DOLE DO No. 16 S. 2001: OSH Training and Accreditation

Legal basis and rule amendments

The amendments are promulgated pursuant to Article 162, Book IV of the Labor Code of the Philippines, as the enabling authority for issuance and amendment of OSH standards.
The order implements amendments to Rule 1030 by establishing Rules 1031, 1032, 1033, 1034, 1035, and 1036 and by providing Annex “A”.
All policy issuances, rules and regulations or part/s thereof inconsistent with the provisions of the order are repealed, modified, superseded, or amended accordingly.

Policy: continuing OSH training and accreditation

The Bureau must conduct continuing programs to increase the supply and competence of OSH personnel qualified to carry out the OSH Standards, either directly or through accredited organizations or the OSH Centers (OSHC) or other institutions authorized by law (Rule 1031).
The Bureau must prescribe required training programs containing provisions requiring incorporation of the latest trends, practices and technology in occupational safety and health.
Training programs must be formulated in consultation with the OSHC or other institutions authorized by law and other technical societies (Rule 1031).

Core definitions under the rules

A Safety Officer is any employee/worker trained and tasked to implement OSH programs in the workplace under the OSH Standards and is synonymous with the term “Safety Man” (Rule 1032).
Occupational Safety and Health Personnel includes Physician, Nurse, Dentist, Chemist, Engineers, Safety Officer, First-Aider, and other persons engaged by the employer to provide OSH services as required by the Standards (Rule 1032).
A Practitioner in Occupational Safety and Health is any qualified person assessed and duly-accredited by the Bureau to practice and render OSH services in a defined and specific scope or core competency (Rule 1032).
An Occupational Safety and Health Consultant is a practitioner or group of persons/organizations duly-accredited by the Bureau to practice and/or render consultative and/or advisory services in at least two (2) fields of specialization enumerated in Annex “A” (Rule 1032).
A Trainer is a person who facilitates learning situations in one or more topics in an OSH training (Rule 1032).
A Training Organization is an institution accredited or authorized by law to conduct OSH training in a particular field or combination of fields (Rule 1032).
A Hazardous Establishment is an establishment where work operations or practices expose employees/worker to hazards likely to cause disabling injury, illness, death, or physical or psychological harm (Rule 1032).
A Highly Hazardous Establishment is one where potential hazards may affect the safety/health of workers not only within but also persons outside the workplace; it includes specified examples such as petrochemical works and refineries, chemical works and chemical production plants, LPG storage and materials, explosives factories, works in which chlorine is used in bulk, and activities closely similar to these, plus activities determined by the Bureau under existing classification issuances (Rule 1032).

Training requirements and safety officer complement

All safety officers must complete the Bureau-prescribed training course prior to appointment in their place of employment (Rule 1033).
All full-time safety officers must meet the requirement of duly-accredited Safety Practitioners or Safety Consultants by the Bureau (Rule 1033).
The minimum number of supervisors or technical personnel who must take required trainings and be appointed as safety officers depends on (1) whether the workplace is hazardous or non-hazardous, and (2) whether it is highly hazardous, and is determined based on the number of workers pursuant to Rule 1013 (Rule 1033).
A part-time safety officer must perform safety officer duties at least six (6) hours per week (Rule 1033).

Minimum safety officers for hazardous workplaces

For hazardous workplaces, where 1-50 workers require One (1) part-time safety officer and 51-200 workers require One (1) full-time and One (1) part-time safety officers (Rule 1033).
For hazardous workplaces where workers are 201-250, the requirement is One (1) full-time and one (1) part-time; where workers are 251-500, the requirement is Two (2) full-time and One (1) part-time (Rule 1033).
For hazardous workplaces, Every additional 500 or fraction thereof requires One (1) additional full-time safety officer (Rule 1033).

Minimum safety officers for highly hazardous workplaces

For highly hazardous workplaces, the minimum safety officer requirement is: 1-50 = One (1) full-time; 51-200 = One (1) full-time and One (1) part-time; and 201-250 = One (1) full-time and Two (2) full-time safety officers as stated in the hazardous/highly-hazardous table (Rule 1033).
For highly hazardous workplaces where workers are 251-500, the requirement is Two (2) full-time and One (1) part-time, and where workers are beyond 500, Every additional 250 or fraction thereof requires One (1) additional full-time safety officer (Rule 1033).

Minimum safety officers for non-hazardous workplaces

For non-hazardous workplaces, 1-250 workers require One (1) part-time safety officer; 251-500 workers require Two (2) part-time safety officers (Rule 1033).
For non-hazardous workplaces, 501-750 workers require One (1) full-time; 751-1000 workers require Two (2) full-time safety officers (Rule 1033).
For non-hazardous workplaces, Every additional 500 or fraction thereof requires One (1) additional full-time safety officer (Rule 1033).

Duties and alternative arrangement for safety officers

The duties of the safety officer are governed by Rule 1040 of these Standards (Rule 1033).
The employment of a full-time safety officer may not be required if the employer enters into a written contract with a qualified consultant or consulting organization whose duties and responsibilities shall be the duties of a safety practitioner as stated in these rules (Rule 1033).
The use of a consultant does not excuse the employer from the required training of supervisors or technical personnel (Rule 1033).

Accreditation powers and practitioner qualifications

The Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Bureau Director, may accredit qualified OSH consulting and training organizations.
Through the Bureau, the Secretary may issue accreditation to qualified OSH personnel (practitioners/consultants and others) to carry out the OSH Standards (Rule 1034).
Accreditation applications for practitioners/consultants/trainers/organizations must satisfy the specific requirements listed under Rules 1034.01 to 1034.05.

Practitioner accreditation requirements (OSH)

A Practitioner in Occupational Safety and Health applicant must complete the 40-hour Basic Occupational Safety and Health Training Course prescribed by the Bureau (Rule 1034.01(A)).
The practitioner applicant must have at least three (3) years of relevant OSH experience (Rule 1034.01(A)).
The practitioner applicant must possess the minimum qualifications stated under Rule 1964.01 nos. 1 to 5, whichever may be applicable (Rule 1034.01(A)).
The practitioner applicant must be duly-licensed to practice the profession in the Philippines (Rule 1034.01(A)).
If the applicant is a graduate of any 4 or 5-year college course without a license, the applicant must have at least four (4) years relevant experience in any OSH specialization sub-components in Annex “A” (Rule 1034.01(A)).
If the applicant is a college undergraduate, the applicant must have at least ten (10) years relevant experience in occupational safety and health (Rule 1034.01(A)).

Consultant accreditation requirements (OSH)

A Consultant in Occupational Safety and Health applicant must be an accredited practitioner for at least five (5) years with experience in at least two (2) fields of specialization in Annex “A” (Rule 1034.01(B)).
The consultant applicant must have experience in policy formulation and development, monitoring and evaluation, and implementation of OSH management systems (Rule 1034.01(B)).
The consultant applicant must complete the 80-hour Advanced Occupational Safety and Training Course prescribed by the Bureau (Rule 1034.01(B)).
The consultant applicant must have earned an additional 480 hours of training/seminar or related learning processes in various OSH fields from accredited organizations or institutions authorized by law (Rule 1034.01(B)).

Consulting organization accreditation requirements

An Occupational Safety and Health Consulting Organization applicant must be composed of two or more accredited occupational safety and health consultants (Rule 1034.01(C)(1)).
The organization applicant must submit certified true copies of business registration, licenses, and permits to operate (Rule 1034.01(C)(2)).
The organization applicant must submit the organization’s profile (Rule 1034.01(C)(3)).

Training organization accreditation requirements

An OSH training organization applicant must use or follow a Bureau-prescribed and/or approved course of study, and any deviation must have previous approval of the Bureau (Rule 1034.01(D)(1)).
The organization must provide adequate training facilities including safety and health-related equipment, manuals and modules, library, training rooms, audio-visual and other training resources and paraphernalia (Rule 1034.01(D)(2)).
Trainers must be persons who (a) completed the 40-hour basic occupational safety and health training course, (b) completed at least 24 hours of a Training of Trainers course, and (c) have at least three (3) years of experience designing, conducting, and evaluating OSH training programs (Rule 1034.01(D)(3)).
The training organization applicant must submit certified true copies of the organization’s business registrations, licenses, and permits to operate and the organization’s profile (Rule 1034.01(D)(4)-(5)).

Accreditation certificates, validity, duties, and reports

After evaluation and verification by the Bureau, the Bureau issues a certificate of accreditation valid for three (3) years and an identification card to applicants who meet all requirements, upon payment of the prescribed fee under Rule 1974 (Rule 1034.02).
OSH Practitioners in Occupational Safety and Health must develop, implement, and promote OSH programs in the workplace (Rule 1034.03(A)(1)).
OSH practitioners must advise and assist the employer in complying with the OSH Standards, especially in submission of reporting requirements (Rule 1034.03(A)(2)).
OSH practitioners must perform at least a quarterly appraisal/assessment of OSH program implementation in the workplace (Rule 1034.03(A)(3)).
OSH practitioners must prepare an annual report of safety and health programs of establishments (Rule 1034.03(A)(4)).
OSH practitioners must be present during scheduled safety inspections by authorized government agents and as requested during regular health and safety committee meetings (Rule 1034.03(A)(5)).
For Occupational Health Personnel, duties follow Rule 1960 (Rule 1034.03(A)(6)).

Duties of consultants and consulting organizations

OSH consultants/consulting organizations must assist, advise, or guide the employer in complying with the OSH Standards, including developing health and safety programs (Rule 1034.03(B)(1)).
Consultants must make at least a quarterly appraisal of programs and safety performance, including health and safety committee activities (Rule 1034.03(B)(2)).
If there is no Safety Officer, consultants must be present during scheduled safety inspections by authorized government agents and as requested during regular health and safety committee meetings, and must render at least six (6) hours of service a week in the establishment for these activities (Rule 1034.03(B)(3)).
Consultants must advise and assist the employer in complying with reporting requirements of the Standards (Rule 1034.03(B)(4)).

Duties of OSH training organizations

OSH training organizations must develop, monitor, and evaluate their OSH training programs (Rule 1034.03(C)(1)).
OSH training organizations must conduct continuing OSH programs to increase the number of competent and qualified personnel/individuals to implement OSH Standards (Rule 1034.03(C)(2)).
OSH training organizations must submit to the Bureau: (a) a yearly calendar of training activities; (b) a list of trained individuals, training content, and names and topics of speakers/lecturers five (5) days after every training; and (c) a program on updating trainers’ knowledge and skills (Rule 1034.03(C)(3)(a)-(c)).

Renewal, suspension/cancellation, and reactivation

Accreditation for practitioners and consultants must be renewed every three (3) years upon compliance with: updated bio-data with recent passport size and 1x1 pictures, submission/presentation of original and certified true copies of relevant OSH training certificates, submission of an annual performance report certified by employer(s)/client(s), and payment of renewal/annual fee (Rule 1034.04).
Accreditation for training and consulting organizations must be renewed every three (3) years upon compliance with: updated organization profile; submission of calendar of trainings or services and other related OSH activities; submission of annual accomplishment report; submission of updated resume of trainers (training organizations) and consultants (consulting organizations); submission of photocopy of certificate of accreditation; submission of monitoring and evaluation reports; and payment of renewal/annual fee (Rule 1034.04).

Suspension and cancellation grounds

Accreditation of OSH practitioners/consultants/consulting/training organizations may be suspended or cancelled by the Secretary after due process upon the Director’s recommendation for the following suspension grounds (Rule 1035).
Suspension applies if the accredited person/organization is inactive as an OSH practitioner/consultant/training/consulting organization for three (3) consecutive years, or fails to renew accreditation on or before the original accreditation anniversary date, or fails to comply with the provisions or other requirements of the rule (Rule 1035).
Cancellation applies if the accredited person/organization is convicted for criminal offense involving moral turpitude, violates professional ethics, or suffers two (2) consecutive suspensions (Rule 1035).
A request for reactivation of suspended accreditation must be filed with the Bureau for consideration (Rule 1035).

Bureau audit and practice prohibition

The Bureau must conduct a regular audit to determine compliance with the provisions of Rule 1034 (Rule 1035).
No person or organization may be allowed to be hired or otherwise employed as an OSH practitioner/consultant in OSH practice unless the requirements of the rules are complied with (Rule 1036(1)).
Foreign nationals may be issued accreditation upon compliance with the rules and subject to the requirements of existing Philippine laws and regulations (Rule 1036(2)).

Specializations for practitioners and consultants (Annex “A”)

OSH Occupational Health Practitioners include Occupational Health Physician, Occupational Health Nurse, and Dentist (Annex “A”).
OSH practitioners also include Occupational Hygiene Practitioner (Annex “A”).
Occupational safety practitioner specializations cover specified industry groups including Agriculture, Fishing, Mining and Quarrying, Manufacturing (with listed divisions such as Food Products and Beverages, Tobacco Products, Textiles, Wearing Apparel, Chemicals and Chemical Products, Basic Metals, Machinery and Equipment, among others), and additional sectors including Electricity, Gas and Water Supply, Construction, Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and personal and household goods, Hotels and restaurants, Transport, storage and communication (including Land transport; Transport Via Pipelines, Water Transport, Air Transport, supporting/auxiliary transport, and Post and Communications), Financial Intermediation, Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities, Public Administration and Defense; Compulsory Social Security, and Education (Annex “A”).
OSH Occupational Safety and Health Consultants cover specializations by field including for Occupational Health Consultant: Occupational epidemiology and bio-statistics, Occupational medicine, Worker's rehabilitation, Toxicology and risk assessment, Ergonomics, Women’s health and reproductive hazards, Maritime health, and Health of working children and other vulnerable sectors (Annex “A”).
OSH Occupational Hygiene Consultant specializations include Analytical chemistry, Industrial ventilation, Work exposure assessment, and Work environment control/workplace improvement (Annex “A”).
OSH Occupational Safety Consultant specializations include Fire prevention and control, Machine safety, Electrical safety, Materials handling and storage, Construction safety, Accident/damage analysis, Safety programming, Safety inspection, Accident investigation, Safety audit, and Safety program evaluation (Annex “A”).