Labor office strengthens work safety standards

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Central Luzon recently held an orientation on Occupational Safety and Health and the “Kapatiran Wise Tav” to sub-contractors of Keppel Subic Shipyard Philippines Inc.

Kapatiran Wise Tav is one of Dole’s flagship programs on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

In a report by Dole Regional Director Leopoldo De Jesus to Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, representatives of all 19 subcontractors of Keppel Subic Shipyard Inc. actively participated in the orientation.

The orientation aims to raise the awareness and promote the implementation of best safety and health practices in the workplace.

Engr. Eduardo Dela Cruz, head of the Technical Support and Services Division for Labor Relations and Labor Standards of the Dole, provided an overview on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards, where he strongly emphasized the importance of having an “Effective Safety Plan” and the establishment of a safety committee in the workplace, to ensure that workers are protected from danger while at work.

Meanwhile, Assistant Regional Director Geraldine Panlilio presented an overview of the Dole’s Kapatiran Wise Tav Program.

Kapatiran Wise Tav encourages big companies (Big Brother) practicing CSR, to coach small companies (Small Brothers) in eventually becoming fully compliant with labor laws and the OSH standards, Panlilio explained to the participants.

The program is anchored on the International Labor Organization’s (ILOs) Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (Wise), whose action-oriented approach has long proven to link Productivity and Product Quality to safer and better workplace conditions.

It also makes use of the Training and Advisory Visit (TAV) approach of the Labor Standards Enforcement Framework), which aims to ensure compliance with labor laws and OSH standards.

“Keppel was chosen as a Big Brother because of its good practices on Occupational Safety and Health, that’s why the Dole piloted its Kapatiran Wise Tav program through a Memorandum of Understanding with Keppel and its Subcontractors on October 5, 2011,” said Panlilio.

However, despite the company’s efforts, a mishap at the said shipyard occurred two days later.

“Accidents happen, even if there’s a safety plan, just like what happened in Keppel,” said Dela Cruz, pertaining to the mishap at the shipyard when the ship of the M/V Tombarra’s stern ramp collapsed instantly while being repaired at the shipyard’s dry dock, killing six workers and wounding six others.

“Nevertheless, incidents like this can serve as important lessons to be learned that will make us even more vigilant on safety and health aspect at the workplace through preventive and corrective measures in the company’s Safety Plan,” Dela Cruz added.

Panlilio said the Dole in Central Luzon under the stewardship of Director De Jesus, along with the Occupational Safety and Health Center and Bureau of Working Conditions, is intensely working hand in hand with Keppel’s safety officers in strengthening the implementation of the shipyard’s safety and health standards through various trainings on OSH and close monitoring of the shipyard’s operations.