International and Local Codes

The ILO Constitution sets forth the principle that workers should be
protected from sickness, disease and injury arising from their employment.
Yet for millions of workers the reality is very different. Every day, 6,300
people die as a result of occupational accidents or work-related diseases
more than 2.3 million deaths per year. 317 million accidents occur on the job
annually; many of these resulting in extended absences from work.

The human cost of this daily adversity is vast and the economic burden
of poor occupational safety and health practices is estimated at 4 per cent of
global Gross Domestic Product each year. Employers face costly early
retirements, loss of skilled staff, absenteeism, and high insurance premiums
due to work-related accidents and diseases.

Yet many of these tragedies are preventable through the

implementation of sound prevention, reporting and inspection practices. ILO
standards on occupational safety and health provide essential tools for
governments, employers, and workers to establish such practices and to
provide for maximum safety at work.

INTERNATIONAL CODES

ILO-OSH 2001

In 2001, the International Labor Organization (ILO) published ILO-OSH

2001, also titled "Guidelines on occupational safety and health management
systems" to assist organizations with introducing OSH management systems.
These guidelines encourage continual improvement in employee health and
safety, achieved via a constant process of policy, organization, planning &
implementation, evaluation, and action for improvement, all supported by
constant auditing to determine the success of OSH actions. (Guidelines on
Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems. Geneva: ILO-OSH.
2001)

OHSAS 18000

OHSAS 18000 is an international occupational health and safety

management system specification developed by the London-based BSI
Group, a multinational business chiefly concerned with the production and
distribution of standards related services. OHSAS 18000 comprises two parts,
OHSAS 18001 and 18002 and embraces a number of other publications. (BS
OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety". BSI Group. Retrieved 2013-
02-15.)

OHSAS 18001
 OHSAS 18001, Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series,
(officially BS OHSAS 18001) is an internationally applied British Standard for
occupational health and safety management systems. It exists to help all
kinds of organizations put in place demonstrably sound occupational health
and safety performance. It is a widely recognized and popular occupational
health and safety management system. (BS OHSAS 18001 Occupational
Health and Safety". BSI Group. Retrieved 2013-02-15.)

OHSAS 18002

OHSAS 18002 provide generic assistance for establishing,

implementing or improving an OH&S management system and demonstrates
successful implementation of BS OHSAS 18001. ((BS OHSAS 18001
Occupational Health and Safety". BSI Group. Retrieved 2013-02-15.)
Guidance note HSG65

Guidance note HSG65: Successful Health and Safety Management,

published by the British non-departmental public body Health and Safety
Executive, was substantially re-written 2013. It now promotes the Plan Do
Check Act approach to health and safety management, sharing similarities
with BS OHSAS 18001. This achieved a balance between the original
systems-based approach, and the more modern behavioral approach to
safety management. ("Successful health and safety management HSG65".
Hse.gov.uk. 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2013-02-15.)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and its
Protocol of 2002

The convention provides for the adoption of a coherent national

occupational safety and health policy, as well as action to be taken by
governments and within enterprises to promote occupational safety and
health and to improve working conditions. This policy shall be developed by
taking into consideration national conditions and practice. The Protocol calls
for the establishment and the periodic review of requirements and
procedures for the recording and notification of occupational accidents and
diseases, and for the publication of related annual statistics.

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115)

The objective of the Convention is to set out basic requirements with a

view to protect workers against the risks associated with exposure to ionising
radiations. Protective measures to be taken include the limitation of workers'
exposure to ionising radiations to the lowest practicable level following the
technical knowledge available at the time, avoiding any unnecessary
exposure, as well as the monitoring of the workplace and of the workers'
health. The Convention further refers to requirements with regard to
emergency situations that may arise.
Chemical Convention, 1990 (No. 170)

The Convention provides for the adoption and implementation of a coherent

policy on safety in the use of chemicals at work, which includes the
production, the handling, the storage, and the transport of chemicals as well
as the disposal and treatment of waste chemicals, the release of chemicals
resulting from work activities, and the maintenance, repair and cleaning of
equipment and containers of chemicals. In addition, it allocates specific
responsibilities to suppliers and exporting states.

LOCAL CODES

Occupational Safety and Health Standards (As Amended, 1989)

Occupational Safety and Health Standards (As Amended, 1989): The

Occupational Safety and Health Standards was formulated in 1978 in
compliance with the constitutional mandate to safeguard the workers social
and economic well-being as well as his physical safety and health. Adopted
through the tested democratic machinery of tripartism, the 1978 Standards
is considered as a landmark in Philippine labor and social legislation.

Rules and Regulations Implementing Executive Order No. 307

Establishing an Occupational Safety and Health Center in The
Employees' Compensation Commission

Rules and Regulations Implementing Executive Order No. 307

Establishing an Occupational Safety and Health Center in The Employees'
Compensation Commission: These Implementing Rules and Regulations are
issued pursuant to the authority of the Employees Compensation
Commission (ECC) under Section 8 of Executive Order No. 307 establishing
the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC).

Rule 1960: Occupational Health Services

Rule 1960: Occupational Health Services: Every employer shall

establish in his place of employment occupational health services in
accordance with the regulation and guidelines provided for under this rule.
The employer, the workers, and their representatives, where they exist shall
cooperate and participate in the implementation of the organizational and
other measures relating to occupational health services.

Philippine Occupational Safety and Health Code of 2004

Philippine Occupational Safety and Health Code of 2004: An act

instituting an occupational safety and health code, thereby revising and
consolidating occupational safety and health laws and standards for the
protection, maintenance and enhancement of the physical and mental health
of workers, and for other purposes.
Art. 162. Safety and health standards.
The Secretary of Labor and Employment shall, by appropriate orders, set and
enforce mandatory occupational safety and health standards to eliminate or
reduce occupational safety and health hazards in all workplaces and institute
new, and update existing, programs to ensure safe and healthful working
conditions in all places of employment.

Art. 164. Training programs.

The Department of Labor and Employment shall develop and implement

training programs to increase the number and competence of personnel in
the field of occupational safety and industrial health.