Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Philippines

‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit no._ 247 1

INTRODUCED BY REP. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution, Article 13, Section 14, mandates that the State shall afford full
protection to labor, local and overseas, organized and unorganized, and promote full
employment and equality of employment opportunities for all. The Labor Code, Article
162 provides that the Secretary of Labor and Employment shall issue appropriate
orders, set and enforce occupational safety and health standards in all workplaces and
institute programs to ensure safe and healthful working conditions in all places of
employment.

Presently, there is a lack of uniform warnings for personal protective equipment
for occupational use. This situation has confused both employers and employees on the
proper use of such equipment. This has increased worker exposure to workplace injuries
and illnesses.

This bill seeks to provide safety warning standards to reduce injuries and
illnesses resulting from the faulty use of occupational equipment.

MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO
Representative
1st District, City of Marikina


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Philippines

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2471

HOUSE BILL NO.

INTRODUCED BY REP. MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR UNIFORM WARNINGS ON PERSONAL PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT FOR OCCUPATIONAL USE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Uniform Warnings on
Protective Equipment Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of State Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
increase workplace safety by enhancing the understanding of the proper use and limits
of personal protective equipment for occupational use through occupational safety and
health standards that establish specific coherent and effective uniform warnings for such
equipment.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the term

A. Personal protective equipment — means equipment intended for use by workers
in a workplace subject to this Act to protect the eyes, face, head, hearing,
extremities, or a respiratory tract from workplace hazards or to function as
protective clothing, as a protective shield) or barrier, as personal fall arrest or
ladder safety devices, or as safety and health monitoring and instrumentation
devices; and

B, Warning - means any statement that —
1. Directs or describes one or more actions, procedures, or prohibitions
relating to the use of personal protective equipment; and
2. If not complied with, may result in personal injury or death to the user of
the equipment.

SEC. 4. Standards. — Each standard shall prescribe the full text of each warning the
means by which the manufacturer or other seller of the personal protective equipment
shall communicate each such warning to the employer using such equipment. Each
standard issued under paragraph for personal protective equipment shall require the
employer to communicate each prescribed warning to each employee using the personal
protective equipment, and to train, educate, and instruct each such employee in

‘A. The proper use of such personal protective equipment.

B. How each such warning applies in such employer's workplace and such
employee's work environment; and

C. The consequences of failing to observe each such warning,

SEC. 5. Factors to be Considered. - The Secretary of the Department of Labor and
Employment, in promulgating standards shall consider such factors as the experience of
manufacturers using particular warnings and the means of communication of such
warnings, as well as the opinions of workers, human factors experts, the Department of
Health, and other experts as to the effectiveness of such warnings and respective
means of communications.


SEC. 6. Pre-emption. — Nothing in this Act shall be construed to negate the intent of the
Congress to occupy or regulate the entire field of warnings for personal protective
equipment for occupational use.

‘SEC. 7. Other Standards. - After a standard issued becomes effective, no government
agency, or any political subdivision, may, by legislation, regulation, court decision, or
otherwise establish or continue in effect, any standard, requirement, or prohibition for
any personal protective equipment which has the force and effect of law which is
different from, or in addition to, any requirement set forth in this Act

SEC. 8. Separability Clause. — Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid or
unconstitutional, the validity or constitutionality of the other provisions shall not be
affected thereby,

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations,
and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,