Pre-Immersion

Quarter 1

Self-Learning Module 3

Safety in the Workplace

 EXPECTATIONS
This is your self-learning module on Pre-Immersion. All the activities
provided in this lesson will help you learn and understand: Safety in the
Workplace

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identify the safety measures in the workplace;

2. be acquainted with the Occupational Health Safe and Healthy
Standards; and
3. cite ways on how hazards are prevented.

LESSON

Wherever you go, you see a lot of signage’s like these:

Why do we have these signage’s ?

Of course, they are for everyone’s safety. According to Department of Labor and
Employment (DOLE), Work Immersion is an integral part of the K-12 Program
in fully realizing its goal to produce job-ready graduates quipped with
industry – base skills.
Likewise, it strongly affirms that while work immersion contributes to
the full realization of the objectives of the K to 12 Program, the safety, health,
and morals of SHS students, especially those below 18 years of age, shall be
a paramount area of consideration.
Pacu.org.ph/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2017/06/MsRuthRodriguez_DOLE-BLE-ESPRD-

K12WIP.pdf
 Hence, being a Work Immersion student, who will also become
employees or even an employer, or an entrepreneur soon, you must learn
this lesson: Safety in the Workplace.

To learn about this, let us be familiarized with what Occupational Safety

and Health Standards (OSHS) is.

This was formulated in 1978 in compliance with the constitutional

mandate to safeguard the workers’ social and economic well-being as well as
their physical safety and health.

The Department of Labor and Employment under Article 162 of the

Labor Code of the Philippines, the OSHS was promulgated for the
guidance and compliance of all concerned. This body of rules and
regulations is referred to as “Standards”
OSHS aims to protect every workingman and woman against the
dangers of injury, sickness or death through safe and healthful working
conditions, thereby assuring the conservation of valuable manpower
resources and the prevention of loss or damage to lives and properties,
consistent with national development goals and with the State’s commitment
for the total development of every worker as a complete human being.
https://gselodelmsapp.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/osh_standards_amended_1989_latest.
pdf

Here are some definitions you also have to understand:

“Employer” includes any person acting directly or indirectly in the interest

of an employer, in relation to an employee, and shall include
governmentowned or controlled corporations and institutions, as well as
non-profit private institutions or organizations.

“Employee” shall mean any person hired, permitted or suffered to work by

an employer.

“Safe or Safety” shall refer to the physical or environmental conditions of

work or employment, which substantially comply with the provisions of
these Standards.

“Health” shall connote a sound state of the body and mind of the worker,
which enables him to perform his job normally, in a state of well-being.

“Work Accident” shall mean an unplanned or unexpected occurrence that

may or may not result in personal injury, property damage, work stoppage
or interference or any combination thereof, which arises out of and in the
course of employment.

“Work Injury” shall mean any injury or occupational illness suffered by a

person, which arises out of or in the course of his employment.

” Workplace” means the office, premises or work site, where the workers are
habitually employed and shall include the office or place where the workers,
who have no fixed or definite work site, regularly report for assignment in
the course of their employment.

Duties of Employers, Workers and other Persons:

(1) Each employer covered by the provisions of these Standards shall:

a. furnish his workers a place of employment free from hazardous conditions

that are causing or are likely to cause death, illness or physical harm to
his workers;

b. Give complete job safety instructions to all his workers, especially to those
entering the job for the first time, including those relating to the
familiarization with their work environment, hazards to which the workers
are exposed to and steps taken in case of emergency;

c. Comply with the requirements of this Standards; and

d. use only approved devices and equipment in his workplace.

(2) Each worker shall:

a. Cooperate with the employer in carrying out the provisions of this

Standards

b. report to his supervisor any work hazard that may be discovered in his
workplace.

c. Make proper use of all safeguards and safety devices furnished in

accordance with the provisions of this Standards for his protection and
that of others, and shall follow all instructions given by the employer in
compliance with the provisions of this Standards.

d. use personal protection and safety equipment as required by the

employer

e. Follow work safe procedures

(3) It shall be the duty of any person, including any builder or contractor or
enforcement agent, who visits, builds, renovates, or installs devices, or
conducts business in any establishment or workplace, to comply with the
provisions of this Standards and all regulations of the employer issued there
under as well as with other subsequent issuances of the Secretary.

Now that our country is in time of crisis, here are some SPECIFIC
GUIDELINES that DOH implements:

1. The employer must ensure

that the workspace is
properly disinfected,
ventilated, and maintained.
2. The employer shall also
provide proper visual
reminders for safety policies
around the workplace to
improve compliance.
3. Other prevention and control measures are:
a. Conduct daily temperature and symptom monitoring and recording
of all staff who report for work.
 b. Establish referral network for employees who will develop
symptoms.
c. Employers must enforce infection control procedures such as
physical distancing, wearing of masks, meticulous hand hygiene,
and cough etiquette.
Appropriate PPE shall also be worn based on the setting of their
work (e.g. face shields and masks for those who render service via
face-toface encounters, full PPE for frontline healthcare workers,
etc.).
d. Employers shall implement activities to promote physical and
mental resilience among their employees and workers, and
ensure other measures to reduce transmission, contact rate and
risk of infection.
(DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM No. 2020-_ 0220)

What is hazard? Hazard is anything with potential to cause injury, illness, or damage.

Types of Hazards:

1. Physical Hazards. These are brought by unhealthy working

conditions, poor lighting, poor ventilation, insufficient facilities,
inefficient or faulty equipment or machine, and improper work
practices like wrong use of knives.
2. Biological Hazards. These are brought about by workers infected with
diseases or illnesses, unhygienic personal practices that can transmit
bacteria, parasites, fungi to other workers and food and equipment
being handled. Hence, it is advised that Covid-19 probable cases
should be isolated right away.
3. Ergonomic Hazards. These are brought by poor posture when
working long periods of standing, bending, pushing, lifting, carrying
that can cause body stress, muscle pains, and soreness, back injury,
numbness of hands, feet and other parts of the body
4. Psychological Hazards. These are brought by too much stress from
work that may cause mental emotional strains, anxieties, depression-
losing focus on one’s work and others
When potential hazard is discovered, what does an employee need to do?

• Be sure that every individual in the workplace is aware of the problem.

• Inform or notify your supervisor. Unless you are the supervisor, then
get going on that safety committee plan.
• Make a follow up. Informing about the hazard is not an assurance
that problem is resolved, unless you make follow ups.
• Record or file any reports or documents about the problem.

Identifying the hazard is not the only way to make everyone safe. You and I have to
keep ourselves clean, to keep the food clean, and to keep the workplace clean.

A. To Keep Oneself Clean

1. Wash hands thoroughly.
 2. Keep the
finger nails
short and
clean.
3. Always wear
PPE while at
work.
4. Wear mask anywhere and anytime.
5. Remove all accessories before working.
B. To keep the Food Clean
1. Never handle food when you have wounds, cuts, and infections.
2. It is best to work with clean and
sanitized gloves all times to minimize
hand contact with food.
3. Refrigerate food, especially perishable
ones.
4. Keep food in clean containers with
cover.
5. Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before use.
6. Check food and containers for any possible contamination.
7. Clean the containers of ingredients regularly.
8. Follow the policy of first in, first out. Those stored earlier should be
used first before those stored later.
9. Label package of food to determine information.
C. To Keep the Workplace Clean
1. Do not do personal hygiene activities in the workplace.
2. Do not eat, smoke or spit in the workplace.
3. Do not sit on equipment and worktables.
4. Keep the surrounding areas free from dirt and disorganization.
5. Follow the Japanese philosophy of good housekeeping-sort/seiri,
set-in-order/seiton, sweep/seiso, standardize/seiketsu,
and sustain/shitsuke.
TERM English Term Meaning in Japanese Context
Seiri Tidiness Throw away all rubbish and unrelated materials in the
workplace
Seiton Orderliness Set everything in proper place quick retrieval and storage
Seiso Cleanliness Clean the workplace; everyone should be a janitor
Seiketsu Standardization Standardize the way of maintaining cleanliness
Shitsuke Discipline Practice 5 S daily- make it a way of life ( also means
commitment)
https://www.slideshare.net/moralescapri/5s-the-practice-of-good-housekeeping-39501798

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1: Spot the Hazard

Directions: Below are pictures of the workplace, encircle the hazard and
complete the table below.

A. Home Dangers

From National Safety Council

Spot the Hazard Assessment Make the changes

List the hazards Describe the risks Suggest ways to control

the risk
1.
1. 1.

2.
2. 2.
3.
3. 3.
4.
4. 4.
5.
5. 5.

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/students/beyond/Pages/resources.aspx

B. Warehouse Dangers
 Spot the Hazard Assessment Make the changes

List the hazards Describe the risks Suggest ways to control

the risk
1. 1.
1.

2. 2.
2.
3. 3.
3.
4. 4.
4.
5. 5.
5.

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/students/beyond/Pages/resources.aspx

C. Office Dangers
 Spot the Hazard Assessment Make the changes

List the hazards Describe the risks Suggest ways to control

the risk
1.
1. 1.

2.
2. 2.
3.
3. 3.
4.
4. 4.
5.
5. 5.

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/students/beyond/Pages/resources.aspx

Activity 2: Risky Experience

Think of a most risky activity you have already experienced either at home, in
school, barangay or any place you have visited. Shortly narrate your experiences on
how you discovered and dealt with it or how you resolved it.

__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

WRAP-UP
Fill in the graphic organizer below.
 Old Things I New Things I've How It Make
Know Learned Sense?

VALUING
React on this quotation:
“One earnest worker can do more by personal suggestion to prevent accidents
than a carload of safety signs. “Making Paper, E.R. Brown
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

POSTTEST
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write your answers on the space
provided before the number.

_____1. Why is Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OHSP) being

implemented?

A. For compliance C. For popularity of the department

B. For safety and protection D. For evaluation and reflection

_____2. If you know you are not feeling well due to colds, cough and fever, you
prefer to stay at home and rest. This act can help everyone in the workplace safe
from spread of the illness. What type of hazard can be avoided?

A. Biological B. Chemical C. Ergonic D. Physical

______3. What kind of hazard causes emotional strains like anxieties and
depression?

A. Biological B. Ergonic C. Physical D. Psycholoigical

_____4. What value is being inculcated in you upon the discussion of the safety in a
workplace?
 A. Empathy B. Flexibility C. Obedience C. Reliability

_____5. You are the 3rd worker who came into a shop. You have noticed spilled
milk on the floor which could be considered a physical hazard. What is the
best thing you have to do to avoid this hazard?

A. I will just look for a signage and put it on the wet floor.

B. I will inform the others not to step on that wet floor.

C. I will ask my colleagues why there is spilled milk.

D. I will get a wet mop to clean and dry the floor.

_____6.What is being referred to by this statement?

It refers to the physical or environmental conditions of work or

employment, which substantially comply with the provisions of this
Standard.
A. Safety B. Workplace C. PPE D. Health
_____7. What is an unplanned or expected event in the workplace that
results to injury or damage to property?
B. Recognized Hazards C. Work Accident
C. Risks D. Work Safety
_____8.Why do you need to work safely on the perspective of the
management?
A. For the most important people in our lives
B. To earn more for the family
C. To be more productive
D. To protect ourselves

_____9.What shall you do when a potential hazard is discovered?

A. Make sure that everyone else in your workplace is aware of the
problem.
B. Just keep quiet and avoid it.
C. Notify your supervisor.
D. Stay calm.
E. Both a & C.
_____10.What agency has the mandate to protect an employee if he
encounters problems with his work?
F. DILG B. DOH C. DOLE D. TESDA
 References
Duque, F. Department Memorandum, 2020, 0220. May 11. 2020.
https://www.doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health-update/dm2020-0220.pdf
Accessed June 6, 2020

https://www.slideshare.net/chloeandreaa/occupational-health-and-safetyohs?
next_slideshow=6 Accessed June 6, 2020

https://issuu.com/wacksvenzon/docs/work_immersion_workbook Accssed June 2,

2020

https://www.google.com/search?q=safety+signages&tbm=isch&chips=q:safety+sig
nages,g_1:workplace:hPsyXbhZpis%3D&hl=en-
GB&ved=2ahUKEwjD4KXS6YPqAhUIxo Accessed June 5, 2020
https://www.safetysignsdirect.co.nz/product/toxic-hazard-2/ Accessed June 2,
2020

https://www.slideshare.net/moralescapri/5s-the-practice-of-good-
housekeeping39501798 Accessed June 2, 2020

Spud, Barry. https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/68961438027256472/ Accessed July 9, 2020

Occupational Safety and Health Standards from Bureau of Working Conditions,

Department of Labor & Employment. Manila: Occupational Safety and Health
Center, Department of Labor and Employment. February 2005, - May 2013.
http://bwc.dole.gov.ph/images/Downloads/OSH-Standards-Amended-1989.pdf

State Government of Victoria, Australia ©

2019https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/students/beyond/Pages/resources.
aspx, Accessed July 9, 2020

National Safety Council file:///C:/Users/Arlene%20Donor/Downloads/12-15-

16Spot-the-hazards-game%20(2).pdf, Accessed September 16, 2020

Health and Safety ( Safety Signs and Signals Regulations )

https://www.firesafe.org.uk/health-and-safety-safety-signs-and-signalsregulations-
1996/, Accessed September 17, 2020