Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS

irst Regular Session

House Bill No,__ 4184

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B, BIAZON

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

This bill adopts the provisions, of Department Order No. 13 of the Department of Labor
and Employment, “Guidelines Governing Occupational Sufsty and Health in the
Construction Industry.”

There is clearly a need to provide guidelines to ensure the safely and health of our people
who work in the construction industry. In 2000, a’ total of 3,383 cases of occupational
injuries were reported in the industry. Of these, 94 were caused by falls, 186 were caused
by being struck by falling objects, 493 by stepping on, striking against or being struck by
non-falling objects. ‘These kinds of accidents are very regrettable, especially since lives
are lost, but may be prevented if adequate safeguards are put in place. To this end,
Department Order No. 13 becomes an even more necessary tool in ensuring the safety of
our workers,

Compliance with safety standards shall be the responsibility not only of the workers and
employers and constructors, but more importantly, of government who is at the head of
the enforcement of these standards. It is therefore only proper that penallics are imposed
not only on erring employers and constructors but also on the government officials who
are remiss in their duties regarding the implementation of these safety and health
standards,

It is, moreover, in order to ensure the permanence of these guidelines that this proposed
measure was filed.

For our hardworking workers in the constructién industry and their families, the passage
of this bill is earnestly sought

ROZELANO RUEL hE

Representative
Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

THIRTEENTH CONGR

First Regular Session

House BillNo,__ 4184

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

AN ACT
TO GOVERN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

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

Congress assembled:

Section 1.

— This Act shall be known and cited as “Occupational Safety and

Health in the Construction Industry Act”.

Scetion 2, Definition of Terms. As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

a) “Accredited organization” — refers to any organization duly accredited by the
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) delegated or authorized to
perform {unetions related to improvement of occupational safety and health in the
form of training, testing, certification, safety and health auditing or any other
similar activity.

b) “Certified first aider” — refers to any person trained and duly
wo administer first aid by the Philippine
organization aceredited by the same.

¢) “Construction project manager/consultant” — refers to a person or entity who is
hired by the project owner, to act in the owner's bebulf concerning supervision
and monitoring of all matters related to the overall execution of a construction
project. ‘The construction project manager-shall be a separate entity from the
general constructor or any subcontractor of the construction project.

d) “Construction safety and health committee” ~ refers to the general safety and
health committee for a construction project site that shall be the overall
coordinator in implementing OSH programs.

€) “Construction safety and health officer” — refers to any employee/worker trained
and, in addition to their regular duties and responsibilities, tasked by his employer
to implement occupational safety and health programs in accordance with the
provisions of the Occupational Safely and Health Standards (OSHS).

4) “Construction safety and health program” ~ refers to a set of detailed rules to
cover the processes and practices that shall be utilized in a specific construction
project site in conformity with the OSHS including the personnel responsible and
the penalties for violations thereof.

2) Occupational Safety and Health Standards (OSHS) ~ refers to the Occupational
Safety and Health Standards for the construction industry prepared by DOLE as
provided for by law in Articles 162 and 165, Chapter 2, Title I of Book Four of
The Labor Code of the Philippines,

rlilied or qualified
jonal Red Cross or by any



h) “Construction safety signage” — refers to any, but not limited to, emergency or
danger sign, warning sign or salely instruction, of standard colors and sizes in
accordance with the specifications for standard colors of signs for safety
instructions and warnings in building premises as described in Table Il (Standard
Colors of Signs for Safety Instructions and Warnings in Building Premises) of the
OSHS

i) “Constructor” ~ is deemed synonymous with the term “builder”. It refers to any
person or organization who undertakes or offers to undertake or purports to have
the capacity to undertake or submits a bid to, or does himself’ or by or through
others, construct, alter, repair, add to, subtract from, improve, move, wreck or
demolish any building, highway, road, railroad, excavation of other structure,
project, deyelopment or improvement, or to do any part thereof, including the
erection of scaffolding or other structures or works in connection therewith. The
term constructor includes subcontractor and specialty contractor.

j) “Emergency health provider’ ~ means any person or organization who is certified
or recognized by the Department of Health and who can provide the same or
equivalent emergency health services as an emergency hospital, including
emergency treatment of workers on site, emergency transport and care during
transport of injured workers to the nearest: hospital, with adequate personnel,
supplies and facilities for the complete immediate treatment of injuries or
illnesses 5

k) “General constructor” — means a constructor who has general supervision of the
work environment, over other constructors in the execution of the project and who
directly receives instructions from the owner of construction project manager.

1) “General safety and health inspection” — refers (o inspection of the work
environment, including the location and operation of machinery other than those
covered by technical salety inspections, adequacy of work space, ventilation,
lighting, conditions of work environment, handling, storage or work procedures,
protection facilities and other safety and health hazards in the workplace.

m) “Heavy equipment” — refers (0 any machine with engine or clectric motor as
prime mover used either for lifting, excavating, leveling, drilling, compacting,
{ransporting and breaking works in the construction site, such as but not limited to
crane, bulldozer, backhoe, grader, road compactor, prime mover and trailer, with
minimum operating weight and horsepower rating of 1000 KG and 10 HP,
respectively.

nu) “imminent danger” - means a condition or practice that could reasonably be
expected to cause death or serious physical harm belore abatement under the
normal enforcement procedures can be accomplished.

0) “Occupational health personnel” ~ refers to a qualified first-aider, nurse, dentist or
physician, engaged by the employer to provide occupational health services in the
establishment/undertaking,

p) “Project manager” - means the overall technical personnel of the general
contractor and/or the subcontractor in charge of the actual execution of a
construction project.

q) “Resident engineer” — means a duly licensed engineer who shall be tasked to be
present at the construction site at all times, whenever work is being undertaken,
and shall have dhe responsibility of assuring the technical conformance of all
designs, materials, processes, work procedures rendered for the exccution of the
construction project, including safety and health of all persons within the
construction site.

1) “Safety and health audit” ~ refers to a regular and critical examination of project
sitvs, safety programs, records and management performance on program
standards on safety and health.

3) “Safety and health committee” — means a group tasked with the authority to
monitor, inspect, and investigate all aspects of the construction project pertaining
to health and safety of construction workers.



Sect

1) “Safety organization” — means any organization recognized and accredited by the
DOLE to conduct occupational safety and health training and/or safety and health
audit.

u) “Safety personnel” — refers to any person engaged by any constructor, trained,
accredited by DOLE and tasked to provide occupational safety and health services
{or the workers/employees in any construction project,

s standards” — refers to the written specification of the minimum stock
knowledge and skills a worker should possess to perform the functions identified
in the job description of his occupation,

w) “Technical safety inspection” — refers to inspection for the purpose of safety
determination of boilers, electrical installations, elevators, hoisting equipment and
other mechanical equipment.

x) “Trade test” refers to an instrument used to measure workers’ skills and
knowledge based on the requirements of the skills

y) “Treatment Room” refers (0 any enclosed area or room equipped with the
necessary medical facilities and supplies, and located within the premises of the
establishment where workers may be brought for examination and treatment of
their injuries or illnesses in cases of emergency.

z) “Tool box meeting or gang meeting” — refers to daily meeting among workers and
their respective supervisors for the purpose of instruction, discussion and proper
briefing on the planned work, the assessment of past work, the possibility or
actual occurrence of accidents at the site, tips and suggestions on how to prevent
possible accidents and other related matters.

aa) “Unguarded surface” refers to any working surface above water or ground,
temporary or permanent floor platform, scaffold construction or wherever workers
are exposed to the possibility of falls hazardous to life or limb.

tion 3, Delegation of Authority and Acereditation. — The authority to enforce

mandatory occupational safety and health standards in the construction industry may be
delegated in part by the Secretary of Labor and Employment, under the following
conditions:

a) Chartered Cities and Municipalities may be allowed to conduct Technical
Safety Inspections and general safety audit of construction project sites within
their respective jurisdiction where they have adequate facilities and competent
personnel for the purpose as determined by the DOLE and subject to national
standards established by the latter, provided they submit for approval an
application for such authority.

b) Private Safety Organizations with adequate facilities and competent personnel
for purpose, may be accredited by DOPE to conduct technical and/or general
Safety and Health Audit of construction’ project sites, for and in behalf of the
company or establishment.

©) Accreditation of safety organizations and practitioners shall be in accordance
with Rule 1030 (Training of Personnel in Occupational Safety and Health) of

e the OSHS.

Section 4, Coverage. — This Act shall apply to all operations and undertakings in the

construction industry and subdivisions, namely, general building construction, ger

ral

engineering constructions and specialty trade construction, based on the classification
code of the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) of the Construction
Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP); to companies and entities involved in
demolition works; and to those falling within the construction industry as may be
determined by the Secretary of Labor and Employment.


Section 5. Construction Safety and Health Program, — Every construction project
shall have a suitable Construction Safety and Health Program, which must be in
accordance with this Act. The Construction Project Manager, or in his absence, the
Project Manager as authorized by the owner, shall be responsible for compliance with
this Seetion,

5.1 The Construction Safety and Health Program shall state the following:

4) Composition of the Construction Safety and Health Committee, if one
has been formed, otherwise, an undertaking to organize such
committee and appoint its members before the start of construction
work at the project site;

b) Specific salety policies which the General Constructor undertakes to
observe and maintain in its construction site, Including the frequency
of and persons responsible for conducting toolbox and gang meetings;

©) Penalties and sanctions for violations of the Construction Safety and
Health Program under which they operate; and

4) The manner of disposing waste arising from the construction.

5.2 The Construction Safety and Health Program shall be executed and verified by the
Construction Project Manager or Project Manager and shall be submitted to the
Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) which may approve, disapprove or modify the

same according to existing laws, rules and regulations and other issuances by the
DOI

5.3 The cost of implementing the Construction Safety and Health Program shall be
integrated into the project’s construction cost, Provided, That said cost shall be a
separate pay item, duly quantified and stated in the project’s tender documents and
construction contract documents.

Section 6, Personal Protective Equipment. - Every employer shall, at his own
expense, firmnish his workers with protective equipment for eyes, face, hands and feet,
lifeline, safety belvharness, protective shields and barriers whenever necessary by reason
of the hazardous work process or environment, chemical or radiological or other
mechanical irritants or hazards capable of causing injury or impairment in the funetion of
any part of the body through absorption, inhalation or physical agent.

Provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) shall be in accordance with Rule 1080
(Personal Protective Equipment and Devices) of the OSHS. The equivalent cost for the
provision of PPE (life span, depreciation, replacement, ete.) shall be an integral part of
the project cost.

6.1 The employer shall provide adequate and approved type of protective equipment.
Workers within the construction project site shall be required to wear the necessary
PPE at all times

6.2 Construction workers who are working from unguarded surfaces six"(6) meters or

more above water or ground, temporary or permanent floor platform, scaffold or

~ where they are exposed to the possibility of falls hazardous to life or limb, must be
provided with safety harnesses and life lines,

63 Specialty construction workers must be provided with special protective equipment,
such as specialized goggles or respirators for welders and painters or paint
applicators,

6.4 All other persons who are either authorized or allowed (o be at a construction site
shall wear appropriate PPE.


Section 7, Safety Personnel. ~ To ensure that a Construction Safety and Health Program
is duly followed and enforced at the construction project site, each construction project
site is required to have the minimum required Safety Personnel, as described herein:

7.1 The General Constructor must provide for a full time officer, who shall be assigned
as the general construction safety and health officer to oversee full time the overall
management of the Construction Safely and Health Program. The general
construction safety and health officer shall frequently monitor and inspect any health
and safety aspect of the construction work being undertaken. He shall also assist
government inspectors in the conduct of savty and health inspection at any time
whenever work is being performed or during the conduct of accident investigation,
The General Constructor must provide Jor one (1) Construction Safety and Health
Officer for every ten (10) units of heavy cquipment assigned to the project site, 10
oversee the effective compliance with the Construction Safety and Health Program
at the construction project site, in terms of heavy equipment utilization and
maintenance.

7.2 ‘The General Constructor must provide for one (1) Construction Safety and Health
Offiver for every ten (10) units of heavy equipment assigned to the project site, to
oversee the effective compliance with the Construction Safety and Health Program
at the construction project site, in terms of heavy equipment utilization and
maintenance.

7.3, Fach construction subcontractor must provide Lor a representative who shall have the
same qualifications as a Safety Man/Officer, to oversee the management of the
Construction Safety and Health Program for the subeontractor’s workforce and the
specilic area of work operations in accordance with the requirements of Rule 1033
(Training and Personnel Complement) of the OSHS.

All salety personnel who will be employed by an employer on full-time basis should be
aceredited by the BWC of the DOLE.

Section 8. Emergency Occupational Health Personnel and Facilities

8.1 The construction project owner or his duly authorized representative shall provide
competent emergency health personnel with the worksite duly complemented by
adequate medical supplies, equipment and facilities, based on the total number of
workers in the site as indicated below:

a) The services of a certified fir
(50) or less;

b) The services ofa full-time registered murse when the total number of workers
exceeds fifly (50) but not more that two hundred (200);

c) The services of a full-time registered nurse, a part-time physician and dentist,
and an emergency clinic when the total number of workers exceeds two
hundred (200) but not more than three hundred (300); and *

d) ‘The services of full-time registered nurse, a full-time physician, a dentist and
an infirmary or emergency hospital with one (1) bed capacity when the
number of employees execed three hundred (300). In addition, there should
be one (1) bed capacity for every one hundred (100) employees in excess of
three hundred (300).

-aider when the (lal number of workers if fifty

8.2 Where an employer provides only a treatment room, he shulll provide for his workers,
in case of emergency, access to the nearest medival/dental clinic or to a
medical/dental clinic located within five (5) kilometers radius from the workplace and
which can be reached in twenty-five (25) minutes of travel. Such access shall include


ities. In such situation, there shall be a written
contract with the medical/dcntal clinic to attend to such workplace emergencies,

‘The engagement of an Emergency Health Provider for the construction project site
shall be considered as having. complied with the requirement of accessibility to the
nearest hospital facilities.

8.4 The employer shall always have in the construction site the required minimum

inventory of medicines, supplies and cquipment as indicated in Table 47 of the
OSHS.

Section 9. Construction Safety Signages. - Construction Safety Signages must be
provided to warn the workers and the public of hazards in the workplace, Signages shall
be posted in prominent positions at strategic locations and, as far as practicable, be in
language understandable to most of the workers employed.

9.1. The signages include but are not limited to:
a) Mandatory requirement on the usage of personal protective equipment
prior to entry to the project site.
b) Areas where there are potential risks of falling objects.

ce) Areas where there are potential risks of falling,

4) Areas where explosives and flammable substances are used or stored.

©) Areas where there are tripping or slipping hazards.

1) Approaches to working areas where danger from toxic or irtitant airborne

contaminants/substance may exist which should indicate the name of the
contaminant/substance involved and the type of respiratory-equipment to
be worn,

8) Alll places where contact
can cause danger

h) All places where workers may come in contact with dangerous moving
parts of machineries or equipment,

i) Location of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment.

j) Instruction on the usage of specific construction equipment.

k) Periodic updating of man-hours lost,

ith or proximity to electrical/lucility equipment

9.2 Signages should be regularly inspected and maintained in yood condition. Signages
that are damaged or illegible or that no longer apply should be removed and replaced
hy the safety officer, as needed.

Section 10. Safety on Construetion=Heavy Equipment. — In relation to heavy
equipment operation in all construction sites, the following are required in the different
phases of the project.

10.1 Pre-Construction

The General Constructor must ensure that appropriate certification is ob'
from DOLE duly accredited organizations for the following

ined

a) All heavy equipment operator assigned in the project site must be tested and
certitied in accordance with a standard test prescribed by Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in coordination with accredited
organization/s.

b) All heavy equipment must be tested and certified in accordance with the
standards prepared by DOLE or its recognized organization/s prior to
commissioning of said equipment.


10.2. During Construction

10.2.1

10.2.2

10.2.3

10.2.4

The General Constructor must ensure that the following conditions are met or
complied with:

Mobilization or Transport of Heavy Equipment

a) Load restriction of trailers carrying such heavy equipment

b) Load restrictions, height and width clearances as imposed by Department
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for all roads and bridges to be
utilized during transport.

©) Only duly certified operators are allowed to load and unload heavy
equipment to wailer

4) Equipment to be transported must be properly secured to the trailer,

Erection/Sct-up of Heavy Equipment

a) Existing hazards must be avoided.
b) Standard checklist of steps and procedures must be observed.
©) List of necessary equipment, tools and materials must be available and

properly utilized

Routine Inspection

In the interest of accident prevention, duly certified mechanies and operators shall
conduct daily routine inspection of all heavy equipment deployed at the site in
accordance with standards set by TESDA.

a) Routine inspection of all heavy equipment must be performed by Department
OF Labor and Employment Accredited Professionals in accordance to
standards set by DOLE recognized equipment suppliers.

b) All equipment, which does not comply with the minimum safety standards for
equipment certification, shall be immediately removed {rom the work site for
restoration or repair until they meet said standards or requirements,

The General Constructor and the equipment owner shall maintain a separate
logbook for data on maintenance, repairs, tests and inspections for each heavy
equipment. Such logbook shall be used as a necessary reference during the
conduct of equipment inspection,

Certified Operators

a) Only duly certified operators shall be allowed to operate their designated
heavy equipment. 2

b) All operators and riggers must wear personal protective equipment as
prescribed in the above pertinent sections,

10.3 Post-Operation aud Post-Construction

The procedures for dismantling and demobilization of heavy equipment shall
follow the same requirements as listed under 10,2,1 and 10.2.2 above.


Seetion 1. Construct

ion Safety and Health Committee

11.1, Composition

To ensure that these rules and the Construction Safety and Health Program are
observed and enforced at the project sile, each site shall, at the start of the

construction have a construction salty and health committee composed of the
following personnel as described under Section 7 abov.

a) Project Manager or his representative as the Chairperson ex officio;

b) General Construction Safety and Health Officer;

©) Construction Safety and Health Officers;

d) Safety representatives from each subcontractor,

©) Doctors, Nurses and other Health personnel, pursuant to the requirements

stated in Rule 1042 (Types and Composition of Health and Safety
Committee) of the OSHS, who shall be members ex officio;

0) Worker’s representatives (minimum of
necessarily from one employer),

, union members ized, not

The persons constituting the Safety and Health Comunitice shall, as far as
practicable, be found at the construction site whenever construction work is being
undertaken.

The time spent by the members of the Safety and Health Committee in the
performance of their duties such as committee meetings, seminars and taining,
investigation and other tusks that may be assigned or planned by the committee
shall be considered hours work and therefore compensable time,

11.2 Authority and Duties of the Construction Safety and Health Committee

The chairperson shall convene the Construction Safely and Health Committee at
regular intervals so as to effectively and efficiently monitor the implementation of
the Construction Safety and Health Program. As such, he shall have the following,
duties:

a) pln, develop and oversee the implementation of accident programs for the
construction project;

b) direct the accident prevention efforts for the construction project in
accordance with these rules and the Construction Safety and Health

Program;

©) initiate and supervise.the conduct of brief salety meetings or wolbox
ineetings everyday;

d) review reports of safety and health inspections, accident investigations;

e) prepare and submit to DOLE reports on committee meetings;

f) provide necessary assistance to government inspecting authorities in the

proper conduct of their enforcement and other activities;
8) initiate and supervise safety and health training for employees;

e h) develop and maintain a disaster contingency plan and organize such
emergency service unils as may be necessary lo handle disaster situations;
and

i) perform all duties provided in the Construction Safety and [lealth Program
or those that are necessary and incidental to the fulfillment of their duties
herein described.



Section 12, Safety and Health Information
12.1, Workers should be adequately and suitably:

) informed of potential safety and health hazards to which they may be
exposed at their workplace; and

) instructed and trained on the measures available for the prevention,
control and protection against those hazards,

12.2. No person shall be deployed in a construction site unless he has undergone
safety and health awareness seminar conducted by the Occupational Sality
and Health Center (OSIIC), BWC and other concemed offices of the DOLE
or by safety professionals or salely organizations or other institutions DOLE
has accredited or recognized. The DOLE in collaboration with constructors
shall promote programs for the implementation of these awareness seminars
for construction workers.

12.3 Every worker shall receive instruction and training regarding the general
safety and health measures common to construction sites which shall include:

a) basic rights and duties of workers at the construction site

b) means of access and egress both during normal work and in
emergency situations

c) measures for good housekeeping

d) location and proper use of welfare amenities and first-aid facilities

©) proper care and use of the items or personal protective equipment
and protective clothing provided the workers

general measures for personal hygiene and health protection

g) fire precautions to be taken
h) action to be taken in case of any emergency
i) requirements of relevant health and safety rules and regulations

12.4 ‘The instruction, training and information materials shall be given in a
language or dialect understood by the worker. Written, oral, visual and
participative approaches shall be used to ensure thal the worker has
assimilated the material.

12.5 Each supervisor or any designated person (c.g,, foreman, lead man, gang,
boss, etc.) shall conduct daily toolbox or similar meetings prior to starting the
tasks for the day to discuss with the workers and anticipate safety and health
problems related to every task and the potential solutions to those problems.
The supervisor shall remind the workers on the necessary safety precautions
that need to be undertaken.

12.6. Specialized instruction and training should be given to:

a) drivers and operators of lifting appliances, transport, earth-moving,
and materials handling equipment and machinery or any equipment
of specialized or dangerous nature;

b) workers engaged in the erection or dismantling of scaffolds;

¢) workers engaged in excavations at least one meter deep or deep
cnough to cause danger, shafts, earthworks, underground works or
tunnels;

4) workers handling explosives or engaged in blasting operations;

©) _ workers engaged in pile-driving;

1) workers working in compressed air, collisrdams, and caissons;


2) workers engaged in the en
structural frames and tall cl
work and other such work;

ction of prefabricated parts. of steel
imneys, and in concrete work, form

h) workers handling hazardous substances and materials;
i) workers as signalers; and
i) other workers as may be categorized by TESDA.

Section 13. Construction Safety and Health Training. ~ The basie construction safely
and health training shall be a forty- (40) hour training course as preseribed by the BWC.
‘The taining course shall include the provisions of Rule 1410 (Construction Safely) of the
OSIIS. The BWC, from time to time, may modify the basic construction safety and
health training course, as the need arises,

All safety personnel involved in a construction project shall be required to complete such
basic training course, Every constructor shall provide continuing construction safely and
health (raining (o all technical personnel under his employ. Continuing training shall be a
minimum of 16 hours per year for every full-time safety personnel.

Section 14, Construction Safety and Health Reports. - All general constructors shall
be required to submit a monthly construction safety and.health report to the BWC or to
the DOLE Regional Office concemed, The report shall include a monthly summary of
all safety and health commilice meeting agreements, a summary of all accident
investigationsireports and periodic hazards assessment with the corresponding remedial
‘measures/actions for each hazard

In case of any dangerous occurrences or major accident resulting in death or permanent
total disability, the concerned employer shall initially notify the DOLE Regional Office
within twenty-four (24) hours from occurence. After the conduct of investigation by the
concemed construction safety and health officer, the employer shall report all permanent
total disabilities to DOLE Regional Office on or before the 20" of the month following
the date of occurrence of accident using the DOLE/BWC/HSD-1P-6 form.

Section 15. Construction Workers Skills Certificates. — In order to professionalize,
upgrade and update the level of competence of construction workers, the TESDA shall:

a) establish national skills standards for critical construction occupations;

b) prepare guidelines on skills testing and certification for critical construction
occupations;

ec) accredit construction sector organizations in the arca of skills training and
trade testing; and

d) extend relevant assistance to construction sector organizations.

In this regard, all construction workers in critical occupations shall undergo mandatory
skills testing [or certification by TESDA.

pation shall be considered critical —

a) when the perlormance of a job affects and endangers people's lives and limbs;

b) when the job involves the handling of tools, equipment and supplies;

¢) when the job requires a relatively long period of education and taining;

4) when the performance of the job may compromise the safely, health and
environmental concems within the immediate vicinity of the construction site


Section L6. Worker's Welfare Facilities, ~ The employer shall provide the following
wellare facilities in order to ensure humane working conditions:

16.1 Adequate supply of safe drinking water.

a) If the water is used in common drinking areas, it should be stored in closed
containers from which the water is dispensed through taps or cocks. Such
containers should be cleaned and disinfected at regular intervals not exceeding
fifteen (15) days

6) Notices shall be conspicuously posted in locations where there is water supply
that is nol fit for drinking purposes,

16.2 Adequate sanitary and washing facilities

a) Adequate facilities tor changing and for the storage and drying of work
clothes
b) Adequate accommodation for luking meals and shelter

16.3 Suitable living accommodation for workers, and as may be applicable, for their
families

16.4 Separate sanitary, washing and sleeping facilities for men and women workers.

Section 17, Cost of Construction Safety and Health Program. — The total cost of
implementing a Construction Safety and Tealth Program shall be a mandatory integral
patt of the project's construction cost as a separate pay item, duly quantified and reflected
in the Project’s Tender Documents and likewise reflected in the Project's Construction
Contract Documents.

Section 18. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The DOLE shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations necessary for the effective implementation of this Act,
within sixty (60) days from its effectivity.

Section 19, Penalty Clause.
the following penalties:

Violation of any provision of this Act shall be dealt with

For the first offense: a fine of one hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), or
imprisonment of not less than six months and one day to not more than one year, or both,
at the diseretion of the court;

For the second offense: a fine of three hundredthousand. pesos (P300,000.00), or
imprisonment of not less than one year and one day to not more than two years, or both,
at the discretion of the court;

For the third and/or subsequent offenses: a fine of five hundred ‘thousand pesos
(500,000.00), or imprisonment of not less than two years and one day to not more than
. three years, or both, at the discretion of the court,

Provided, That if the violation is committed by a government official, he/she shall, in
addition to the penalties above, be subject to disciplinary administrative proceedings and
penalties.

Section 20. Separability Clause ~ If any part, section or provision of this Act is held
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and
effect.



Section 21. Repealing Clause — All other laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,
amended or modified accordingly.

Section 22. Effeetivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.