WORKPLACE POLICY AND PROGRAM ON CORONOVIRUS DISEASE 2019

(COVID-19) PREVENTION AND CONTROL

In accordance with DTI and DOLE Interim Guidelines on Workplace

Prevention and Control of COVID-19 dated April 30, 2020, NEOOCEAN TRADING
CORPORATION recognizes that while majority of Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) cases belong to the economically productive individuals, it is also
preventable and its spread can be curtailed if proper control measures will be
implemented. As such, this COVID-19 Policy and Program is hereby issued for the
information and guidance of all employees.

PURPOSE:

To address the stigma attached to COVID-19, to mitigate the spread of the

disease and to sustain a healthy and safe workplace.

To facilitate access of affected employees through referrals.

I. IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE

The NEOOCEAN TRADING CORPORATION COVID-19 Program shall be

managed by its health and safety committee consists of representatives from the
different divisions and departments.

II. COVERAGE

This Program shall apply to all employees regardless of their employment

status.

III. GUIDELINES

A. Preventive Strategies

1. Increase physical and mental resilience by eating nutritious and well-

cooked foods, drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcoholic beverage, increase
the body’s resistance by having adequate rest and at least eight (8) hours of
sleep and exercise regularly and referral of workers needing counselling with
mental health concerns.

2. Prior to entrance in buildings/workplaces:

a. Wear face masks at all times and remove the same only when
eating/drinking;
b. Accomplish daily the health symptoms questionnaire and submit to the guard
or safety officer prior to entry;
c. Have their temperature checked and recorded in the health symptoms
questionnaire (refer to annex), temperature more than 37.5 degree Celsius,
even after 5 minutes rest, the person shall be isolated in an area and not
allowed to enter premises;
d. Equipment/vehicle used in daily operation must go through a disinfection
process; and
e. Roving employee should monitor physical distancing of one meter.

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 3. Inside the workplace:

a. All work areas and frequently handles objects such as door knobs and
handles, shall be cleaned and disinfected regularly at least once every two
hours;
b. All washrooms and toilets shall have sufficient clean water and soap, workers
are encouraged to wash their hands frequently and avoid touching their eyes,
nose and mouth;
c. Sanitizers shall be made available in the entrance of the office.
d. Workers shall always practice physical distancing meaning at the minimum
one meter radius space (side, back and front) between workers;
e. Eating in communal areas is discouraged. It is best to eat in individual work
area and all wastes shall be disposed properly;

4. Minimize contact rate:

a. Prolonged face-to-face interaction between workers and with clients are

discouraged and masks shall be worn at all times. Meetings needing physical
presence shall be kept to a minimum number of participants and with short
duration. Videoconferencing shall be utilized for lengthy discussions among
workers.
b. Office tables should be arranged in order to maintain proper physical
distancing. Barriers may be provided between tables;
c. Workstation layout should be designed to allow fir unidirectional movement
inside the workplace.
d. Use of stairs should be encouraged subject to physical distancing
requirements.
e. Roving officers shall always ensure physical distancing and observance of
minimum health protocols.

5. In the event that a worker is suspected as having COVID-19:

a. All employees are advice to conduct self-monitoring and recommend staying

at home if not feeling well. In the event that an employee is already in the
workplace it will be required to never remove his/her mask and proceed to the
isolation area.
b. Health personnel attending to the workers should wear appropriate PPEs and
if needed should require the transport of the affected worker to the nearest
hospital. Company protocols for transport for suspect COVID-19 cases and
for PCR testing, should be in place including providing for ambulance
conduction. Hospitals will report to the DOH for COVID-19 suspect;
c. Workplace shall be decontaminated with appropriate disinfectant (e.g.
chlorine bleaching solution and 1:100 phenol based disinfectant), after
decontamination, work can resume after 24 hours, workers present in the
area with suspect COVID-19 worker shall go on 14 days home quarantine
with specific instructions from the clinic staff on monitoring of symptoms and
possible next steps. If negative results, co-workers may be allowed to report
back to work.

B. WORK-ACCOMMODATION AND ARRANGEMENT

Agreements made between the company and employee’s representatives

shall reflect measures that will support workers through flexible leave arrangements,
rescheduling of working time and arrangement for return to work especially workers

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belonging to vulnerable groups (pregnant women, below 21 and above 60 years old
and with pre-existing conditions). The employee may be allowed to return to work
with reasonable working arrangements as determined by the Company Health Care
provider and Department of Health.

D. COMPENSATION

The company shall provide access to PhilHealth, Social Security System and
Employees Compensation benefits under PD 626 to an employee who acquired
COVID-19 infection in the performance of his/her duty.

V. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES

A. Employer’s Responsibilities

1. The Employer, together with workers/ labor organizations, company focal

personnel for human resources, safety and health personnel shall develop,
implement, monitor and evaluate the workplace policy and program on
COVID-19.
2. Provide resources and materials needed to keep the workers healthy and the
workplace safe, e.g. masks, soap, sanitizer, disinfectant, PPEs, including
COVID-19 testing kits, etc.
3. Provide information, education and training on COVID-19 prevention for its
workforce taken from DOH, WHO and reliable sources of information on
COVID-19.
4. Designated Safety Officer to monitor COVID-19 prevention and control
measures.
5. Shuttle services and/or decent accommodation on near-site location may be
provided to lessen travel and people movement.
6. Ensure confidentiality of the health status of its employees and the access to
medical records is limited to authorized personnel. 
7. The Employer, through its Human Resources Department, shall see to it that
their company policy and program is adequately funded and made known to
all employees.
8. The Health and Safety Committee, together with employees/ labor
organizations shall jointly review the policy and program and continue to
improve these by networking with government and organizations promoting
COVID-19 prevention.

B. Employees’ Responsibilities

1. Comply with all workplace measures in place for the prevention and control of
COVID-19 such as frequent hand washing, wearing of masks; observe
physical distancing always, etc.
2. Observe proper respiratory etiquette;
3. Coughing and sneezing into tissue or into shirt sleeve if tissue is not
available;
4. Disposing used tissues properly; and
5. Disinfecting hand immediately through proper hand washing with soap and
water or alcohol based sanitizer immediately after cough or sneeze.

V. IMPLEMENTATION, REPORTING AND MONITORING

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 The Safety and Health Committee or its counterpart shall periodically monitor
and evaluate the implementation of this Policy and Program by reporting of illness,
diseases and injuries utilizing the DOLE Work Accident/Illness Report Form (WAIR)
to DOLE through its Regional/Field Office copy furnished DOH.

 
VI. EFFECTIVITY

This Policy shall take place effective immediately and shall be made known to every
employee.

YOUNGCHAE SEO MILDRED S. CARLOS

Owner/Manager Employees’ Representative

DATE: _________________

ANNEX

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