DOLE-OSHC holds LGU Summit and workshop on Construction Safety issuances
“It has been four years since the MOA-JAO on construction safety has been issued and it is high time that we check how much has been done in ensuring the safety of our workers in the construction industry. We will be reviewing what has been done in the local governments and reinforcing the rules and regulations to strengthen the OSH strategies in this highly hazardous industry,” said OSHC Executive Director Ma. Teresita S. Cucueco, MD, CESO III, today, February 18, 2015.
A total of __ representatives from local governments in the NCR and Regions 3 and 4A gathered at the Occupational Safety and Health Center for the LGU Summit and Workshop on the Inter-agency Memorandum of Agreement-Joint Administrative Order (MOA-JAO) on Construction Safety. Representatives from the signatory agencies – Departments of Labor and Employment, Public Works and Highways, Interior and Local Government, and Trade and Industry (Construction Manpower Development Foundation, Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board) as well as the Philippine Regulation Commission will be reporting updates and accomplishments since the MOA JAO was signed in 2011. The OSHC will also report on the results of the Safety Patrol Program conducted jointly with DOLE Regional Offices in 2012.
The 2011 MOA-JAO included the commitments and responsibilities of the signatory agencies that aimed to harmonize the policies and program being implanted by the abovementioned agencies for worker protection. The DOLE was tasked to decentralize the approval of the Construction Safety and Health Program (CHSP) from the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) to the DOLE Regional Offices, which should be evaluated within five days upon receipt of the complete requirements from the contractor/s.
The DOLE Regional Offices on the other hand are tasked to conduct the necessary site inspection for verification of compliance and the BWC shall maintain a data base of all on-going constructions projects and shall prepare a consolidated monthly report of all inspection activities.
Violations are to be reported to PCAB for blacklisting pursuant to R. A. 4566 (Contractors’ Licensing Law) and its implementing rules. The DPWH on the other hand, issued Memorandum Circular No. 2 on March 2011 instructing all local Building Officials to require the submission of a DOLE-approved CSHP prior to the issuance of all building permit. The DTI-PCAB required all Authorized Managing Officers (AMOs) of the contractors to take the 40-hour Construction Safety Training Course as a requirement for the issuance of a contractor’s license. The DTI-CMDF also assists DOLE by offering a safety and health orientation course for AMOs and conduct a one day safety orientation seminar for construction workers. They are also tasked to develop and institutionalize data management system of all construction workers and contractors that have undergone construction safety orientation seminar.
All LGUs have already been directed by the DILG to comply with the requirements of DOLE-D.O. 13, s. 1998, D.O. 18 and Rule 1020 of the OSHS and the licensing requirements of the DTI-PCAB. Through DILG Memorandum Circulars 2004-65 and 65A, all contractors, sub-contractors and specialty contractors are required to secure first a license from PCAB before engaging in any construction activity in the country.
The PRC meanwhile provides technical assistance in the conduct of safety monitoring at the worksite, through its Regulatory Boards and in coordination with the Local Building Officials and DOLE Regional Offices.
An inter-agency task force was formed with members composed of DOLE, DTI-CMDF-PCAB, DPWH, DILG and PRC to formulate and recommend policies and measures for the effective implementation of D.O. 13 and the OSHS.
END/DJ ROMERO
Any question on this release? Please contact Ma. Teresita S. Cucueco, MD, CESO III, executive director, Occupational Safety and Health Center, North Avenue corner Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City with telephone numbers 929-6036 to 39 and e-mail address:oshc_dole@yahoo.com, oshcenter@dole.gov.ph
