Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City \

17 Congress \
2™ Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 6321

Introduced by: HON. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Long periods of working at a computer can cause long-term painful conditions such as
back, neck and shoulder pains, eyestrain, headache and overuse injuries of the arm, wrist or hand.
But all of these health problems associated with prolonged computer use may be avoided with
proper furniture, better posture and working habits or through application of ergonomic principles.

Ergonomics is the science concemed with the fit between workers and their work
environment. Using ergonomics can help ensure that each worker has a work environment and
equipment that is tailored to their own personal requirements and the requirements of the job or
task being carried out

‘Taking ergonomics into account when carrying out a risk assessment of the workplace can
help minimize the nsks of accidents and long-term injuries. It can also contribute to greater
efficiency, increase productivity and contribute to the general well-being of employees.

This bill seeks to regulate standard ergonomic workplace to improve the
of employees who regularly use computers. Hence, the approval of this bill



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

17" Congress
2™ Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 6324

Introduced by: HON. *KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT

CREATING OFFICE ERGONOMIC STANDARDS TO ADDRESS THE
HEALTH-RELATED RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH 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:

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Provide chairs with fully adjustable seat height, armrest and backrest to
avoid poor posture;

. Provide a document holder for employees who are required to copy or to

type from another document,
Provide tiltable screens and make sure lighting is suitable;

|. Provide anti-glare screen filters for computer monitors;
. Prevent employees from using defective computer screens;

Plan work at a computer so that there are frequent breaks for employees;
Make sure workstations are not cramped; and

|. Provide ergonomic standard seminar every 3 years where a representative

from the Department of Health shall discuss the details of this Act and
related industry best practices to lessen the health problems caused by
computers in the workplace.

SECTION 3. Duty of the Department of Labor and Employments. — The
Department of Labor and Employment through the Bureau of Working Conditions
is required to verify the compliance of the employers with the provision of this Act.

SECTION 4. Penalties. - The Department of Labor and Employment is
empowered to establish and assess penalties or fines any person for violations of this


Act or rules and regulations adopted under this Act. In no case shall the fine exceed
One Hundred Thousand Pesos (150,000).

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

Appr