Olongapo SubicBay BatangGapo Newscenter

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Labor agency issues recommendations for Subic shipyard

THE Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) issued seven recommendations to a Subic shipyard company whose operations have recently killed six and injured others last October 7.

Although it withheld penalties for Keppel Shipyard Inc. (KSI), the agency nevertheless said that it should accredit all safety officers of the company and its subcontractors.

Other recommendations include employing at least two full-time accredited safety practitioners who will oversee and implement the company's safety program and the submission of the company's Annual Health Safety Environment (HSE) action plan that will be approved by the agency.

The company's safety officers should also attend a five-day Construction Safety Training conducted by the Occupational Safety and health Center (OSHC) or with an accredited safety training organizations, the Dole said.

The agency's two other proposals include the installation of two tower posts of a bigger diameter on each side of the stern ramp instead of just one tower post placed in the middle of the ramp, the regular checking and calibration of cables prior to any repairs on the ramp, and the proper installation and regular inspection by structural engineers of scaffoldings over 10 meters high and all other installations constructed over the scaffoldings.

These recommendations were made by the agency's inspection team immediately after the tragedy, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.

"KSI management should implement these seven corrective measures on occupational safety and health to avoid the recurrence of the recent mishap in the said shipyard," said Baldoz. "These are short and long term recommendations, which should be undertaken to avoid a possible recurrence of the accident."

Last October 7, a 42-ton steel ramp being erected at the Keppel shipyard collapsed on a group of workers, killing six people and injuring several others.

Based on the report of Labor Undersecretary for Labor Standards and Social Protection Lourdes Trasmonte, several occupational safety and health (OSH) standards were violated.

These violations include inadequate support of the ramp being retrofitted, no design by structural engineer for scaffoldings more than 10 meters high, the temporary electrical installation suspended in the tube and coupler scaffolds, and no Dole-accredited safety practitioners, and no first-aid medical practitioners.

Dole has withheld imposing penalties, pending a report from the Senate inquiry called by Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada. (AMN/Sunnex sunstar.com.ph)

Labels: , , , , ,

4 Comments:

  • this OSHC gov't agency is a BIG JOKE!!!!!
    All these workers DIED in Vain under their Watch...

    Subic Shipyard;OSHC and lead by Ministry of Labor should work hand in hand for the Health and SAFETY of Filipino Workers.....

    It should not be just Recommendation.. anything about health and safety of filipino citizens should be MANDATORY! Violations is punishable by LAWS..
    No one should Die by just going to Work.....

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11/07/2011 9:58 PM  

  • To All Subic shipyard and SBMA workers:
    Write Down and Document all safety hazards anything on your work areas. Anything you see and smell,skin and other health reaction.No fear in reporting all of this, and you keep the original Notes to your self.Always on anything you provide are just Copies.You should have the e-mail addresses of Ministry of Health (Olongapo site). and this suppose to be very helpful and useful gov't agency"Occupational Safety and Health Center.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11/07/2011 10:14 PM  

  • At this Rate,the way the Min.of Labor,OSHC and Subic Shipyard Leardership goes, the numbers of death and injuries will just continue to Rise...
    Demand for Safety Suggestion Box in your work areas.Demand for Safety Minutes talk everyday before start of work.Demand to employer to Provide all personal protection tools.
    Demand for Disability Insurance.

    Don't make your Shipyard as your Graveyard.....

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11/07/2011 10:37 PM  

  • Make this gov't honcho's from Min. of Labor and Senate Inquiry Work for you by Inviting to come down to the shipyard and see the situation for themselves.

    They should have an individual tour of the shipyard and have time for question and answer forum from the workers..The workers should be heard.....

    These honchos should get out from their air-conditioned offices,because they CLUELESS on what's going on the real world.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11/07/2011 10:47 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home


 

This is a joint private blog of volunteers from Subic Bay. It is being maintained primarily to collate articles that may be of importance to decision making related to the future of Subic Bay and as a source of reference material to construct the history of Subic Bay.

The articles herein posted remains the sole property of original authors and publications which has full credits to the articles.

Disclaimer: Readers should conduct their own research and due diligence before using any article herein posted for whatever intended purpose it may be. This private web log will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by a reader's reliance on information obtained from volunteers of this private blog.

www.subicbay.ph, http://olongapo-subic.com, http://sangunian.com, http://olongapo-ph.com, http://oictv.com, http://brgy-ph.com, http://subicbay-news.com, http://batanggapo.com 16 January 2012