Question & AnswerQ&A (ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2018-0017)
The RIRR aims to promote and protect workers' health by updating and strengthening the implementation of the Industrial Hygiene provisions of the Sanitation Code to address the changing trends in industrialization and globalization.
The RIRR applies to all industrial establishments engaged in manufacturing, storage, sale, distribution, and processing of raw materials into end-products, including government-owned or controlled corporations, private firms, and individuals, except mining and quarrying operations.
Employers refer to persons, entities, or organizations who employ one or more paid workers in their business or trade operations.
Industrial Establishment refers to workplaces engaged in the manufacture, storage, sale, distribution, treatment, and disposal of goods or processing raw materials into end-products, excluding mining and quarrying operations.
IPAs manage economic zones, freeport zones, industrial estates, and retirement areas, are responsible for enforcing the RIRR within economic zones, appointing health officers, issuing business permits, coordinating with DOH and LGUs, and ensuring compliance with reportorial requirements.
The Health Officer, who must be a licensed medical practitioner, is responsible for performing sanitary and public health functions in industrial establishments or economic zones.
Employers are responsible for ensuring a healthy and safe workplace, complying with sanitary requirements, providing occupational health services, furnishing personal protective equipment when necessary, and cooperating with health and safety committees.
The sanitary permit application, issuance, renewal, and revocation procedures must be followed by industrial establishments, involving submission of required documents to city/municipal health offices or IPAs, evaluation, and enforcement actions for non-compliance.
Environmental control provisions aim to prevent and control occupational hazards through measures related to workplace hygiene, hazard control, proper waste disposal, and air and noise pollution management.
Owners or general managers must submit reportorial requirements to the City/Municipal Health Office or IPA in economic zones; these reports are consolidated and forwarded through hierarchical health offices up to the DOH Central Office.
They exercise jurisdiction over enforcement, issue and revoke licenses/business permits for violations, provide technical assistance, coordinate with other agencies, and enact ordinances to support RIRR implementation.
The Separability Clause states that if any rule or provision is declared invalid, the other provisions remain unaffected and continue to be in force.
It repeals the 1999 Implementing Rules and Regulations on Chapter VII of the Sanitation Code and other inconsistent or contrary related issuances.