Environment and Department of Health and in accordance with local, state and federal regulations. Liquid or special wastes include but are not limited to:

Bactericidal or sanitizing solutions
Concrete and asphalt sealants
Degreasing agents
Floor sealers, waxes and strippers
Heating or air – conditioning treatment solutions

Lubrication oils
Paints, latex and oil- based
Related paint products thinners, solvent and strippers
Pesticide or herbicide products
Sludge wastes, including cooling tower sludge
Vehicles maintenance fluids
Water treatment solutions

Radioactive Waste – Determination and disposal are coordinated by the authorized agency in accordance with local and national regulations. Radioactive waste includes, but is not limited to:

General laboratory refuse (e.g., glassware, paper, etc.) that is contaminated with radioactive materials.
Liquid wastes which includes a radioactive material component, and
The remains of animals that contain radioactive materials as a result of administration of such material for research.

Radioactive waste is required to be labeled in accordance with procedures established by the radiation safety office and typically exhibits the universal radiation precaution symbol for radiation.

Hazardous or Chemical Waste – Determination and disposal are coordinated with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in accordance with local, state and federal regulations. Hazardous or chemical waste includes but is not limited to any stock chemical or chemical reagent that may inhibit one or more of the following physical hazards.

Corrosivity – The material has a pH, whether acidic or basic, that will corrode steel or injure human tissue. This includes materials with a pH less than 5 or greater than 10, regardless of strength of the acid or base.

Ignitibility – The material presents a significant fire hazard at room temperature.

Reactivity – The material reacts violently with water, forms potentially explosive mixtures with water, generates toxic gases, vapors or fumes when mixed with waste, or is unstable and can undergo a violent physical change.

Toxicity –The materials exhibit a significant characteristic or toxicity to human health or the environment.

GOOD OHS PRACTICE

Disaster Plan

There should be plan in place to deal with any emergency. The nature of emergency can vary from fire and chemical spills, and all the obvious hazards that these present, to power and water failures that can lead to unsafe working conditions.

Training and Providing Relevant Information

Awareness of the problems and positive approach to prevention is the key to good OH&S practice. Many accidents and injuries can be avoided by providing staff with appropriate training. Up to date

information regarding safe work practices, equipment safety and chemical information should be readily available in the workplace. Much of this information is available as poster and charts. The benefits of this can be seen in staff morale, productivity and the quality of work. Other benefits can be seen in terms of reduced in

insurance premium, compensations and rehabilitation claims.

Work and Storage areas

With the safety of material in mind, work and storage areas should be designed, constructed, and equipped to ensure that there is minimum risk to archive material or staff. Work and storage areas must be kept free of food and drinks, harmful contaminants, pollutants or vermin and harmful radiation.

Exits, passageway, stairs and equipment access areas should be kept clear of obstruction; including stored materials or materials and equipment in use. Obstruction can be potential hazard.

Near Miss and Hazardous Incidents and Accident Investigation

Near misses and hazardous incidents are those in which no one gets hurt and where no material or equipment is damage, but have the potential to cause damage or harm. Step should be taken to eliminate causes as soon as possible, and while rectifying initial problem ensures that is does not create a danger to anyone else. Regular safety inspections of a workplace can help to ensure that wherever possible accidents are prevented from occurring. It is very useful to develop a safety checklist that is appropriate to the workplace.

Supervisors should be trained to understand and recognize the occupational health and safety risk and needs in the area they are responsible for. This will enable them to fulfill their duty in regard to accidents are work related accidents which results in serious injury.

Report of Notifiable Accidents, Incidents and Dangerous Occurrences

Records of reports and witness statements of notifiable accidents, incidents and dangerous occurrences will need to be preserved in the event of future claims or litigation. There are also valuable in identifying hazard and improvements that may still be needed to prevent further accidents.

First Aid

First Aid Officers are responsible for taking positive action to prevent further injury to staff, to render fist aid treatment in

accordance with their approved training, and to keep record of treatment provided.

First Aid Officers are also responsible for ensuring that the first aid box or kit in their workplace is kept fully stock and accessible, and for ensuring that the rest room or first aid room is kept in good condition.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense for protecting workers. The second line of defense should involve intervention along the path, that is, adjustment of the work procedure itself and/or the introduction of mechanical devices to minimize the exposure of workers to occupational health or safety hazards: e.g., dust collectors, welding fume extraction units, exhaust fans, welding screens, etc. The implementation of safe work practices and safe job procedures should also include the proper

selection, care and use of PPE.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is widely used in construction because the hazards cannot be effectively controlled by using engineering or administrative controls. An example of an engineering control is designing the job/task/tool to eliminate the risk such as using tools equipped with dust collectors or using a guard on a saw. An example of an administrative control is posting signs to restrict access to an area.

Hazard and Risk Control

A control program consists of all steps necessary to protect workers from exposure to a substance or system, and the procedures required to monitor worker exposure and their health to hazards such as chemicals, materials or substance, or other types such as noise and vibration. A written workplace hazard control program should outline which methods are being used to control the exposure and how these controls will be monitored for effectiveness.

A hazard is any source of potential damage, harm or adverse health effects on something or someone under certain conditions at work. Basically, a hazard can cause harm or adverse effects (to individuals as health effects or to organizations as property or equipment losses). Sometimes a hazard is referred to as being the actual harm or the health effect it caused rather than the hazard.

Workplace hazards can come from a wide range of sources, such as:

Workplace Hazard Example of Hazard Example of Harm Caused

Thing	Knife	Cut
Substance	Benzene	Leukemia
Material	Asbestos	Mesothelioma
Source of energy	Electricity	Shock, electrocution
Condition	Wet floor	Slips, falls
Process	Welding	Metal fume fever
Practice	Hard rock mining	Silicosis

Risk is the chance or probability that a person will be harmed or experience an adverse health effect if exposed to a hazard. It may also apply to situations with property or equipment loss.

Factors that influence the degree of risk include:

How much a person is exposed to a hazardous thing or condition,
How the person is exposed (e.g., breathing in a vapor, skin contact); and
How severe are the effects under the conditions of exposure.

Among the critical factors in hazard and risk control is the use of PPE and firefighting equipment. Section 2 of RA 9514, otherwise known as the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 states the policy of the State to ensure public safety and promote economic development through the prevention and suppression of all kinds of destructive fires. Henceforth, the State shall enforce all laws, rules and regulations to ensure adherence to standard fire prevention and safety measures… Section 4 embodies the provisions of the Fire Code… shall apply to all persons and all private and public buildings, facilities or structures erected or constructed…

Elimination or Reduction of Hazardous Materials and Substance

Normally, even hazardous materials such as

cleaning agents made of corrosive chemicals, are continuously used. A company should be resourceful in dealing with this issue. They may minimize the use, or find alternative materials that are not harmful or less harmful to men and its environment.

Personal Responsibilities for Safety

Observe all precautions related to your work.
Report unsafe conditions or any equipment or materials you think might be unsafe.
Warn others of hazards.
Report any injury or ill health.
Wear protective clothing.
Be safety conscious.
Always inspect equipment and associated attachments for damage before using.

Ways to learn and understand SAFETY

Accidental Experience – caused by accidents.
Safety Education – method which makes us aware of dangerous situations
Avoid accidents or injury.

OHS Legislations and Policies

The acts listed below have introduced significant changes to the health and safety and social welfare benefits of all workers. Thus relevant provisions of these laws are included under BOOK 4 of the Labor Code.

Republic Act No.8282 or the “Social Security System Act of 1997”
- Republic Act No.8291 “Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Act of 1997”
- Republic Act No.7875 (National Health Insurance Act 1995)

There are a number of policies regarding the occupational health and safety of people in the workplace.

The policies are promulgated by Occupational Health and Safety Center (OHSC) under the office of the Department of Labor and Employment. Among these policies are the:

National Workplace Policy on STD/HIV/AIDS
- Implementing Rules and Regulations on STD/HIV/AIDS
- Safety in the Construction Industry
- Substance/Drug Abuse
- Policy for Tuberculosis Control in the Philippines
- Department Order 47-03: Guidelines on SARS Prevention and Control in the Workplace

Another law relative to health and safety in the workplace is Republic Act No. 8749. It aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for Filipinos.