COSH

Intended Learning Outcomes

1. Global and National Situation in OSH
2. OSH Foundations and its Benefits
3. International OSH Standards by the International Labour Organization
4. Philippine Legislation (RA 11058)
5. OSH Policy and Safety Statement
6. Responsibilities of Employers’ and Employees’

 Activity 1: Preparation of a report on “New safety and health issues in construction

project”
 Lecture - 1
Global and National Situation in OSH
New safety and health issues emerge
as work changes
A new report on Occupational Safety and
Health (OSH), published ahead of the
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
on 28 April, reviews the ILO’s 100 years
of achievements, and reveals some of the
emerging challenges and opportunities in
creating better working environments.
18 April 2019

https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_686571/lang--en/index.htm
Growing challenges include psychosocial risks, work-related
stress and non-communicable diseases, notably circulatory and
respiratory diseases, and cancers.

Safety and Health at the heart of the Future of

Work: Building on 100 years of experience, is being
published ahead of the World Day for Safety and Health
at Work
Currently, more than 374 million people are injured or made
ill every year through work-related accidents. It is estimated
that work days lost to OSH-related causes represent almost 4
per cent of global GDP, in some countries as much as 6 per cent,
the Report says.
ILO Technical Specialist Report on
Occupational Safety and Health
As well as the economic cost we
must recognize the immeasurable
human suffering such illnesses and
accidents cause. These are all-the-
more tragic because they are largely
preventable. (Azzi, 2019)
The technology, such as digitization, robotics, and
nanotechology, can also affect psychosocial health
and introduce new materials with unmeasured health
hazards. Correctly applied it can also help reduce
hazardous exposures, facilitate training and labour
inspections.
  workers have significantly high occupational injury rates, while older
workers need adaptive practices and equipment to work safely. Women –
Demographic
who are shifts are
entering the important because
workforce in increasing numbers young
– are more likely to
have non-standard work arrangements and have a higher risk of
musculoskeletal disorders.
The development and climate change give rise to risks
such as air pollution, heat stress, emerging
diseases, shifting weather and temperature
patterns that can bring job losses. Equally, new jobs
will be created through sustainable development and
the green economy.
Finally, changes in the organization of work can bring
flexibility that allows more people to enter the labour
force, but may also lead to psychosocial issues (for
example, insecurity, compromised privacy and rest
time, or inadequate OSH and social protections) and
excessive work hours. Approximately 36 per cent of
the world’s workforce currently works excessive
hours (more than 48 hours per week).
In the light of these challenges the study proposes six areas on
which policy makers and other stakeholders should focus.

These include
(1) more work on anticipating new and emerging OSH risks,
(2) adopting a more multidisciplinary approach and
(3) building stronger links to public health work.

Better public understanding of OSH issues is also needed.

The international labour standards and national legislation need

to be strengthened, something which will require stronger
collaboration between Governments, workers and employers.
By far the greatest proportion of current work-related
deaths – 86 per cent – come from disease. In the
region of 6,500 people a day die from occupational
diseases, compared to 1,000 from fatal occupational
accidents.
The greatest causes of mortality are circulatory
diseases (31 per cent), work-related cancers (26
per cent) and respiratory diseases (17 per cent).
Safety and health at work in the Philippines

https://www.ilo.org /manila /areasofwork/safety-and-health-at-work /lang--en/index.htm

Occupational accidents and diseases cause human
suffering and loss. Their economic cost is high, with some 2
million workers dying each year from work-related accidents
and diseases, and the figure is on the increase in spite of
efforts to make inroads.
The Philippine Government estimates that 2.2 million
Filipino workers in medium and large enterprises
enjoy effective occupational safety and health (OSH)
protection and services. In other words, 17 of 18
persons in the nation’s workforce of 38.8 million do
not benefit from acceptable working conditions. Studies
substantiate that OSH conditions in micro-firms and the
informal sector pose risks and hazards.
 Definition of Terms
the term national policy refers to the national policy on
occupational safety and health and the working
environment developed in accordance with the principles
of Article 4 of the Occupational Safety and Health
Convention, 1981 (No. 155)

the term national system for occupational safety

and health or national system refers to the
infrastructure which provides the main framework for
implementing the national policy and national
programmes on occupational safety and health;
 the term national programme on occupational safety
and health or national programme refers to any
national programme that includes objectives to be
achieved in a predetermined time frame, priorities and
means of action formulated to improve occupational
safety and health, and means to assess progress;

the term a national preventative safety and health culture refers to

a culture in which the right to a safe and healthy working environment
is respected at all levels, where government, employers and workers
actively participate in securing a safe and healthy working environment
through a system of defined rights, responsibilities and duties, and
where the principle of prevention is accorded the highest priority.
A national occupational safety and health culture
is one in which the right to a safe and healthy working
environment is respected at all levels, where governments,
employers and workers actively participate in securing a safe
and healthy working environment through a system of defined
rights, responsibilities and duties, and where the highest priority
is accorded to the principle of prevention.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS ACT

Safety and health should be primary concerns in any

workplace. The viability of an economy rests on the
productivity of its workers. Productivity entails an
environment that nurtures workers and ensures their safety.
Poor conditions can result to illness, injury, and death.

https://cpbrd.congress.gov.ph /78-publications /791-occupational-safety-and-health-

standards-act
Book IV of the Labor Code of the Philippines outlines the
rules governing health, safety and social welfare benefits.
It also sets guidelines on fines and penalties.

Chapters I and II of Title I specifically addresses medical and

dental services, as well as occupational safety and health (OSH).

Most of the responsibility of setting standards is in the hands of

the Secretary of Labor and Employment.
The Labor Code has a provision on research and training to
promote OSH. In this regard, Executive Order No. 37 was
issued in 1987, creating the Occupational Safety and Health
Center as a research and training unit to develop OSH policies
that are effective, responsive, and sustainable.
The OSH provisions of the Labor Code can be seen as tilted in favor
of defining the different work-related injuries or casualties and
assigning corresponding benefits for workers and responsibilities for
employers.

The institutionalization of an OSH program appears to be in need of

details. Thus, to effectively promote the welfare of workers, a
comprehensive OSH policy is needed. This would minimize work-
related casualties and develop a safety- and health-oriented
workplace for the benefit of both employers and workers.
Related House Bills:
House Bills 64 (Nograles, K. et al.)

Status:
Approved by the House on 2016-12-13, transmitted to the
Senate on 2016-12-14 and received by the Senate on 2016-
12-14; House designated members for the Conference
Committee on 2017-05-29
The World Health Organization (WHO)
congratulates the Philippine government for passing the
Occupational Safety and Health Standards Act or the
Republic Act (RA) 11058.

Once implemented, this significant legislation will help curb the

increasing cases of diseases and injuries in the work
environment that confront the country.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the total cases
of occupational diseases in workplaces reached over 125,000 in
2015. Back pain is the most common type of occupational
disease, making up 32.8% of the reported cases. This is followed
by essential hypertension (11.5%) and neck and
shoulder pain (11.4%).

Meanwhile, the most risky industry for workers was found to be in

administrative and support service activities (34.3%) and
manufacturing industry (31.1%), jointly comprising almost two
thirds of the total cases of occupational diseases in 2015.
With the RA 11058, employers are now required to comply
with occupational safety and health standards including informing
workers on all types of hazards in the workplace and having the right
to refuse unsafe work, as well as providing facilities and personal
protective equipment for the workers, among others.
With this law, the Philippines comes closer to achieving the
Sustainable Development Goal 8.8 to protect the labour rights and
promote safe and secure working environments for all workers.

It also boosts the implementation of the WHO-supported

Occupational Health and Safety Sector Plan under the National
Environmental Health Action Plan (2017-2022).
With the RA 11058, employers are now
required to comply with occupational safety
and health standards including informing
workers on all types of hazards in the
workplace and having the right to refuse
unsafe work, as well as providing facilities
and personal protective equipment for
the workers, among others.
WHO commends the efforts of all stakeholders
who supported the passage of this law to
protect the health of workers in the
Philippines.
With this law, the Philippines comes closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal
8.8 to protect the labour rights and promote unsafe work, as well as providing safe and
secure working environments for all workers.

It also boosts the implementation of the WHO-supported Occupational Health and

Safety Sector Plan under the National Environmental Health Action Plan (2017-
2022).

https://www.who.int/philippines/news/detai
23-08-2018-the-occupational-safety-and-
health-standards-act-will-protect-the-health-
 WHO
commends the efforts
of all
stakeholders
supported the passage of this law whoof
to protect the health
workers in the Philippines.

https://www.who.int /philippines /news /detail/23-08-2018-the-occupational-safety-and-health-

standards-act-will-protect-the-health-of-workers-in-the-philippines