Survey by: Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development (IOHSAD)

Supported by: Asia Monitor Resource Center

Visual by: Noel Colina
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS:

Work-related accidents claimed 331 lives in 2009

A total of 331 deaths by occupational accidents occurred in 2009. Also, a total of 427 workers were
injured in the same period.

The research surveyed eight national daily broadsheets as well as tabloids (online and in print).
Other online news sites were also utilised for the study. Formal and informal sector were not
distinguished in this survey.

The mining sector suffered the highest number of deaths at 84 due to recurring landslides and
pocket mining. Injured victims figure at 40 bringing the total number of affected workers at 124.
Suffocation, chemical poisoning, and explosion were also the other causes of death and injury in the
sector.

The construction sector posted 26 deaths and 113 injured. Shuttle bus accidents that occurred in
Hanjin Shipping increased the number of victims. Hanjin have also figured in a number of
occupational accidents inside the shipyard since its beginning in 2006. Other causes of accidents in
the sector include collapse of scaffolding, electrocution, and lack of safety harness.

The transport sector, meanwhile, posted 123 affected individuals with 63 deaths and 60 injured.
Most causes of accidents include mechanical trouble, over fatigue, and negligence.

There are 64 deaths and 87 injured surveyed in the agriculture and fishing sector. Natural causes of
death and injury include typhoons and lightning storms. But dynamite fishing also figure in most of
the accidents in the fishing sector. Meanwhile, road accidents in delivery of agricultural products
were also outstanding.

The manufacturing sector recorded 27 deaths and 58 injuries. The pyrotechnics industry figured
most in these accidents with the factory blast of Starmaker Fire Cracker Company located in Trece,
Martirez City in January 2009. Eight people died while 36 were injured in the incident.

In other services, work-related accidents also claimed 67 lives and injured 69 others. Two incidents
were recorded involving call center agents being hit by speeding vehicles while on break or on the
way to work. Fire volunteers also figure in most of the accidents recorded.

Data from the Social Security System showed that there were a total of 49, 412 workers benefited
by the Employees Compensation Program in the period from January to October in 2009. About 91
percent of these were male workers. About P 915.87 million were disbursed for the victims during
the same period.

Lack of strong workplace safety inspections and personal protective equipments (PPEs) were
blamed for most of the occupational accidents. Meanwhile, self-employed and informal sector
workers still lack the health and safety awareness in their work.

Meanwhile, there were 116 fatal occupational injuries in 2007 according to the 2007/2008 BLES
Integrated Survey.