This document discusses promoting safety and health in the workplace. It begins by defining safety and occupational safety and health. It then discusses relevant Philippine constitution provisions and legislation related to occupational safety and health. It outlines employer and employee responsibilities for safety. It also discusses common workplace hazards like chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic hazards and ways to deal with hazards. Finally, it recommends taking a participatory approach to safety that involves stakeholders and promotes prevention, health promotion, and improved safety and health.

1. Promoting
Safety and Health
in the Workplace
- BSCS -
HOW SAFE ARE WE IN OUR SCHOOL?

2. Safety
The condition or feeling of being
safe; security; certainty.

3. Occupational Safety and Health
• encompasses the social, mental
and physical well-being of
workers, that is the “whole
person”
• The goal of all Occupational Health
and Safety programs is to foster a
safe work environment

4. • Article XIII Section 3 of Phil.
Constitution
• The state shall afford full
protection to labor, .... .
They shall be entitled to
security of tenure, humane
conditions of work, and a living
wage.
A
OSH LEGISLATIONS
INTRODUCTION TO OSHS
Phil. Const.

5. Legal Basis
• Occupational Safety and Health Act (514) 1994
• 2002 – 1st meeting/gathering of DOLE-BWC Accredited
Safety Training & Testing Organizations
• -Department Order (DO) 53-03, s 2003
Implementation of a Drug-Free Workplace
Policies and Procedures for the Private Sector.
• 2003- Organization of ATOP Inc. for OSH. Renamed as
ASHTOP Inc. in 2004.
• 2004 – Department Order (DO) 57-04, s 2004 (New Labor
Standards Enforcement Framework) was issued.

6. Occupational and Health Standards
Some Rules of the OSHS
1000 General Provisions
1010 Other Safety Rules
1020 Registration
1030 Training & Accreditation
1040 Health & Safety Committee
1050 Notification & Keeping of Occupational Illnesses & Injuries
1060 Premises of Establishments
1070 Environmental Control
1080 Personal Protective Equipment

7. Results of the OSH Evaluation conducted last October
1.1150 Materials Handling & Storage
2. 1940 Fire Protection & Control
3. 1210 Electrical Safety
4. 1150 Materials Handling and Storage
5. 1090 Hazardous Materials
6. 1080 Personal Protective Equipment
7.1060 Premises and Establishments
8. 1070 OCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CO
NTROL

8. What is hazard?
• Anything or any action that can lead to someone
developing an illness or being injured
• Hazards can arise from the work environment the
use of machinery and substances poor work
design inappropriate systems and procedures

9. Types of Hazards
Biologic
hazards
Chemical
hazards Physical
hazards
Ergonomic
stresses

10. Types of Hazards
Chemical
hazards
•Formaldehyde
•Cigarette smoke
•Carbon monoxide
•Carbon dioxide
•Cleaning Agents

11. Types of Hazards
Physical
hazards
•Poor office lighting
•Noise
•Dry air
•Air currents

12. Types of Hazards
Biologic
hazards
•Pollens, allergens and dusts
•People, plants, mites, pests
•Condensed water in air
conditioners, clogged drains,
etc.

13. Types of Hazards
Ergonomic
stresses
•Limited workspace
•Simplified work
•Repetitive task
•Shiftwork (esp.
nightwork)
•Mental and physical
workload

14. Dealing with hazards!
• Eliminate the hazard
• Change the equipment
or materials
• Change work methods
• Use personal protection
equipment (PPE)

15. Responsibilities of the Employer
>Provide a safe working environment
>Provide a safe system of work
>Provide proper training and information
>Identify hazards, assess the risks and
eliminate or control the risks
>Provide supervision
>Supply personal protective
equipment and clothing
>Consult with employees

16. >Provide amenities
>Provide first aid facilities and personnel
>Provide for emergencies
>Ensure OH&S committee
members and representatives are trained
>No victimization or unlawfully dismiss of an
employee is allowed
>No charge to employees for things done

17. Responsibilities of the Employee
>Take reasonable care for the health and safety of people
who are at the
place of work
>Co-operate with the employer or other person
>Notify the employer or supervisor of any risk to health and
safety
>Not to interfere with or misuse things provided for health,
safety and welfare
>Not hinder aid to an injured worker
>Not to refuse assistance in either receiving aid or giving aid
>Not to disrupt the workplace by creating health or safety
fears

18. Occupational Safety and Health
Conditions

19. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
(WMSDs)
 development requires weeks,
months or years of exposure
to ergonomic risk factors
•Repetitive exertions
•Posture stresses (including static posture)
•Forceful exertions
•Contact stresses
•Job design
•Work organization
•Workstation dimension

20. Total Health Promotion
• Smoking cessation
• Physical activity
• Nutrition
• Weight reduction
• HIV/AIDS
• Drug Abuse Prevention
• TB Prevention and Control

21. Occupational Safety and Health
is Prevention
• Many occupational conditions are
IRREVERSIBLE
• Occupational conditions are
PREVENTABLE

22. Occupational Safety and Health
(Secondary Data)
• Musculoskeletal disorders
– Linked to poorly designed workstations (Hoekstra et.
al. 1995).
– Associated with longer shift duration (Ferreira M and
Saldiva PH, 2002)
– Long uninterrupted hours of work with the computer
– Invariable and sedentary work (Norman K et. al.
2001)
– Low job satisfaction (Most IG, 1999)

23. Occupational Safety and Health
(Secondary Data)
• Voice disorders
– Intensive verbal interaction with clients one of
the contributing factors (Jones K et. al., 2002)
• Eyestrain
– Poor lighting conditions and intensive
computer use (Putnam C et. al., 2000)

24. Occupational Safety and Health
(Secondary Data)
• Problems due to psychosocial and work
organization stressors (Putnam C et. al.,
2000)
– Increased reporting of health disorders
– Negative work attitude (boredom, job
dissatisfaction, anger, etc.)

25. Occupational Safety and Health
(Secondary Data)
• Concern over potential hearing problems (Patel
J and Broughton K, 2002)
– Exposure to high intensity sound coming from the
headsets
– high sound levels in the room from the simultaneous
talking of the employees

26. Proactive measures are better than reactive efforts

27. Work Elements and associated Risk factors of
voice disorders
Work Environment Job Design/
Organization
Individual/
Psychosocial Factors
a. High intensity of
background noise
b. Poor room acoustic
c. Low temperature and
humidity
d. Poor workplace air
causing irritation
a. Prolonged heavy use
of voice
b. Fast paced work
brought about by
automated call routing
or dialing system
c. Repetitive reading
from long scripts
d. Lack of or inadequate
breaks
a. Habit of speaking
loudly
b. Smoking
c. Frequent intake of
caffeinated beverages
d. Infrequent hydration
e. Infections involving
the throat
f. Intake of throat
drying medications

28. Work Elements and associated Risk
factors of hearing disorders
Work Environment Job Design/
Organization
Individual/
Psychosocial
Factors
a. High intensity
background noise
b. Noise from
headsets
c. Poor room
acoustic
a. Long duration of
work
b. Infrequent breaks
c. Inadequate
number of
headsets
a. Poor hygiene
b. Lack of training
on proper
maintenance of
headsets

29. Work Elements and associated Risk factors of visual fatigue
Visual
Display
Work Environment Work
Position
Job Design/
Organization
Individual/
Psychosocial
Factors
poor image
quality, flicker,
character size
(too small or
too big)
a. poor illumination,
excessive contrast in visual
field, glare, reflections
b. high vertical position of
the display which may
lead to dryness
c. inappropriate viewing
distance between worker
and screen, keyboard,
document
d. dry air (relative humidity
<40%)
e. air movement >0.5 m/sec
upward gaze
direction
a. long duration of
work , esp. if
without breaks
b. high degree of
concentration
required
c. fast pace of
work
d. repetitive and
invariable task
a. uncorrected visual
deficiencies
b. inadequate
training on VDT
operation

30. Work Elements and associated Risk factors of work-
related musculoskeletal disorder
Physical Work
Environment
Workstation
Design
Work Posture Job Design/
Organization
Individual/
Psychosocial
Factors
Contributing to
improper
posture
a. inadequate
lighting
b. presence of
glare and
reflections on
the screen
a. chair without
proper lumbar
support
b. not height
adjustable
chair and
keyboard
c. too high or
too low
position of
monitor or
keyboard
d. inadequate
workspace
a. static posture
b. repetitive
keying or
mouse
manipulation
c. non-neutral
posture
(head or body
twisted to one
side; wrist
flexed or
extended;
elevated
shoulders)
a. long duration
of work , esp.
if without
breaks
b. high degree
of
concentration
required
c. fast pace of
work
d. invariable,
repetitive task
e. high
performance
quotas
a. uncorrected
visual
deficiencies
b. inadequate
training on
computer
operation
c. lack of job
control
d. low job
satisfaction

31. Health, Safety and
Social Issues
Risk Factors Associated with Night Work
Sleep disorders  Continued poor quality sleep
Gastrointestinal
disorders
a. Digestive function reduced at night.
b. Intake of coffee and other drinks containing caffeine
c. Increased incidence of smoking to keep awake at night
d. No access to proper meals at night because canteens are closed at
night
e. irregular meal times and snack
Errors and Accidents a. Decreased alertness corresponding to trough of circadian rhythm
b. Sleep debt
c. Cumulative fatigue
Substance abuse a. Alcohol used to overcome fatigue and sleep debt
b. Amphetamines and caffeine used to keep awake at night
Physical attack  Walking very late at night or very early in the morning because public
transport may not be available at these times
Disruption in the
pattern of social
practices
a. Exclusion from events and activities involving the family, friends or
community
b. Lack of contact with partners, children and friends
c. Inability to pursue education, sports etc.

32. Recommendation
• Recognition of complex nature of safety and
health issues in school
– Interaction of psychosocial factors with other work
factors
– Unique work organization because of electronic
monitoring
– High performance standards
– Issues on job security
• Compensation implications
– Recognition of problems of workers in school
• Associated with air quality, ambient noise, noise from
headset, human-computer interaction, shift work, etc.

33. Programs
• Creation of Safety Committee
• Quarterly Home and Work place Cleaning
• Health and Safety campaign
• Periodic Assessment of Hazards
• Monthly Physical and Sports Activities for
Employees
• Employees Counselling

34. Approach in Ensuring
Well-Being of Workers
• Looking at regulatory
requirements
• Relevant laws,
standards, issuances
and guidelines
– Enforcement
– Implementation
– Inspection
– Evaluation
• Looking at developmental
strategies
• Information
• Education
• Training
• Campaigns
• Good practices
• Successful cases
• Competitions
• Demonstrations
• Interventions

35. Participatory approach
Participation and involvement from
stakeholders
• Coordinated intervention
• Learning from
– specifications/guidelines,
– scientific data
– best practice

36. Prevention of
disease/injury
Promotion of
good health and
safety
Improvement
of safety and
health
HEALTHY, SAFE,
COMFORTABLE PRODUCTIVITY
“The Link”

37. Lesson 7.
Prepare yourself