Republic of the Philippines /
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |)
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REP! ‘“ATIVES
HB No BOOS.

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
CREATING OFFICE ERGONOMIC STANDARDS TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH
RISKS RELATED TO COMPUTER USE IN THE WORKPLACE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15 provides that:

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the
people and instill health consciousness among them.

There are several health problems associated with computer use. All of them
are avoidable, through the use of ergonomic principles. Ergonomics is the science of
fitting the job to the worker, rather than expecting workers to accommodate
themselves to uncomfortable equipment, postures, and work organization.

As with any task done repeatedly, working on a computer for long periods of
time can cause inflammation of tendons, nerve sheaths and ligaments and damage to
soft tissues.

Depending on an individual's sensitivity to the repeated movements of
keyboarding, the cumulative effect can be disabling. Resulting conditions are called
cumulative trauma disorders (CTDs), Different types of forearm and wrist CTDs from


computer use are carpal tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis, epicondylitis, tendinitis,
DeQuervain's disease and ganglionic cysts.

Neck and shoulder pain and stiffness can occur from improper placement of the
computer monitor, mouse or document you are working from. If these items are not
placed correctly, the muscles of the neck and shoulders are constantly working to keep
the head and arms in an awkward position. Many people who use computers for
prolonged periods of time complain of eyestrain, eye fatigue, eye irritation and blurred
vision.

This bill seeks to inform employees about the ways to avoid health risks related

to computer use and protect them from it /
H. HARRY L, ROQUE JR.

T- This bill was originally filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago in the Sixteenth Congress, Third Regular
Session


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRI ‘TIVES
HB No. BEDS

Introduced by Representative H. Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
CREATING OFFICE ERGONOMIC STANDARDS TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH
RISKS RELATED TO COMPUTER USE IN THE WORKPLACE

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Office Computer

Ergonomics Act.”

SECTION 2. Office ergonomic standards, - The following standards shall be
required for employers who have employees who use computers in their workplace:
a. Chairs must be adjustable to allow the user to move the seat up and down
depending on the height of the user;
b. For employees who are required to copy or to type from another document,
a document holder must be provided;
c. Computer monitors must be positioned to lessen glare coming from external

sources;


2

d. The rear of computer monitors should be at least three feet from another
employee;

¢. Defective computer screens that flicker or wave must be repaired as soon as
possible and the employee must not be forced to work with a defective
computer monitor,

f Employees who regularly work in front of computer monitors must be
allowed to rest their eyes on a regular basis; and

g. Every company must hold an ergonomic standard seminar where a
representative from the Department of Health shall talk about the details of
this Act and give other means to lessen the health strain caused by

computers in the workplace.

SECTION 3. Duty of the Department of Labor and Employment. - The
Department of Labor and Employment is required to verify the compliance of

employers with the provisions of this Act.

SECTION 4. Penalties. - The Department of Labor and Employment is
empowered to establish and assess penalties or fines against any person for violations
of this Act or regulations adopted under this Act. In no case shall the fine exceed One
Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000).

SECTION 5. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid
or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other

provisions hereof.


SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary
to or is inconsistent with the provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or

amended accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general

circulation.

Approved,