OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND

HEALTH STANDARDS

SAFETY ENGINEERING APPLIED TO THE

PHILIPPINE SETTING
 LEGAL FOUNDATION
 The OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARDS
is promulgated by virtue of the powers vested on the
Department of Labor and Employment under Article 162 of
the Labor Code of the Philippines.

 Objective: Protect every working man 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.
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

 The DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND

EMPLOYMENT shall administer and enforce the
provisions of the Standards.
 DOLE has access to every employer’s premises and
records
 DOLE to inspect every establishment or place of
employment at least once an year
 DOLE to determine reasonable period of compliance
with recommendations

Not applicable to Transportation (DOTC) and Mining Industries (DENR)

DOLE Regulations, Safety Standards in
Construction

For the interest and protection of the

Construction Industry, DOLE issued
*Department Order No. 13, series of 1998
otherwise known as the Guidelines Governing
Occupational Safety and Health in the
Construction Industry.

* Issued on July 23, 1998 by DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma

 DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Preamble: In the interest of ensuring the
protection and welfare of workers employed in the
construction industry, the protection and welfare
of the general public, within and around the
immediate vicinity of any construction worksite as
well as the promotion of harmonious employer-
employee relationship in the construction industry,
and after consultations with the stakeholders in
the construction industry, taking into
consideration industry practices and applicable
government requirement, these guidelines are
hereby issued for all concerned.
 DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Salient Features:
 Section 1 – Definition of Terms
 25 terms are defined for clarity and distinction from similar
terms
 Section 2 – Jurisdiction
 Administration of OSH resides with the Secretary of DOLE
 Section 3 – Delegation of Authority
 DOLE has the prerogative to delegate enforcement powers
to other government agencies and to private organizations
(incl. Technical Safety Inspection)
 Section 4 –Coverage
 Applicable to all construction activities, incl. demolition,
owned by the private or government sector
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 5 – Construction Safety and Health
Program
 A comprehensive Construction Safety and Health
Program shall be submitted to DOLE before actual
construction in any project starts which shall include
the following:
1. Composition of the construction safety and health committee
2. Specific H&S policies within the construction site
3. Penalties for violation
4. Training of workers
5. Waste Disposal
6. Other requirements of D.O. No. 13, s. 1998
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 6 – Personal Protective Equipment
 Employers must provide personal protective equipment
(PPE) to all workers, including all persons entering the
construction site
 Cost of PPE is integral part of project cost
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 7 - Safety Personnel
 Each construction site shall have the minimum required
Safety Personnel to ensure that the Construction Safety and
Health Program is duly followed and enforced.

Number of Workers Safety Personnel

1 - 50 1 part-time Safetyman
51-200 1 full-time Safetyman
201 - 250 1 full-time 1 part-time Safetyman
Every additional 500 or fraction 1 additional full-time Safetyman
thereof

• 1 Safetyman for every 10 units of heavy equipment

DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Occupational Health Personnel
Number of Workers OH Personnel
50 or less First Aider
51 to 200 Full-time Nurse
201 to 300 Full-time Nurse, part-time
physician, part-time dentist
More than 300 Full-time Nurse, full-time
physician, full-time dentist

 Occupational Health Facility

1 bed capacity Per 100 workers in excess of 300
Contract with hospital Within 5 kms or 25 mins. Of travel
Emergency Health Provider
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 8 – Emergency Occupational Health
Personnel and Facilities
 Competent emergency health personnel
complemented with adequate medical supplies,
equipment and facilities shall be provided by the
owner within the worksite
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 9 – Construction Safety Signages
 Mandatory provision of safety and warning signs
conforming to OSHS at the worksite.
 1. Usage of PPE
 2. Risk of falling/falling objects
 3. Explosives and flammable substances
 4. Tripping or slipping hazards
 5. Toxic or irritant airborne
contaminants/ substances
 6. Electrical Facility
 7. Dangerous moving parts of machine
 8. Fire alarm/fire fighting
 9. Instructional signs/update of man-hours lost
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 10 – Safety on Construction Heavy
Equipment
 Specific guide for testing, transport, erection, and
maintenance of heavy equipment
 All heavy equipment operators tested and certified by TESDA
 DOLE recognized groups/professionals
to test and inspect heavy equipment
 Construction logbook for each
equipment to be maintained
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 11 – Construction Safety and Health Committee
 Each construction site shall have at the start of work an organized
Construction Safety and Health Committee to ensure that the Construction
Safety and Health Program is observed and enforced.
 Composition of the Committee:
 Project Manager or his representative as Chairperson ex-officio
 General Construction Safety and Health Officer as Secretary
 Construction Safety and Health Officers as members
 Safety and Health personnel of sub-contractors as members
 Workers’ representative (minimum of 3)
• Role of the Committee
• Plans and develops accident prevention program
 Directs implementation of programs
 Conducts safety meetings at least once a month
 Reviews reports of inspections, accident investigations, & implementation of
programs
 Provides OSH trainings for staff
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 12 – Safety and Health Information
 This emphasizes the need to inform the workers
through proper orientation, instructions, and
trainings.
 General Safety and Health Measures
 Basic rights and duties of workers
 Emergency procedures
 Good housekeeping
 Welfare and first aid facilities
 Care and use of PPE
 Personal hygiene and health protection
 Safety and health rules and regulations
 Daily tool box meeting
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 13 – Construction Safety and Health
Training
 Safety personnel of the construction site are required to undergo the
construction safety training course prescribed by the DOLE – Bureau
of Working Conditions
 16-hours continuing training for all full-time safety personnel
 Specialized instruction and training on :
 Operation of construction equipment
 Erection or dismantling of scaffolds
 Excavation works
 Handling of explosives
 Workers engaged in pile driving
 Compressed air, cofferdams and caissons
 Erection of steel structural frames and tall chimneys
 Handling hazardous substance and materials
 Rigging and signaling
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 14 – Construction Safety and Health
Reports
 Submission of summary reports to DOLE on a
monthly frequency.
 Reports to contain safety committee meeting
agreements, accident investigation reports, hazard
assessments with required remedial
action/measures
 DOLE shall be notified of major accidents within 24 hours
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 15 – Construction Workers’ Skills
 For “Critical Occupations” classified by TESDA a
Skills Certification shall be required
 Critical Occupations are :
 When it may affect and endanger people’s lives and limbs
 When it involves handling of nazardous tools, equipment,
supplies
 When it requires a relatively long period of education and
training
 When the performance of the job may compromise the
safety, health, and environment concerns within the
immediate vicinity of the construction site
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 16 – Worker’s Welfare Facilities
 Employer shall provide:
 Adequate supply of safe drinking water
 Adequate sanitary and washing facilities e.a. Portalets
 Up to 5 workers: 1 water closet, 1 wash station
 6 to 25 workers: 2 water closets, 2 wash stations
 26 to 50 workers: 3 water closets, 3 wash stations
 51 to 75 workers: 4 water closets, 4 wash stations
 76 to 100 workers: 5 water closets, 5 wash stations
 After the number of people exceeds 100, an additional wash station
is required for every 25 people
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 17 - Cost of Construction n Safety and
Health Program
 Shall be a mandatory integral part of the
construction project
 Shall be considered as separate pay item , defined
and clearly stated in the tender documents
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 18 – Effects on Other Issuances
 Provisions of other existing
occupational and safety and
health guidelines not consistent
with these Guidelines shall form
part of D.O. No. 13
 Standards, rules and regulations
not specifically provided shall
remain in full force and effect
 If any provision of the Guidelines is
declared invalid by competent
authority , the rest of the provisions
thereof not affected shall remain in full force and effect
DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 s.
1998
 Section 19 – Violations and Penalties
 Violations of these Guidelines as determined by DOLE
after due process shall be considered as prima facie case
of construction mal-performance of grave consequences
under RA 4566 (Constructors Licensing Law) and its IRR.
 In established imminent danger situations , the
procedures/requirements of the OSHS and DOLE
regulations shall be applied.
 Section 20 – Effectivity
 These Guidelines after being approved on July 23, 1998,
became effective fifteen (15) after its publication in the
Philippine Daily Inquirer ( August 1, 1998 ) and People’s
Tonight (August 3, 1998).
THANK YOU!