BOSH Training: Notes on Occupational Safety & Health

Basic Occupational Safety and Health (BOSH)

  • Republic Act No. 11058 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) DO 198-2018 govern occupational safety in the Philippines.

Control the Hazard Workshop

Identify Control Measures
  • Recognize control measures based on risk rating.
  • Recommend measures according to the Hierarchy of Controls:
    • Elimination: Physically remove the hazard.
    • Substitution: Replace the hazard with something less dangerous.
    • Engineering Controls: Enclosure, ventilation, isolation, and containment.
    • Administrative Controls: Work practices, scheduling, training, and emergency preparedness.
    • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Used as a last resort to protect workers.

Hierarchy of Controls

  1. Elimination: Completely remove the hazard from the workplace.
  2. Substitution: Replace the hazard with something safer.
  3. Engineering Controls: Implement physical modifications to reduce exposure.
    • Examples: Ventilation systems, modifications to processes, isolation from hazards.
  4. Administrative Controls: Change the way people work.
    • Examples: Work scheduling, proper training, emergency protocols.
  5. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Gear that protects the worker.
    • Types: Eye protection, helmets, earplugs, dust masks, gloves, protective clothing, boots.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Last Line of Defense: While essential, PPE does not eliminate hazards.
  • Limitations of PPE:
    • Needs to be properly maintained; defective PPE can fail to protect the user.
    • Overuse can introduce new hazards and may not fit or be used correctly.
    • Issues related to discomfort can lead to non-use.

Legal Requirement for PPE (D.O. 198-18)

  • Employers must provide PPE free of charge to employees.
  • PPE must be suitable and comply with established safety standards.
  • Workers must receive training in the use and maintenance of PPE.
  • Failure to provide PPE allows workers to refuse unsafe work.

Specific Types of PPE

  • Head Protection: Hard hats or safety helmets to protect the head from impacts.
  • Eye/Face Protection: Safety glasses, goggles, and face shields designed to protect against chemical splashes and flying debris.
  • Respiratory Protection: SCBA, supplied-air respirators, and cartridge respirators that filter harmful air contaminants.
  • Hearing Protection: Earplugs and earmuffs that block harmful noise levels.
  • Gloves: Varieties depending on need (metal mesh for cuts, leather for heat, vinyl for chemicals).
  • Footwear: Safety shoes with toe caps and puncture-resistant features.

Accident and Incident Investigation

Definitions
  • Accident: Unplanned event resulting in injury or damage.
  • Incident: Unplanned event that has the potential to cause harm.
Purpose of Investigation
  • Prevent future incidents and loss.
  • Establish facts and develop control measures.
  • Improve safety systems and compliance.

Conducting Investigations

Steps
  1. Respond: Provide care for the injured, secure the site.
  2. Investigate: Collect facts and evidence, document through photos and sketches, interview witnesses.
  3. Analyze: Review findings, identify root causes, and draw conclusions.
  4. Recommend Actions: Propose realistic control measures with timelines and accountability.
  5. Report: Create a formal report detailing findings and recommendations.
Types of Accidents to Report
  • Fatalities/serious injuries, occupational diseases, dangerous occurrences, property damage, and near misses.
Responsibilities
  • Conduct investigations following the guidance of safety officers and health committees.

Reporting Requirements

  • Accidents causing incapacitation require immediate notification to the appropriate regulatory body within 24 hours.
  • Submission of detailed accident reports to DOLE is mandated.
  • Maintenance of logs for injuries and incidents is compulsory, with chronicling of all sickness, injuries, or fatalities.

Safety and Health Inspections

Types of Inspections
  • Continuous: Ongoing safety checks as part of job routines.
  • Periodic/Interval: Systematic inspections at scheduled intervals.
  • Intermittent: Unscheduled inspections as needed.
Purposes of Inspections
  • Identify and mitigate hazards, assess the effectiveness of safety programs, uphold management accountability, and fulfill legal obligations.

Risk Assessment (HIRAC)

Definition
  • Risk Assessment is identifying, analyzing, and controlling hazards.
  • Conducted for all tasks, especially high-risk ones or when procedures change.
Process Steps
  1. Identify hazards.
  2. Assess risks: determine likelihood and impact.
  3. Implement controls to eliminate or mitigate risks.
How Risks are Ranked
  • Probability Matrix: Ranks risks from low (unlikely) to high (very likely).
  • Severity Matrix: Ranks consequences from minor injury to fatality or severe damage.

Communicating OSH

Importance
  • Facilitates understanding of OSH requirements, roles, and expectations.
  • Motivates involvement and compliance among employees.
Techniques for Effective Communication
  • Use direct language, keep interactions brief, and incorporate visuals and stories.

Training of Trainers on OSH

  • Safety officers play a pivotal role in OSH training by facilitating learning, conducting needs assessments, and developing training plans.
  • Training goals include changing attitudes and behaviors towards safety and improving overall workplace health and safety.