Occupational Safety

and Health
Jefferson C. Palma
11/22/14

Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to
to:
Articulate a heightened awareness of the OSH
situation, both local and international
Identify the problems/issues associated with OSH
conditions in the country
Learn about different types of hazard controls

International Injuries/Illnesses
317 million accidents with 2.3 million
fatalities/yr.
160 million new cases of work related
illnesses/yr

Source: International Labor Organization 2010

Philippine Labor Force

38.5 M workers of which 34M are employed
62% Males; 38% Females
15-24 years old 51.1%
25-54 years old 45%
55 years old and over 3.7%
Migrant Worker 8 M
Source: National Statistics Office

Challenges
Building a Culture of Health and Safety
Including the Vulnerable workers
Showing the Links between productivity,
competitiveness and safety and health of
workers.

Competitiveness and Safety

Hazard
What are Hazards?
- Capability of a substance
or material to cause harm.
at Alone or Interacting
With Other Factors Can
Cause Harm
A Spill on the Floor
Broken Equipment

Hazards
Types of Health Hazards
- Physical Agents: Noise, vibration, radiation, defective illumination,
temperature, etc.
- Chemical Agents: dusts, gases, vapors, fumes, mists, tobacco, etc.
- Biological Agents: viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, insects, etc.
- Ergonomic: excessive standing, improper motions, lifting heavy
load, etc.
- Psychosocial: drugs and alcohol, violence, sexual harrassment,
organizational, organizational factors, discrimination, etc.

CHEMICAL & DUST

HAZARDS
(cleaning products,
pesticides, asbestos, etc.)

BIOLOGICAL
HAZARDS

ERGONOMIC
HAZARDS
(repetition, lifting, awkward
postures, etc.)

(mold, insects/pests,
communicable diseases, etc.)

WORK
ORGANIZATION
HAZARDS
Things that cause STRESS!

SAFETY HAZARDS

PHYSICAL HAZARDS

(slips, trips and falls, faulty

equipment, etc.)

(noise, temperature
extremes, radiation, etc.)

Hazards
Physical Hazards (safety Hazards)
Heavy Load
Dangerous equipment and tools (no machine
guard, defective tools)
Flying objects
Temporary structures (poorly built scaffoldings)
Faulty electrical wiring
Poor Housekeeping

Hazards
Forms of Chemical Hazards
Solids granules, pellets
Liquids spray soultions
Fumes heating lead ingots above melting point
of lead (>330 C)

Risk
A measure of the probability and
severity of a hazard to harm human
health, property, or the environment
A measure of how likely harm is to occur
and an indication of how serious the
harm might be

Risk 0

What Is An Accident?

What Is An Accident?

An Accident is:
a. An unexpected and undesirable event, especially one
resulting in damage or harm: car accidents on icy roads.
b. An unforeseen incident: A series of happy accidents led
to his promotion.
c. An instance of involuntary urination or defecation in
one's clothing.
2. Lack of intention; chance: ran into an old friend by
accident.
3. Logic A circumstance or attribute that is not essential to
the nature of something.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/accident

Causes of Accidents
Unsafe Conditions
Poorly maintained machinery or equipment.
Defective or missing personal protective equipment.
Unguarded machinery or equipment.
Missing or inadequate
warnings or safety and health
signs.
Lack of housekeeping.

Causes of Accidents
Unsafe Acts
Conduct work operations without
prior training
Block or remove safety devices.
Clean, lubricate, or repair
equipment while its in operation.
Working without protection in
hazardous places.

Hierarchy of Controls
Elimination/Substitution
Most Effective

Requires a physical change to the

workplace

Requires worker or employer

to do something
Requires worker to
wear something

Least Effective

CONTROLS: Engineering
CONTROL AT THE SOURCE!
Limits the hazard but doesnt entirely remove it.
Other Examples:
Mechanical Guards
Wet Methods for Dust
Enclosures/Isolation
Dilution Ventilation

Image: by JohnRH4's photostream

Image: by Kare_Products

Proper
equipment

Local Exhaust
Image: by purpleslogs photostream

Re--designed Tools
Re

CONTROLS: Administrative
Aimed at Reducing Employee Exposure to Hazards
but Not Removing Them!
Changes in work procedures such as:
Written safety policies/rules
Schedule changes, such as:
Lengthened or Additional Rest Breaks
Job Rotation
Adjusting the Work Pace
Training with the goal of reducing the duration,
frequency and severity of exposure to
hazards

CONTROLS: PPE
Personal Protective Equipment
Control of LAST RESORT!
Special Clothing
Eye Protection
Hearing Protection
Respiratory Protection

CONTROL IS AT THE WORKER!

21

Occupational Safety
A specified field within OSH concerned with
the prevention and control of work-related
accidents, injuries, illnesses and other
similarly caused harmful events.
These events may result in property damage,
business interruption and environmental
pollution.

Case Study
Shipping Company (DOLE reports from 2008 to 2009)
Accidents (1120) resulting in over 30 deaths in one
of the biggest shipping companies in the Philippines
employing some 15,000 persons.
Most deaths occurred in construction of ships and
the shipyard while carrying out welding and cutting
works, roof works, masonry, materials handling,
maintenance, heavy equipment, operation and steel
works.

Case Study
Upon inspection the following were noted.
Heavy equipment (minimum weight of 1000kgs and 10 hp rating) were
not tested and certified
Not all workers were given safety orientation prior to deployment to work
Gas cylinders were stored in temporary storage areas within the
construction site, however, these gas cylinders had no chains. One worker
was smoking near the gas cylinders.
The safety managers claimed that all their PPEs were provided by a
certified body from Korea, but not hard hats and safety belts of the sub
contractors.
Some workers complained of worn out safety shoes and working clothes;
not all workers in the construction area were wearing safety shoes; some
workers were simply wearing undershirts sandos and rubber shoes.
A welder working at height was not using body harness or safety belt
Transferring to another location.

Case Study
Guide Questions:
What would have been the reasons for the
death of the workers?
What safety hazard have you noted?
What unsafe acts and unsafe conditions did
you note?