Question & AnswerQ&A (DOLE Department Order No. 136-14)
The Guidelines apply to all workplaces engaged in the manufacture, use, storage of industrial chemicals in the private sector, including their supply chain.
The primary objective is to protect workers and properties from hazards of chemicals and to prevent or reduce chemically induced accidents, illnesses, injuries, and deaths from chemical use at work.
A chemical substance refers to any organic or inorganic substance of a particular molecular identity, including elements or uncombined chemicals and combinations thereof, excluding radioactive materials.
Employers must develop and implement chemical safety policies and programs, ensure proper labeling and provision of Safety Data Sheets (SDS), provide control measures including PPE, train workers about chemical safety and GHS, establish emergency response plans, and assign Safety Officers to manage chemical safety.
Employees must comply with safety policies, take steps to minimize chemical risks, use safeguards properly, and report potential risks to supervisors immediately.
All industrial chemicals must be labeled with product and supplier identifiers, chemical identity, GHS pictograms, signal words, hazard statements, and precautionary statements.
They plan accident prevention programs, conduct safety meetings, review reports, assist government inspectors, organize safety training, and develop disaster contingency plans.
Elements include maintaining safe facilities, implementing engineering and administrative controls, respecting workers' right to know, proper chemical storage and inventory, waste management, continuous information and training, providing personal protective equipment, work environment monitoring, occupational health surveillance, and emergency preparedness.
CBI claims are limited to chemical names and concentrations, but disclosure is required if health and safety are compromised or during emergencies, with confidentiality maintained for non-emergency disclosures to authorized personnel only.
Violations are subject to applicable penalties under the Labor Code of the Philippines, as amended, and other related laws.
All establishments must comply within one year from the effectivity of the Guidelines.
The SDS must accompany all chemicals and contain 16 sections including chemical identification, hazards, first aid, firefighting, handling, exposure controls, physical and chemical properties, toxicology, disposal, transport, and regulatory information.
The Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC), through DOLE Regional Offices, will monitor compliance, prioritizing establishments using industrial chemicals for inspection as hazardous workplaces.