OHS Lesson 1 - Lesson 4
OHS Lesson 1 - Lesson 4
The TLV is an estimate based on the known toxicity in humans or animals of a given
chemical substance, and the reliability and accuracy of the latest sampling andanalytical
methods. It is not a static definition since new research can often modify the risk
assessment of substances and new laboratory or instrumental analysismethods can
improve analytical detection limits. The TLV is a recommendation by ACGIH, with only a
guideline status.
As such, it should not be confused with exposure limits having a regulatory status, like
those published and enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA). The OSHA regulatory exposure limits permissible exposure limits (PELs)
published in 29CFR 1910.1000 Table Z1 are based on recommendations made by the
ACGIH in 1968, although other exposure limits were adopted more recently.
Many OSHA exposure limits are not considered by the industrial hygiene community to
be sufficiently protective levels since the toxicological basis for most limits have not
been updated since the 1960s. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) publishes recommended exposure limits (RELs) which OSHA takes into
consideration when promulgating new regulatory exposure limits.
For some hazards, there can be one type of effect from a single, high exposure (an
acute effect) and a quite different result when exposure is at a low level, but repeated
regularly over a prolonged time period (chronic effect). Acute effects depend on the
degree of exposure.
It is therefore relatively easy to control exposure (keep it at a low enough level) to avoid
acute effects. Or, to put it another way, if workers are experiencing acute effects, they
know exposure to the hazard is not being properly controlled. With chronic effects there
is no immediate warning. Where long-term exposure is known to cause disease without
any warning of the hazard, it may be necessary to control worker exposure through
regulations that prescribe occupational exposure limits (OELs).
Ergonomics
Human factors and ergonomics (HF&E), also known as comfort design, functional
design, and user-friendly systems, is the practice of designing products, systems or
processes to take proper account of the interaction between them and the people who
use them.
The field has seen contributions from numerous disciplines, such as psychology,
engineering, biomechanics, industrial design, physiology and anthropometry. In
essence, it is the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body and
its cognitive abilities.
HF&E is employed to fulfill the goals of occupational health and safety and productivity.
It is relevant in the design of such things as safe furniture and easy-to-use interfaces to
machines and equipment. Proper ergonomic design is necessary to prevent repetitive
strain injuries and other musculoskeletal disorders, which can develop over time and
can lead to long-term disability.
Human factors and ergonomics is concerned with the “fit” between the user, equipment
and their environments. It takes account of the user’s capabilities and limitations in
seeking to ensure that tasks, functions, information and the environment suit each user.
To assess the fit between a person and the used technology, human factors specialists
or ergonomists consider the job (activity) being done and the demands on the user; the
equipment used (its size, shape, and how appropriate it is for the task), and the
information used (how it is presented, accessed, and changed). Ergonomics draws on
many disciplines in its study of humans and their environments, including
anthropometry, biomechanics, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, industrial
design, information design, kinesiology, physiology, cognitive psychology and industrial
and organizational psychology.
Any project in the Philippines that poses a potential environmental risk or impact (such
as mining, agriculture projects, and construction) is required to secure an Environmental
Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of the Environment and Natural
Resources – Environmental Management Board (DENR-EMB).
An ECC is issued by DENR-EMB after a positive review of the project’s application. This
certificate indicates that the proposed project or undertaking will not cause a
significantly negative impact on the Philippine environment. The ECC contains specific
measures and conditions that must be met by the project proponent before and during
the operation of the project. In some cases, conditions are listed to be performed during
the project’s abandonment phase to lessen identified potential environmental impacts.
An ECC also certifies that the proponent has complied with all the requirements of the
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System and has committed to implement its
approved environmental management plan.
Formulate a holistic national program of air pollution that shall be implemented by the
government through proper delegation and effective coordination of function and
activities; Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizen and industries
through the application of incentives market-based instruments; Focus primarily on
pollution prevention rather than on control and provide for a comprehensive
management program on air pollution; Promote public information and education to
encourage the participation of an informed and active public in air quality planning and
monitoring; and Formulate and enforce a system of accountability for short and long
term adverse environmental impact of a project, program or activity. This shall include
setting up of a funding or guarantee mechanism for clean-up and environmental
rehabilitation and compensation for personal damages.
Waste Management
RA 9003 describes solid waste management as a discipline associated with the control
of generation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of
solid wastes. The manner by which these activities are conducted shall be in accord
with the best principles of public health, economics, engineering, conservation,
aesthetics, other environmental considerations, and public attitudes. The Act provides
for a comprehensive ecological solid waste management program by creating the
necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, appropriating funds, declaring
certain acts prohibited, and providing penalties.
Operational Health and Safety procedure, practices and regulations in the Philippines.
The Occupational Safety and Health Standards was formulated in 1978 in compliance
with the constitutional mandate to safeguard the worker’s social and economic well-
being as well as his physical safety and health. Adopted through the tested democratic
machinery of tripartism, the 1978 Standards is considered as a landmark in Philippine
labor and social legislation.
Organizations and training are continuing disaster preparedness tasks which are
preformed by various disaster coordinating councils. Over the past few years, various
emergencies services necessary during disaster have been developed in all the region
and provinces. Designated organizations have been oriented in their various roles in the
disaster management Local chief executives, particularly those elected to their posts for
the first time, have been provided training on disaster management to equip them
effectively lead their local disaster coordinating councils. Specialized skills in search and
rescue, evacuation, disaster medicine, vulnerability analysis, damage assessment and
first-aid have been widely undertaken. In 1995 alone, 159 training sessions on various
aspects of disaster management have been conducted all over the country.
The Philippines conducted 103 drills were conducted in 1998 alone. Other disaster
preparedness measures have also been undertaken such as disaster drills and
exercises, and establishment of disaster management operations centers. Disaster
management operations centers have been established with capabilities of a wide
range of emergency services which include rescue, evacuation, emergency housing
and relief services.
The Philippines has also devoted considerable resource to the construction and
provision of disaster reduction facilities such as river dikes and sea walls, as well as
non-structural measures like warning systems for typhoons, floods, tsunamis, volcanic
eruption and lahar flows. Flood control projects and watershed management projects, in
additions to the broader reforestation effort, are all geared to mitigate the worst effects
to natural disasters.
In the event of disasters, plans and capabilities prepared beforehand are activated. The
improved quality of planning, coordination and high state of preparedness have been
responsible for a more and rapid and comprehensive disaster response capabilities in
various areas of the country. Volunteer workers with proper training , and reaction
teams with proper equipment and skills have been invaluable in the various military and
civil agencies of government as well as those in the private sector. In addition, the
communications and warning capabilities of the government have also been augmented
by the media organizations and the corporate communication capabilities of large
Philippine enterprise. Together these resources have provided which are the essential
safety margins during disaster of uncertain and unexpected destructive force.
Public information before, during and after disaster is an important aspect of disaster
management in the Philippines. Both through training and public education campaigns
the disaster coordinating councils maintain and enhance public awareness of disaster
reduction. Manuals and bulletins provided to media professionals help keep disaster
preparedness in the public agenda. Special events like civil defense day, fire prevention
month, disaster consciousness week, and the day for the international decade for
natural disaster reduction help to mobilize civic consciousness.
Since the knowledge base of disaster management remains inadequate, the Philippines
has also included research and development in disaster reduction techniques as part of
its national disaster management program. Current priorities in this area include
meteorological and hydrological disaster researches being conducted by the Philippine
weather bureau(PAGASA) such as the tropical cyclone research on typhoon movement
prediction, typhoon surface structure research, typhoon formations and intensification
research and meteorological and hydrological hazards assessment. The Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology(PHIVOLCS) is also conducting studies on the
seismicity of Luzon and Visayas island as well as the volcanic hazards of Mindanao
island.
PAGASA
1. Special Tropical Cyclone Reconnaissance Information Dissemination and Damage Evaluation
(STRIFE) a quick response team (QRT) to conduct in the spot investigation in areas affected by
landfilling TC’s, tornadoes, storm surges etc.
2. Provision of Farm-Weather Forecast and Warning Services-Provides Weather Information
related to plant growth/development and farming operations including livestock and crop
production.
3. Information and Education Campaign(IEC) Program for natural Disaster Reduction. Include the
level of awareness/preparedness of the people on natural hazards and disasters through the
development of hi-tech audio-visual and multi-media technology, conducts seminars/workshops,
lectures and training’s throughout the country.
PHIVOLCS
1. Volcanic Hazards Identification and Mapping-identify, catalogue and characterize activities and
potentially active volcanoes.
2. Hazardous Volcanic Products and Process: to map extent of emplacement, thickness of
deposition, stratigraphy and source vents to these hazardous volcanic products which may give
an overview of the anticipated hazards and risks from future eruptive episodes.
3. National Lahar Mapping Program: this involves mapping out the possible extent of emplacement
and distribution of lahar deposits from past explosives eruption. The ultimate aim of this
program is to generate lahar hazard maps for selected active volcanoes which shall identify
possible routes and areas that can be affective during a particular lahar flow incidents.
Disaster response in the Philippines is truly a multi-sectoral and mass-based endeavor.
A major contingent to the disaster management structure is composed of civic
organization, non-government organization, people’s organizations, and all forms of
religious and social voluntary groupings. Partly because of their democratic political
experience, the high public awareness of the destructiveness of disaster, and partly
because the institutional framework for disaster management has encouraged it,
popular participation of the Filipino people in disaster response is very broad, sustained,
enthusiastic, organized and ultimately decisive.