CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) has called on business establishments in Central Visayas to ensure the safety of their workers by strictly observing the national safety and health labor standards.
OSHC regional manager Gines P. Timosa said that promoting business interest and economic growth should not come at the expense of the workers’ well-being.
He underscored that achieving corporate goals should not only involve driving productivity or contributing to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country, but also managing risks and minimizing potential losses, especially those stemming from occupational hazards.
“So when we think of the nature of a business, we always include a calculation of what might be the possible losses. That is why we have a law because we have those particular things that we should manage well in order for us to lessen or zero in losses,” said Timosa.
He emphasized that a safe and healthy workforce is essential to sustained productivity as workers who are sick, injured, or exposed to unsafe environments are unable to perform effectively, ultimately affecting business operations and economic output.
Timosa also reminded employers that managing safety and health is an assurance that they have to follow the safety measures, and it also requires trust, understanding, and collaboration with their workforce.
Increasing workplace accidents
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)-Region 7 highlighted the urgent need to enforce safety regulations amid the rising number of workplace incidents in the region.
Lawyer Roy Buenafe, DOLE regional director, said that workplace accidents in Central Visayas are on the rise, especially in the construction industry.
The most common labor safety and health violations committed by business establishments in the region involve the lack of proper equipment, unsafe working conditions, lack of workplace safety signages, and lack of proper personnel training.
This prompted DOLE and OSHC to intensify its campaign for stricter workplace safety measures.
OSHC provides free training on workplace safety and health for the private and public sectors.
“Training is key; we must go beyond compliance for compliance’s sake. We need a cultural shift, a belief in safety and health as core business values,” said Timosa.
He added that they are conducting mandatory compliance checks across industries in the region as part of their agency’s commitment to the national safety and health framework.
“Occupational safety and health is not just a choice; it is a mandate that holds an essential role in nation-building,” Timosa said.
Republic Act. 11058, or the “Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalties for Violations” requires all establishments and project sites to ensure a safe and healthful workplace for workers by providing them full protection against risks and hazards in their work environment. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
