THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) has been urging private employers to provide a safe workplace and to implement occupational safety standards and practice to protect their employees from food and waterborne illnesses.
Emmanuel Ferrer, Dole 7 acting assistant director, said on the “Labor Tik Talk” program on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, that Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma issued Labor Advisory 1-23, or the Food and Waterborne Disease Prevention and Control in the Workplace, in January.
According to the advisory, all employers are obligated to provide free adequate supply of safe drinking water and decent sanitary and washing facilities.
Ferrer reminded business owners engaged in water supply and distribution, such as drinking water and refilling provider, ice manufacturers and commercial establishments that use, supply and serve water that they have to follow Department of Health Administrative Order 2017-0012 and Chapter 2 of Presidential Decree 856 in conforming to the safe drinking water quality.
He also said employers, through a safety officer, must report to health authorities all cases of cholera, diarrhea and other food and waterborne diseases in the workplace.
“Ang atong halangdong secretary kay naghunahuna gyud kung unsa pa nga mapalambo ug maprotektahan ang atong mga mamumuo (Our honorable secretary is really thinking about how to improve and protect our workers) and this is consistent with the mission of Dole, which is to protect and to promote the welfare of the workers,” Ferrer said.
In June 2022, the DOH 7 urged the public to watch out for food and waterborne illness by maintaining proper hygiene during the preparation and consumption of food and water.
DOH 7 recorded 447 suspected cases of typhoid fever with 59 deaths from January to June 2022,
According to the World Health Organization webiste, “typhoid fever is a life-threatening systemic infection caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (commonly known as Salmonella Typhi). Typhoid is usually spread through the ingestion of contaminated food or water.” Symptoms include persistent fever, diarrhea, constipation, severe headache, abdominal pain and even vomiting.
The disease is often associated with poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water, in both urban and rural areas.
DOH 7 urged the public to wash their hands before and after eating, wash and prepare raw foods properly then cook it well to prevent contamination of harmful bacteria.