BASIC COMPETENCIES

Occupational Health and Safety Standard

Article 162
Labor Code of the Philippines
1974
Purpose and Scope
 To protect every workingman against the dangers of injury, sickness or death
through safe and healthful working conditions
 Conservation of valuable manpower resources
 Prevention of loss or damage of properties or life

OH&S Standard
 Rule 1000 : General Provision
 Rule 1010 : Other Safety Rules
 Rule 1020 : Registration
 Rule 1030 : Training of Personnel in OSH
 Rule 1040 : Health and Safety Committee
 Rule 1050 : Notification and Keeping of Records of Accidents and/or
Occupational Illness
 Rule 1060 : Premises of Establishment
 Rule 1070 : Occupational Health and Environmental Control
 Rule 1080 ………………
 Rule 1090 ………………
WORK ENVIRONMENT MEASUREMENT
RULE 1077
 WEM – means sampling and analysis carried out in respect of the atmospheric
environment and other fundamental elements of working environment for the
purpose of determining actual conditions therein.
 Employer shall carry out the WEM periodically but not longer than annually.

Purpose of WEM
 To determine the magnitude of harmful environmental agents;
 To monitor worker’s exposure to harmful substances;
 To evaluate the effectiveness of environmental control measures adopted to
improve the workplace
 To maintain favorable environment conditions

Types of Environmental Monitoring

 Area sampling
 Personal sampling
 Biological
 Ergonomics
HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
 A hazard is a source or potential source of human injury, ill
health or disease. Anything which might cause injury or ill
health to anyone at or near a workplace is a hazard.

 The first step in reducing the likelihood of an accident is hazard

identification. Hazard identification is identifying all situations or
events that could cause injury or illness. Eliminating or
minimizing workplace hazards needs a systematic approach. It
is essential to try and anticipate all possible hazards at the
workplace - known as the `what if?' approach.

Types or Categories of Health Hazards

Chemical Ergonomics

Physical Biological
Physical Hazard
 Problems relating to
noise, vibration,
temperature extremes,
pressure extremes,
radiation, illumination…
Chemical Hazards
 Any chemical that has been
classified as hazardous or for
which relevant information
exists to indicate that it is
hazardous.

 Arise from excessive

airborne concentration of
chemicals in the form of
gases, vapors, mists, dust or
fumes.
Biological Hazards
 Any virus, bacteria, fungus,
parasite, or any living
organism that can cause a
disease in human beings.

 They can be a part of total

environment or associated
with certain occupations.
Ergonomics
 Is a multidisciplinary activity dealing
with interaction between man and his
total working environment plus
stresses related to such environmental
elements as atmosphere, heat, light
and sound as well as all tools and
equipment in workplace.

Ergonomics
Hazards
 Improperly designed tools or
work areas
 Improper lifting
 Poor visual condition
 Repeated motions in awkward
positions
Recognition of the different Hazards can be
accomplished by:
 Walk-through survey/ocular
inspection
 Review the processes involved
 Knowing the raw materials used,
products and by-products
 Gather worker’s complaints
 Chemical Safety Data Sheets /
MSDS

Example of IH Equipments
 Luxmeter – illumination
 Dosimeter – noise
 Anemometer – air velocity
 High/Low Volume sampler – dusts,
fumes, total suspended particulates
 Multigas Analyzer – different gases
EVALUATING THE RISK OF CHEMICAL
EXPOSURES

 Determination of the concentration of the hazard using

approved IH methods and equipment.
 Compare the measurement results with the standard limits
(TLV’s)

 The degree of hazard from exposure to harmful environmental

factors or stresses would depend on the following:
 Nature of the material or energy involved
 Intensity of exposure
 Duration of exposure
 Individual susceptibility
Threshold Limit Value (TLV)
The Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of a chemical substance defines the reasonable level to
which a worker can be exposed without adverse health effects.
The TLV for chemical substances is defined as a concentration in air, typically for inhalation or
skin exposure. Its units are in ppm for gases and in mg/m³ for particulates (aerosols such
as dust, fumes and mist).

Three types of TLVs for chemical substances are defined:

 Threshold Limit Value - Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA) - average
exposure on the basis of a 8h/day, 40h/week work schedule
 Threshold Limit Value - Short Term Exposure Limit (TLV-STEL) - spot
exposure for a duration shorter than 15 minutes, that cannot be repeated more than 4
times per day
 Threshold Limit Value - Ceiling (TLV-C) - absolute exposure limit that should not
be exceeded at any time
There are TLVs for physical agents as well as chemical substances. TLVs for physical
agents are also defined in terms of what are considered safe levels (8 hours per
day & 40 hours per work week). There are TLVs for noise exposure, vibration
exposure, ionizing & non-ionizing radiation exposure and heat & cold stress.

The basic formula for TLV is: ppm = ((mg/m^3) * 24.45) / molecular weight
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL MEASURES

 Engineering Control
 Work Practices Control
 Administrative
 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Engineering Control
 Is the primary and most effective control measure recommended for
the minimization or elimination of hazards which includes:
 Replacement of Materials used/substitution
 Modification of the process and/or equipment
 Enclosing work processes or confining work operations
 Industrial Ventilation

Work Practice Control

 Following proper procedures/SOP
 Proper maintenance of process & control equipment
 Implementing Good Housekeeping
 Providing good supervision
Administrative Control

 Changes in how a worker accomplishes the necessary job tasks

 Reduction of work periods
 Adjusting work schedules
 Job rotation
 Education of supervisors
 Emergency response training and education
 Employee information and training
 Housekeeping and maintenance
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Consists of devices provided to the worker and required to be worn
while performing certain job tasks
 The use of PPE is a control directed to the receiver. This is considered
as the last resort and is temporarily used while pertinent engineering
control is ongoing or not yet implemented

 Examples:
 Dust/Gas Respirators
 Safety Goggles/Spectacles
 Gloves
 Aprons
 Helmets
 Safety Shoes
 Ear plugs/ear muffs
Recognition – Evaluation – Control

Fundamental concepts of providing all workers

with a healthy working environment.
Temperature & Relative Humidity

 A temperature suitable for the type of work

performed shall be maintained in closed workplaces
and such temperature shall be increased or
decreased and the degree or humidity varied in
accordance with the kind of work.
 Thermal comfort depends on air temperature,
humidity and air movement. Acceptable ranges for
these factors are often referred to as comfort zone.
Ideally a person wearing typical office clothing should
feel neither too cold nor too warm.
Permissible Heat Exposure
Threshold Limit Values

Work-Rest Workload Workload Workload

Regimen Light Moderate Heavy

Continuous 30.0 oC 26.7 oC 25.0 oC

75% work -
30.6 oC 28.0 oC 25.9 oC
25% rest
50% work -
31.4 oC 29.4 oC 27.9 oC
50% rest
25% work -
32.2 oC 31.1 oC 30.0 oC
75% rest
Noise
 Any unwanted sounds.

 When we measure the total amount of noise energy being emitted,

we express that measure in terms of C-weighted decibels (dBC)
 When we measure the energy that actually impacts the human
ear, we call it A-weighted decibels (dBA)

Types of Noise
 Continuous/Steady Noise
 Intermittent Noise
 Impact/Impulsive Noise
Permissible Noise Exposure

Duration/day Hours (hr) Sound Level dB(A)

8 90
6 92
4 95
3 97
2 100
1½ 102
1 105
1/2 110
1/4 115
Hearing Damage from Noise Exposure
 Acute: From loud noise such as blasts (140 – 160 dBA damages the eardrum)
 Chronic: Due to long-term exposure to hazardous noise levels
 Major risk factor: prolonged unprotected exposure to noise > 85 dBA

Hearing Impairment
 No matter how short a time, a worker should not, without the appropriate ear
protection, enter an area where the noise level is 115 dBA or more.
 If there are single and isolated bursts of noise that can go above 120 dBA,
personal protective equipment should be worn.
 No worker should enter an area where the noise level exceeds 140 dBA.
 Other factors that could lead to hearing disorders include presence of airborne
contaminants (causing ear infections), blows on the head and certain
medications.

“If you are unable to speak in a normal tone of voice standing at arm’s length from
your workmates, then the noise level is too high”
Illumination
 Some other factors, together with the air quality, including lighting may affect the
employee’s health, moral and productivity.
 Although office work has not been proven to cause permanent vision or eye problems,
many office workers report eyestrain, a burning sensation in the eyes, blurred vision, eye
irritation or dryness, dry eyes and headache

Recommended Illumination Levels

 A minimum of 50 lux – passageway, corridor, warehouse
 A minimum of 100 lux – engine and boiler rooms; toilets and washrooms
 A minimum of 200 lux – canning and preserving; planning of lumber and veneering
 A minimum of 300 lux – medium inspection; office deskwork with intermittent reading and
writing for filing and mail sorting.
 minimum of 500 lux – fine inspection, fine woodworking, accounting, drafting, stenographic
work.
 A minimum of 1000 lux – extra fine assembling; jewelry and watch mfg; proofreading in
printing plants

Note : LUX = 10 Candles (1 foot)

 Chemical Hazard
General Concepts
 Chemicals are found
everywhere around
us….
…in the food we eat
… the water we drink
 Chemicals are either
naturally occurring or
man-made.
 They have a wide range
of possible health
effects

… the consumer
products we use

… and the air we

breathe
What are Hazardous Chemicals?
 Arise from excessive airborne concentrations of mists, vapors, gases or
solids that are in the form of dusts or fumes that may impair the health
of the workers or may cause significant discomfort.

TLV of Airborne Contaminants

GASES VAPOR
CO 50 ppm Acetone 1000 ppm
CO2 5000 ppm Benzene 25 ppm *C
Cl2 1 ppm Toluene 100 ppm
O2 19.5 % Methanol 200 ppm
H2O 10 ppm Ethanol 1000 ppm
Methyl Chloride 500 ppm *C
Preventive Measures From Exposure to
Workplace Chemical
 Interactions Between People and Environment
 Generalized Diagram of Control Method

SOURCE PATH RECEIVER

1. Substitution with a less 1. Housekeeping (immediate 1. Training and education (most

harmful material (water in cleanup) important)
place of organic solvent)
2. Change of process (airless 2. General exhaust ventilation 2. Rotation of workers (split up
paint spraying) (roof fans) dose)

3. Enclosure of process (glove - 3. Dilution ventilation (supplied 3. Enclosure of worker (air

box) air) conditioned crane cabs)

4. Isolation of process (space 4. Increase distance between 4. Personal monitoring devices

or time) source and receiver (semi- (dosimeters)
automatic or remote control)

5. Wet methods (hydro blast) 5. Continuous area monitoring 5. Personal protective devices
(pre-set alarms) (respirators)

6. Local exhaust ventilation 6. Adequate maintenance 6. Adequate maintenance

(capture at source) program program

7. Adequate maintenance
program
Industrial Ventilation
 The process of supplying or removing air by natural or mechanical
means to and from any space

PURPOSE
 To ensure condition of thermal comfort
 To renew the air in the workplace, therefore diluting eventual air
contaminants to acceptable levels.
 To prevent hazardous air contaminants from reaching the workers
breathing zone

TYPES OF INDUSTRIAL VENTILATION

 General or Dilution Ventilation
 Local Exhaust Ventilation
General Ventilation
 It aims at the removal of air in the work environments so that
the possible contaminants are diluted to levels considered to be
not harmful to health and/or to provide workers comfort
cooling.

Means
 Natural
 Exhaust Fans
 Local Cooling
 Air-condition
Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV)
 It aims at the removal of the air contaminants from the working
environment before they can reach the breathing zone of the workers
in harmful concentration.

Basic Elements
Classifications Local Exhaust Hoods

Enclosing Exterior Receiving

General or Dilution Ventilation

Natural
Ventilation

Mechanical
Ventilation
Examples Local Exhaust Hoods