Without the Whitecoat
The deeper cause of non-compliance
(Editor's note: This column should have come out in the Health section last Friday but was put off due to limited space.)
With the recently concluded First Visayan Summit on Occupational Safety and Health which was held at Marco Polo Hotel and Convention Center, the three regional offices of the DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) 6, 7, and 8 and the Occupational Safety and Health Center of the Philippines have talked about issues and concerns in the maritime, agriculture, manufacturing, hotel and restaurant business and information technology industries.
In Western Visayas, the DOLE's concern is the non-compliance of companies and industries as regards the basic and general provisions of the Labor Code of the Philippines (PD 442) in relation to occupational safety and health. The basic requirement of medical and dental services as well as the presence of a first aid team to respond to emergencies can't be found. There isn't even a simple first aid kit or cabinet in some establishments. The rationale is that if such is required, the workers of a company will be educated on how to sue as regards these medical supplies.
The root cause of the problem may be the company's management that does not comply with either PD 442 or PD 856. They may think it's expensive and financially draining, not realizing or appreciating the fruits that a sound occupational health and safety program offers.
The only way we can give justice back to our employees and workers is when we provide a healthy and safe workplace for them. Programs in occupational safety and health never saw implementation, and this is one of the major reasons for non-compliance in the basic and general provisions of the labor code and the sanitation code of the Philippines.
We can only see compliance if the personnel involved in the OHS program of these companies know what they are doing.
Any graduate of the residency training program from the "major" specialties like Internal Medicine (PCP), Surgery (PCS), OBGYNE (POGS) and Pediatrics (PPS) should not involve themselves in the practice of Industrial and Occupational Medicine if they have not undergone a training course that is set upon by article 160 of the Labor Code of the Philippines. The practice of Industrial and Occupational Medicine goes beyond daily consultation into WEM (work environment monitoring), HIRAC (hazards identification risk assessment and control) and other programs dedicated to that specific industry.
For example, in a softdrink company, the implementation of a hard hat system, the measurement of noise levels in the different areas of the workplace where employees are exposed, was not taught in the residency training program of Internal Medicine, Surgery, OBGYNE and Pediatrics. If somebody at the helm of the OHS program of a certain company does not understand what one is supposed to do, then there is non-compliance of the basic and general provisions of the occupational safety and health.
We feel sorry for the companies who do this. They should take into consideration the qualifications of the company physicians that they are hiring. The HR department should also be aware of this. Otherwise, what's the use of the Labor Code of the Philippines?
Our main objectives embodied in our company or firm policy when it comes to OHS is the protection of workers and employees health, thus giving a productive and illness-free work force.