Question & AnswerQ&A (DOLE DEPARTMENT ORDER NO. 16, , DECEMBER 18, 2001)
The Order is promulgated pursuant to the provisions of Article 162, Book IV of the Labor Code of the Philippines.
A Safety Officer is any employee or worker trained and tasked to implement occupational safety and health programs in the workplace and is synonymous with the term 'Safety Man'.
All safety officers must complete the Bureau-prescribed training course prior to their appointment.
For hazardous workplaces, the number and status (full-time or part-time) of Safety Officers depend on the number of workers and hazard classification, with more Safety Officers required for highly hazardous workplaces and larger workforce. For non-hazardous workplaces, fewer Safety Officers are required, with part-time appointments allowed for smaller workforce sizes and scaling up with number of workers.
They must have completed a 40-hour Basic Occupational Safety and Health Training Course, have at least three years of relevant experience, possess minimum qualifications under Rule 1964.01, hold a valid professional license in the Philippines, with additional experience requirements for unlicensed graduates and undergraduates.
Consultants must be accredited practitioners for at least five years with experience in at least two fields of specialization, have completed an 80-hour Advanced OSH Training Course, and accumulated an additional 480 hours of related training or seminars.
Duties include developing and promoting OSH programs, assisting employers to comply with Standards, performing quarterly program appraisals, preparing annual safety and health reports, and attending safety inspections and committee meetings.
Yes, but the employment of a consultant does not excuse the employer from training supervisors or technical personnel as required by law.
Suspensions may be due to inactivity for three consecutive years, failure to renew accreditation on time, or non-compliance with requirements. Cancellation may result from conviction for crimes involving moral turpitude, violation of professional ethics, or two consecutive suspensions.
Practitioners include Occupational Health Practitioners, Occupational Hygiene Practitioners, and Occupational Safety Practitioners in various industries. Consultants specialize in areas such as Occupational Health, Hygiene, and Safety with topics like epidemiology, toxicology, industrial ventilation, fire prevention, machine safety, and safety audits.