Our law on labor requires that there be a safety and health officer to oversee full time the overall management of the construction safety and health program. Such a requirement should be duly complied with by companies if they want to ensure overall safety of their workers and to possibly avoid sanctions by the state. It is the duty of the general construction and safety officer to monitor and inspect any health and safety of the construction work being undertaken in a periodic manner. Here are the frequent observations of safety inspectors of the Labor Ministry in as far as compliance with safety measures are concerned:
Mandatory requirement on the usage of personal protective equipment prior to entry to the project site. This is the frontliner sign of the workplace, without which people’s life and limb are at danger. When workers enter the project site, it is a requirement that they wear protective gear and equipped with safety gadgets to ensure their security while working.
Location of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment. Most frequently workplace fails to place safety signs regarding the use of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment. The location of these tools should be made conspicuous and placed in the strategic locations of the premises of the workplace.
Instructions on the usage of specific construction equipment. Warning devices and safety signs must be used to accompany the instructions on the use of specific construction equipment. But perhaps due to false assumption that workers are already technically proficient in the use of instrument, they no longer place instructions on the use of these construction equipments.
Signages must be regularly inspected and maintained in good condition. Safety signs not properly maintained are not really functional. They must be kept in good condition as far as practicable.
Signages that are damaged or illegible or that no longer apply should be removed and replaced by the safety officer, as needed.
