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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
~UG 22 P 4. :59 
Rl:.TE\\Tn In': * 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
SENATE 
S. No. 1334 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Patients are particularly vulnerable' to exposures to harmful substances. Numerous 
chemicals found in hospitals may be toxic or irritating to body systems. They may be present as 
dusts, vapors or gases, or liquids and they may be medications and other substances used for 
therapeutic purposes. Employees, because of:the significant amounts of time they spend at work, 
also have the potential for significant ekposutes. Hospitals present numerous hazards in common 
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with other complex employment settings and 'industries as well as having som\,: unique hazards. 
This bill will serve several purposes. It will make hospitals more aware of the hazardous 
materials and substances used and stored in their premises. It will cause hospitals to minimize the 
use of these hazardous materials and substances, use less toxic replacements and remove those 
hazardous materials that serve no purpose. The bill will also allow hospital occupants to leam 
what hazardous materials they may be exposed to.' 
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• This bill was originally filed in the FOUlieenth Congr~ss, Second Regular Session. 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 1334 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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'13 
AUG 22 P 4 :59 
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AN ACT 
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MANDATING EMPLOYEE AND PATIENT NOTIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL 
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HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS IN HOSPITALS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. 
Notification of Hazards. - To ensure that each patient and hospital 
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employee has access to information i about environmental health issues and hazards in the 
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hospital, the following actions shall be'~akenlby all public and private hospitals: 
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A. 
Each hospital shall appdint an environmental health and safety information access 
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contact person. 
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B. 
Annually, each hospital shall inform and educate all hospital employees that they 
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have a right to all information about health and safety conditions in the hospital including, but 
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not limited to, hazardous substances \Ised, stored, or present in the hospital; construction and 
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rehabilitation activities; air or water quality sampling results and problems; procedures for 
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information access; identification of the environmental health and safety information access 
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contact person; requirements to tim~ly re~ponse to information requests; and such other 
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procedures which ensure access to such information. 
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c. 
Each hospital shall inform and educate every patient, as soon after the patient's 
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admission to the hospital as is reasonably possible without jeopardizing the patient's health, that 
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they have a right to all information about health and safety conditions in the hospital including, 
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but not limited to, hazardous substances,us.ed" stored, or present in the hospital; construction and 
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rehabilitation activities; air or water quality sampling results and problems; procedures for 
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information access; identification of the environmental health and safety information access 
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contact person; requirements to timely response to information requests; and such other 
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procedures which ensure 'access to such information. 
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D. 
Such other action as may be prescribed by the Secretary of Health. 
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SECTION 2. Inventory. - Each hospital shall: 
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A. 
Annually inventory all hazardous substances used, stored, or present; and make 
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such inventory available to the public; 
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B. 
Develop written plans to minimize the use and presence of hazardous substances, 
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including a timetable for the completion of the components of such plans; and 
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C. 
Prepare written reports on the results of all sampling, evaluation, and remediation 
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activities; and make such reports available to the public. 
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SECTION 3. Implementing R4(es and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days from the 
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effectivity of this Act, the Secretary 'of Health shall promulgate the rules and regulations to 
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implement this Act. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. -
If any provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other s<:;ctions or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
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shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SECTION 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts 
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thereof inconsistent with the provisioris of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 6. Effectivity Clau;e. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days 
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following its publication in at least two' (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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