Safety officers mandatory na sa mga klinika at laboratoryo

Inaatasan na ngayon ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ang mga independent medical, dental, lying-in at optical clinics, kasama na ang mga laboratoryo na hindi hihigit sa siyam ang empleyado, na magkaroon ng safety officers.

Sinabi ni DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, na ang requirement na batay sa Labor Advisory No. 20, Series of 2021, ay naglalayong mas matiyak pa ang mahigpit na pagpapatupad sa occupational safety and health standards sa lahat ng workplaces.

Ang naturang advisory ay nag-aatas ng pagsunod ng mga stand-alone micro health care and related facility, sa Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Law (Republic Act 11058), sa Implementing Rules and Regulations nito (Department Order No. 198, Series of 2018), at sa OSH standards.

Ayon kay Bello . . . “Our labor inspectors are under strict order to enforce our occupational safety and health regulations. Stiff penalties shall be imposed upon employers and workers who violate them. At the same time, however, we must help them comply with the regulations.”

Ang stand-alone micro health care at mga katulad na pasilidad ay yaong may hindi hihigit sa 9 na mga manggagawa at nago-operate ng bukod sa small, medium at large health care at related facilities. Kabilang dito ang medical at dental clinics, lying-in clinics, optical clinics, laboratories, at iba pang kahalintulad na health care at related facilities.

Ayon kay Bello, ang itatalagang safety and health personnel ay nakatapos dapat ng isang 4-year health-related course na may kinakailangang background sa standard of care and universal precautions. Dapat ay tapos na rin ng Safety Officer 1 training at occupational first aid training.

Ang Safety Officer 1 training ay kinapapalooban ng isang mandatory 8-hour OSH orientation course at isang 2-hour trainers training.

Ang safety and health personnel ay maaaring maging isa ring ‘roving safety officer.’ Ibig sabihin ay maaari rin silang ma-assign sa ibang stand-alone micro health care and related facility na pareho ang may-ari o employer na nasa five-kilometer radius.

Bilang guide sa pagtiyak sa isang ligtas at malusog na working environment, kailangang bumuo at magpatupad ng mga kinakailangang OSH programs ang stand-alone micro health care at related facilities.

Ilan sa pangunahing elemento ng OSH program ay ang management commitment and employee involvement, workplace risk assessment, hazard prevention and control, safety and health training and education, at OSH program evaluation.

Pagkatapos, ang OSH program ay isusumite sa DOLE Regional o Field Office na may hurisdiksiyon sa lugar ng paggawa.

Magkakaloob naman ang DOLE Regional o Field Office ng technical assistance tungkol sa iba pang compliance requirements ng kinauukulang establisimyento.