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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
OCT -3 P5 :49 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1829 . 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 15, provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and 
instill health consciousness among them. 
Hazardous chemicals and substances that can threaten the health and safety of workers 
are being transported out of industries on workers' clothing and persons. These chemicals and 
substances have the potential to pose an additional threat and welfare of workers and their 
families. 
Hence, this bill seeks to prevent or mitigate future incidents of home contamination that 
could adversely affect the health and safety of workers and their families, by providing 
information concerning issues related to employee transported contaminant releases and 
formulating regulations in order to prevent future releases of this type.' 
• This bill was originally filed during the Fourteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 
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£>~nlth' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
(It}ff1~f, t1f t~\'I ~"f'fl'hlf~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
GCT -3 P5 :49 
SEt';I'TD 
S.No. __ 18<29 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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MANDATING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE 
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PREVALENCE AND ISSUES RELATED TO CONTAMINATION OF WORKERS' HOMES 
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WITH HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND SUBSTANCES TRANSPORTED FROM THEIR 
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WORKPLACE AND ISSUING REGULATIONS TO MITIGATE THE FUTURE 
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CONTAMINATION OF WORKERS' HOMES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Workers' Family Protection 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Purpose. - It is the purpose of this Act to -
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(A) 
Increase understanding and awareness concerning the extent and possible health 
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impacts of the problems and incidents described in this Act; 
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(B) 
Prevent or mitigate future incidents of home contamination that could adversely 
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affect the health and safety of workers and their families; 
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(C) 
Clarify regulatory authority for preventing and responding to such incidents; and 
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CD) 
Assist workers in redressing and responding to such incidents when they occur. 
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SECTION 3. Evaluation of Employee Transported Contaminant Releases. -
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(A) 
STUDY -
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(I) 
IN GENERAL - Not later than sixty (60) days after the date of enactment 
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of this Act, the Secretary of Health (hereinafter referred to as the 
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"Secretary"'), in coordination with the Secretary of Labor and the 
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Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, shall conduct a study to 
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evaluate the potential for, the prevalence of, and the issues related to the 
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(2) 
contamination or workers' homes with hazardous chemicals and 
substances, including infectious agents, transported from the workplaces 
of such workers. 
MATTERS TO BE EVALUATED - In conducting the study and 
evaluation under subsection (A), the Secretary shall -
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
Conduct an interview of past incidents of home contamination 
through the utilization of literature and records concerning past 
investigations and enforcement actions undertaken by any 
government and 
non-governmental 
organizations, 
including 
educational institutions; 
Evaluate current statutory, regulato~y, and voluntary industrial 
hygiene or other measures used by small, medium, and large 
employers to prevent or remedy home contamination; 
Compile a summary of existing research and case histories 
conducted on incidents of employee transported contaminant 
releases including -
(i) 
the effectiveness of workplace housekeeping practices and 
personal protective equipment in preventing such incidents; 
(ii) 
the health effects, if any, of the resulting exposure on 
workers and their families; 
(iii) 
the effectiveness of normal house cleaning and laundry 
procedures for removing hazardous materials and agents 
from workers' homes and personal clothing; 
(iv) 
indoor air quality, as the research concerning such pertains 
to the fate of chemicals transported from a workplace into 
the home environment; and 
(v) 
methods for differentiating exposure health effects and 
relative risks associated with specific agents from other 
sources of exposure inside and outside the home. 
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(3) 
(d) 
Prepare and submit to the Task Force established under this section 
and to the appropriate committees of Congress, a report concerning 
the results of the matters studied or evaluated under subparagraphs 
(i) through (v); and 
(e) 
Study home contamination incidents and issues and worker and 
family protection policies and practices related to the special 
circumstances of firefighters and prepare and submit to the 
appropriate committees of Congress a report concerning the 
findings with respect to such study. 
DEVELOPMENT OF INVESTIGATIVE STRATEGY -
(a) 
TASK FORCE - Not later than ninety (90) days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a working 
group, to be known as the Workers' Family Protection Task Force. 
The Task Force shall -
(i) 
Be composed of not more than fifteen (15) individuals to be 
appointed by the Secretary from among individuals who are 
representative of workers, industry, scientists, industrial 
hygienists, and government agencies, except that not more 
than one (1) such individual shall be from each appropriate 
government agency and the number of individuals 
appointed to represent industry and workers shall be equal 
in number; 
(ii) 
Review the report submitted under subsection (A)(2)( d); 
(iii) 
Determine, with respect to such report, the additional date 
needed, if any, and the need for additional data; and 
(iv) 
If additional data are determined by the Task Force to be 
needed, develop a recommended investigative strategy for 
'use in obtaining such information. 
(b) 
INVESTIGATIVE STRATEGY-
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(8) 
(i) 
(ii) 
CONTENT - The investigative strategy developed under 
subsection (A)(3) shall identify data gaps that can and 
cannot be filled, assumptions and uncertainties associated 
with various components such strategy, a timetable for the 
implementation of such strategy, and methodologies used 
to gather any required data. 
PEER REVIEW - The Secretary shall publish the proposed 
investigative strategy under subsection (A)(3) shall identify 
for public comment and utilize other method; including 
technical conferences or seminars, for the purpose of 
obtaining comments concerning the proposed strategy. 
(iii) 
FINAL STRATEGY - After the peer review and public 
comment is conducted under subparagraph (b) (ii), the 
Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other 
government agencies, shall propose a final strategy for 
investigating issues related to horne contamination that 
shall be implemented by concerned agencies. 
CONSTRUCTION - Nothing in this section shall be construed as precluding any 
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government agency from investigating issues related to horne contamination using existing 
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procedures until such time as a final strategy is developed or from taking actions in addition to 
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those proposed in the strategy after its completion. 
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(C) 
IMPLEMENTATION OF INVESTIGATIVE STRATEGY - Upon completion of 
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the investigative strategy under this section, each agency or department shall fulfill the role 
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assigned to it by the strategy. 
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SECTION 4. Regulations. -
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(A) 
IN GENERAL - Not later than four (4) years after that date of enactment of this 
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Act, and periodically thereafter, the Secretary of Labor, based 011 the information developed 
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under Section 3 and on other information available, shall -
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(B) 
determines 
(1) 
determine if additional education about, emphasis on, or if additional 
regulations or standards is needed and will be sufficient, or if additional 
regulations or standards are needed to protect workers and their families 
from employee transported releases of hazardous materials; and 
(2) 
prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report 
concerning the results of such determination. 
ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS OR STANDARDS - If the Secretary of Labor 
that additional regulations or standards are needed under subsection (A), the 
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Secretary of Labor shall promulgate such regulations or standards as determined to be 
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appropriate not later than six (6) months after such determination. 
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SECTION 5. Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated 
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for each fiscal year such sums as may be necessary to .carry out this Act. 
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SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part thereof is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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