I have written at length about how construction sites in the Philippines are very unsafe. From not wearing harnesses to wearing flip flops instead of boots a premium is not put on safety. A recent DOLE report says more than half of 100 construction sites inspected in Manila are violating safety rules.
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| https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1207975 |
More than half of close to 100 construction projects inspected in Metro Manila are not compliant with occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported on Wednesday.
Based on the report of the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC), the DOLE said 52 of 95 construction projects it has inspected since from Aug. 1 to 15 were found to have violations.
Among the top violations recorded are non-submission or no copy of the Construction Safety and Health Program in the workplace and the absence of or inadequate designated OSH personnel, such as safety officers and first aiders.
Other top violations are non-conduct of mandatory OSH training for all workers, including toolbox meetings; absence of a safety and health committee; and non-issuance of personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers and inadequate or improper use of PPE.
The 20 construction sites that are found to have violations of PPE are advised to implement immediate correction.
Furthermore, an authority to inspect will be issued immediately for a complete inspection of the said sites, while the remaining sites will be continuously monitored by the team.
Those with findings on OSH personnel are referred to appropriate training, such as the 40-hour Construction Occupational Safety and Health Training provided by OSHC or any DOLE-accredited safety training organization and the Standard First Aid and Basic Life Support Training provided by any first aid training provider for first aid certification.
The site visits by the DOLE team, composed of personnel from the BWC and Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC), and labor inspectors from the DOLE-National Capital Region on ongoing construction projects in the region started on the first week of August.
On the other hand, the DOLE reminded construction sites to strictly comply with OSH standards to ensure safe and healthful working conditions.
It noted that major accidents resulting in disability or death, or major illnesses are likely to occur among high-risk establishments if no preventive or control measures are in place, the guidelines further state.
Safety violations have consequences. A day after this report was published a wall at Quezon City hall collapsed.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2023/8/18/1-dead-4-hurt-as-wall-collapse-in-qc-hall-construction-site |
A construction worker died while four others were hurt after a wall at a construction site at the Quezon City Hall compound collapsed on Thursday evening, Aug. 17.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said that rescuers responded to the area after the wall collapsed at the Civic Center B Building, Quezon City Hall at around 10:14 p.m.
The fatality was identified as Russel Guezo, 20, who was trapped under the collapsed wall.
The BFP said his body was retrieved at around 11:51 p.m.
The three injured victims were identified as Russel Erezo, 22, of Siargao Del Norte; Erwin Ramos, 32, and Joshua Garcia, 23, both from Novaliches, Quezon City; and Christian Mamposte, 20, of Barangay Krus Na Ligas, in the city.
"The local government has instructed the City Engineering Department to investigate the collapsed part of the wall this evening at the construction site at the Civic Center B Building of Quezon City Hall," the local government said in a statement.
"Based on the initial report, a part of the wall of the building collapsed where the private contractor was supposed to place a scenic elevator," it added.
The city government said that among the factors it will investigate are the system implemented by the contractor at the construction site and whether it gave importance to the aspect of occupational safety.
What a coincidence! Or is it? It's not clear why this wall collapsed. It could have been anything from lack of safety measures to using substandard materials. The fact is Philippine construction sites remain dangerous and that is a bona fide measurable fact acknowledged by no less than the DOLE.
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