Definition of Terms - DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 13 Series of 1998 GUIDELINES GOVERNING OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Accredited organization

means any organization duly accredited by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) delegated or authorized to perform functions related to improvement of occupational safety and health in the form of training, testing, certification, safety and health auditing or any other similar activity.

Certified first-aider

means any person trained and duly certified or qualified to administer first-aid by the Philippine National Red Cross or by any organization accredited by the same.

Construction project manager/consultant

means a person or entity who is hired by the project owner, to act in the owner's behalf concerning supervision and monitoring of all matters related to the overall execution of a construction project. The construction project manager shall be a separate entity from the general constructor or any subcontractor of the construction project.

Construction safety and health committee

means the general safety and health committee for a construction project site that shall be the overall coordinator in implementing OSH programs.

Construction safety and health officer

means any employee/worker trained and, in addition to their regular duties and responsibilities, tasked by his employer to implement occupational safety and health programs in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS).

Construction safety and health program

refers to a set of detailed rules to cover the processes and practices that shall be utilized in a specific construction project site in conformity with the OSHS including the personnel responsible and the penalties for violations thereof.

Construction safety signage

refers to any, but not limited to, emergency or danger sign, warning sign or safety instruction, of standard colors and sizes in accordance with the specifications for standard colors of signs for safety instructions and warnings in building premises as described in Table II of the OSHS.

Constructor

is deemed synonymous with the term "builder". It refers to any person or organization who undertakes or offers to undertake or purports to have the capacity to undertake or submits a bid to, or does himself or by or through others, construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or demolish any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation or other structure, project, development or improvement, or to do any part thereof, including the erection of scaffolding or other structures or works in connection therewith. The term constructor includes subcontractor and specialty contractor.

Emergency health provider

means any person or organization who is certified or recognized by the Department of Health and who can provide the same or equivalent emergency health services as an emergency hospital, including emergency treatment of workers on site, emergency transport and care during transport of injured workers to the nearest hospital, with adequate personnel, supplies and facilities for the complete immediate treatment of injuries or illnesses

General constructor

means a constructor who has general supervision over other constructors in the execution of the project and who directly receives instructions from the owner or construction project manager (if one is appointed by the owner).

General safety and health inspection

refers to inspection of the work environment, including the location and operation of machinery other than those covered by technical safety inspections, adequacy of work space, ventilation, lighting, conditions of work environment, handling, storage or work procedures, protection facilities and other safety and health hazards in the workplace

Heavy equipment

refers to any machine with engine or electric motor as prime mover used either for lifting, excavating, leveling, drilling, compacting, transporting and breaking works in the construction site, such as but not limited to crane, bulldozer, backhoe, grader, road compactor, prime mover and trailer, with minimum operating weight and horsepower rating of 1,000 KG and 10 HP, respectively.

Imminent danger

means a condition or practice that could reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm before abatement under the normal enforcement procedures can be accomplished.

Occupational health personnel

refers to a qualified first-aider, nurse, dentist, or physician, engaged by the employer to provide occupational health services in the establishment/undertaking.

Project manager

means the overall technical personnel of the general contractor and/or the subcontractor in charge of the actual execution of a construction project.

Resident engineer

means a duly licensed engineer who shall be tasked to be present at the construction site at all times, whenever work is being undertaken, and shall have the responsibility of assuring the technical conformance of all designs, materials, processes, work procedures rendered for the execution of the construction project, including safety and health of all persons within the construction site.

Safety and health audit

refers to a regular and critical examination of project sites, safety programs, records and management performance on program standards on safety and health.

Safety and health committee

means a group tasked with the authority to monitor, inspect, and investigate all aspects of the construction project pertaining to health and safety of construction workers.

Safety organization

means any organization recognized and accredited by the DOLE to conduct occupational safety and health training and/or safety and health audit.

Safety personnel

refers to any person engaged by any constructor, trained, accredited by DOLE and tasked to provide occupational safety and health services for the workers/employees in any construction project.

Skills standards

refers to the written specification of the minimum stock knowledge and skills a worker should possess to perform the functions identified in the job description of his occupation.

Technical safety inspection

refers to inspection for the purpose of safety determination of boilers, pressure vessels, internal combustion engines, electrical installations, elevators, hoisting equipment and other mechanical equipment.

Trade test

refers to an instrument used to measure workers' skills and knowledge based on the requirements of the skills.

Treatment Room

refers to any enclosed area or room equipped with the necessary medical facilities and supplies, and located within the premises of the establishment where workers maybe brought for examination and treatment of their injuries or illnesses in cases of emergency.

Tool box meeting or gang meeting

refers to daily meeting among workers and their respective supervisors for the purpose of instruction, discussion and proper briefing on the planned work, the assessment of past work, the possibility or actual occurrence of accidents at the site, tips and suggestions on how to prevent possible accidents and other related matters.

Unguarded surface

refers to any working surface above water or ground, temporary or permanent floor platform, scaffold construction or wherever workers are exposed to the possibility of falls hazardous to life or limb.