FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIII, 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 occupation 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 illness. 
This bill seeks to provide Safety Warning Standards to reduce injuries and 
illnesses resulting from the faulty use of occupation equipment. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Senate Bill No. 985 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
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 fhe Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act may be cited as the “Worker Protection 
Warnings Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policy. It is hereby declared state policy to 
increase workplace safety by enhancing understancling of the proper use and limits of 
personal protective equipment for occupational use through occupational safety and 
heath standards that establish specific coherent and effective uniform warnings for such 
equipment. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act: 
(a) The term “Personal Protective Equipment” means equipment intended for use 
by workers in a workplace subject to this Act to protect eyes, face, head, 
hearing, extremities, or 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) The term “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. 
SECTION 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: 
(a) Require employer to communicate each prescribed warning to each employee 
using the personal protective equipment, and to train, educate, and instruct each 
such employee in: 
7. The proper use of such personal protective equipment; 


2. How each such warning applies in such employer’s workplace and such 
employee’s work environment; and 
3. The consequences of failing to observe each such warning. 
SECTION 5. Factors to be Considered. The Secretary of 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 communication. 
SECTION 6. Pre-emption. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to negate the 
intent of Congress to occupy or regulate the entire field of warnings for personal 
protective equipment for occupational use. 
SECTION 7. Other Standards. After an standard is 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 
is different from, or in addition to, any requirement set forth in this Act. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall 
remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. Any law, presidential decree, or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation not contrary 
to or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or 
amended accordingly. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,