1. Coverage.

All places where work is being undertake in all branches of economic activity,
except public sector.
2. Duties of employers. 
a. Equip the place of employment free from hazardous conditions
b. Provide complete job safety instructions and proper orientation to workers
c. Ensure that chemical, physical and biological substances and agents and
ergonomic and psychosocial stresses are under control without risk to health
d. Use only approved specific industry set of standard devices and equipment for
workplace
e. Comply with OSH standards (training, medical examination, when necessary:
provision on protective and safety devices such as PPE and machine guards)
f. Make arrangements for worker to have the time and resource to participate in
the organizing, planning and implementation of OSH management system
g. Provide, when necessary, measure identifying training, drills, evacuation plans
h. Comply with reportorial requirements of OSH
i. Register to DOLE as provided for under OSH standards
3. Duties of workers. 
a. Participate in capacity building activities
b. Proper use of all safeguards and safety devices furnished by employers
c. Comply with instructions to prevent accidents and observe prescribe steps in
cases of emergency
d. Report any work hazard to employer
4. Workers' Right
a. To know. Employers shall inform ALL workers (including new hires) about all
types of hazard in the workplace. They must also be provided with training,
education and orientation on hazards and risks.
i. For workers in high risk environments: re-orientation must be done
regularly: if there are changes, must be conducted immediately after the
change; if no changes, at least once per quarter 
b. To refuse unsafe work. If imminent danger situation (situation caused by a
condition or practice in any place of employment that could reasonably be
expected to led to death or serious physical harm) exists, the worker has the right
to refuse work without threat or reprisal from employer
i. Employer or safety officer cannot compel the workers to return to work
when there is a continuing imminent danger
ii. Workers may refuse to work until the lifting of the Work Stoppage Order
after implementing the appropriate corrective measures
iii. Workers affected by the existence of imminent danger may be
temporarily assigned to other areas within the workplace provided there
is no impending issue with safety and health
iv. Payment of Workers During Work Stoppage due to Imminent Danger. If
the stoppage of work due to imminent danger occurs as a result of the
employer's violation or fault, the employer shall pay the affected workers
their corresponding wages during the period of stoppage
 1. For purposes of payment of wages and other liabilities, employers
are presumed to be a party at fault if WSO was issued secondary
to a imminent danger situation which would imperil the lived of
their worker
c. To report accidents. Workers shall have the right to report accidents, dangerous
occurrences and hazards to the employer, DOLE and other concerned competent
government agencies. They shall be free from any form of retaliation
d. To Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Every employer, contractor or
subcontractor shall price the workers, free of charge, PPE for any part of the
body that may be exposed to hazards and lifeline, safety belt or harness, gas or
dust respirators or masks and protective shields when necessary by reason of the
hazardous work process or environment, chemical, radiological, mechanical and
other irritants or hazards capable of causing injury or impairment in the function
of any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical contact
i. Failure to provide PPE in high risk activities shall give rise to the right of
the workers to refuse unsafe work
ii. PPEs shall be of the appropriate type as teste and approved by DOLE
iii. Use of PPE in all places where work is being undertaken shall be based on
the evaluation and recommendation of the safety officer as a result of
the workplace hazard assessment
5. Safety signages and devices. All sites where work is being undertaken shall have safety
signages and devices to warn the workers and public of the hazards in the workplace.
The signages and devices shall be in accordance with OSH standards and Gobally
Harmonized System as set by DOLE. It shall be posted in prominent places.
6. Safety in the use of equipment. Appropriate training and certification by TESDA, PRC or
other concerned agencies is required for operators before use of equipment such as
(but not limited to) earth moving equipment, heavy duty equipment, materials handling
equipment, construction equipment.
7. Occupational Safety and Health Information. Th employer, contractor or subcontractor
shall provide the workers adequate information on:
a. Workplace hazards and risks
b. Control mechanisms in place that reduces or minimizes risk of exposure
c. Appropriate measures for prevention, control, protection against the hazards
d. Emergency and disaster management protocols
8. OSH Program. Covered workplaces shall develop a suitable OSH Program, depending on
the number of workers and kind of establishemt (Please see Section 12 for the required
contents per kind of establishment)
a. OSH program shall be readily available to all persons in the workplace. It shall be
updated periodically whenever the concerned government agencies promulgate
new rules or guidelines related to workers’ safety and health
b. OSH program, together with company commitment to comply with OSH
requirements, shall be considered approved upon submission to DOLE Regional,
Provincial, Field or Satellite Office EXCEPT for Construction Safety and Health
Program, which needs approval by DOLE prior to construction
 c. The company shall review the OSH Program at least once a year
9. OSH Committee. A safety and health committee shall be organized in covered
workplaces. The officers and number of members depends on the number of workers as
well as the kind of establishment (Please see Section 13 for the required officers per
kind of establishment)
10. Safety officer. Trainings and experience requirement are enumerated in Section 14 and
Section 16
a. The number and qualifications of safety officers shall be proportionate to the
total number of workers and equipment, size of areas, classification of workplace
and other criteria set by OSH. The minimum classification and number of safety
officers is also found in Section 14.
b. The following are the responsibilities of the employed safety officer:
i. Oversee the overall management of the OSH Program in coordination
with the OSH Committee
ii. Frequently monitor and inspect any health or safety aspect of the
operation being undertaken with participation of supervisors and
workers
iii. Assist government inspectors in the conduct of safety and health
inspection at any time whenever work is being performed or during the
conduct if an accident investigation by providing necessary information
and OSH reports as required by OSH standards
iv. Issue WSO
11. Occupation Health Personnel and Facilities. Covered workplaces shall have qualified
occupational health personnel such as certified first aiders, nurses, dentists and
physicians duly complemented with required medical supplies, equipment and facilities.
They may be full time or part time. The ideal ratio of number of health personnel to
number of workers are found in Section 15.

The medical services and facilities required to be provided is also dependent on the
number of workers. Please see table in Section 15. If there is a hospital or clinic located
not more than 5 km away and accessible in not more than 25 minutes travel time AND
the employer has facilities readily available for transporting workers in case of
emergency, the hospital or dental clinic may not be established.

12. Occupation Safety and Health Reports. All employers, contractor and subcontractors
shall submit to DOLE all safety and health reports and notifications such as, but not
limited to, annual medical report, OSH committee report, employer’s work
accident/injury report and annual work/injury exposure data report.
13. Workers’ Competency Certification. PRC shall determine the minimum and necessary
competency on safety and health for OSH personnel and shall use the same as
equivalency in their application for Continuing Professional Development. TESDA or PRC
shall establish national competency standard and prepare guidelines on competency
assessment and certification for critical occupations.
 All critical occupations shall undergo mandatory competency assessment and
certification by TESDA. An occupation is critical when (a) the performance of a job
affects people’s lives and safety; (b) the job involved the handling of complex tools,
equipment and supplies; (c) The job requires a relatively long period of education and
training; and (d) the performance of the job may compromise the safety, health and
environmental concerns within the immediate vicinity of the establishment.

14. Workers’ Welfare Facilities. All places where work is being undertaken shall have the
following free welfare facilities in order to ensure humane working condition:
a. Adequate supply of safe drinking water
b. Adequate sanitary and washing facilities
c. Suitable living accommodation for workers, as may be applicable in
construction, shipping, fishing and nightworkers
d. Separate sanitary, washing and sleeping facilities for all gender, as may be
applicable
e. Lactation station, except for those establishment as provided in DO 143-15
f. Ramps, railings and the like
g. Other workers’ facilities as may be prescribed by OSH standards
15. All other OSH Standards as provided for in the 1978 DOLE OSH, as amended shall also
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16. Cost of OSH Program. The cost of implementing a duly approved OSH Program shall be
an integral part of operation cost. It shall be separate pay item in construction and in all
contracting ans subcontracting arrangements.
17. Joint and Solidary Liability. The employer, contractor or subcontractor, if any, and any
persons who manages, controls or supervises the work being undertaken shall be jointly
and solidarily liable for compliance with OSH standards, including the penalties imposed
for violation.
18. Employers’ Compensation Claim. A worker may file claims for compensation benefit
arising from work-related disability or death. Such claims shall be processed
independently of the finding of fault, gross negligence or bad faith of the employer in a
proceeding instituted for that purpose. The employer shall provide assistance to
employees applying for claim.
19. Incentive to Employers and Workers. There shall be established package of incentive
under such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by DOLE to qualified
employers and workers to recognize their efforts towards ensuring compliance with
OSH and general labor standards, such as OSH training packages, additional PPE,
technical guidance, recognition awards and other similar incentives.
20. Prohibited Acts and its corresponding Penalties. (see table below)
a. Penalties shall be computed on a per day basis until full compliance, reckoned
from the date of notice of violation or service of the compliance order to the
employer, without prejudice to the filing of criminal or civil case in regular courts
b. Fines imposed herein shall be without prejudice to the fines imposable by other
appropriate government agencies
c. An employer or contractor who repeatedly violated the same prohibited act shall
be penalized the corresponding fine plus an additional fine equivalent to 50%
thereof for every instance of repeat violation.
d. If any of the acts is present and there is non-compliance, the penalty of Php100k
administrative fine shall be imposed, separate to the daily administrative fine
imposed.
i. Repeated obstruction, delay, refusal to provide the Secretary of Labor or
any of his/her authorized representative access to the covered
workplace, or refusal to provide or allow access to relevant records and
documents or obstruct the conduct of investigation of any fact necessary
in determining compliance with OSH standards.
ii. Misrepresentation in relation to adherence with OSH standards, knowing
such statement, report or record submitted to DOLE to be false in any
material aspect
iii. Making retaliatory measures such as termination of employment, refusal
to pay, reducing wages and benefits or in any manner discriminates
against any worker who has given information relative to the inspection
being conducted.
e. When the violation exposes worker to death, serious injury or serios illness, the
imposable penalty shall be Php 100k
f. Should there be two or more non-compliances, all penalties shall be imposed,
provided that the total daily penalty shall not exceed Php100k