, 
.. .- 
:\i' 
. ,  
_,.:.. .: 
i ' . * ~  
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Second Regular Session 
1 
1 7  
:;,P,; 
".Z 
;pi 
, 
I .,;j , 
i 
1, 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
.The Constitution, Article 11, Section 15 provides: 
The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the 
people and instill health consciousness among them. 
An electroplater is a skilled worker who finishes the surface of metallic articles by 
electroplating for decorative or engineering purposes. Electroplaters are exposed to a 
multitude of hazardous chemicals, which may cause poisoning, chemical burns, damage 
to the respiratory system, allergies, etc. Electroplaters may be injured by falls on wet 
floors, may suffer cuts and pricks from sharp tools or jigs, and burns from hot liquids. 
Other common hazards include electric shock, fire and explosions, injuries caused by 
falling bodies, eye damage by flying particles, entanglement in moving machinery and 
high noise levels. 
There are accidental hazards that may come from electric shock, bums, fire and 
explosions, vigorous chemical reactions, or poisoning by phosgene, which may be 
formed if chlorinated solvents or their vapors are heated in contact with a hot surface or a 
flame, or if a worker smokes in the presence of such solvents. Physical hazards include 
exposure to adverse environmental factors (high temperature and humidity), exposure to 
infrared radiation from drying equipment, and exposure to excessive noise levels from 
mechanical equipment, in particular in barrel-plating or cleaning operation. Chemical 
hazards come in to form of exposure to organic solvents and various cleaning 
formulations, and to their vapors, exposure to potentially hazardous metal dusts generated 
by mechanical operations (like buffing and brush cleaning). There is also the possibility 


of chronic poisoning by inhalation or ingestion of many of tlie chemicals used in plating 
shops, dermatoses caused by exposure of the skin to cleaning formulations, acid and 
alkaline solutions, and organic solvents and the irritation of mucous membranes (in 
particular of the respiratory tract) by acid or alkaline vapors or aerosols, and other 
chemicals. 
This bill seeks to address the health and safety concerns posed by tlie 
electroplating process in the workplace. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
. 
^
I
 
.,.., 
, 
I 
.~~ 
~, 
~ ~- r 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
Second Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
1 
!-‘I 
l4fi!? -2 p1 ::[I 
SENATE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
REGULATING THE ELECTROPLATING INDUSTRY 
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 “Electroplating Regulatory 
Act of 2009.” 
SECTION 2. DeJinition of terms. -As used in this Act, the tern- 
(A) An “electroplater” refers to a skilled worker who finishes the surface of metallic 
articles by electroplating for decorative or engineering purposes; 
(B) “Department” means the Department of Labor and Employment; 
SECTION 3. Requirementsfor a workplace involving electroplating. - an employer must 
obseive the following requirements if his company is engaged in electroplating- 
(A) Obtain Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) from the supplier, 
(B) Obtain technical bulletins that may provide additional health and safety information; 
(C) Use safety shoes or boots with non-slip soles, and safely helmet; 
(D) Employees are required to wear personal protective equipment and chemical resistant 
clothing to avoid exposure of skin or eyes to corrosive solids, liquids, gases or vapors; 
(E) They must wear safety goggles in all cases where the eyes may be exposed to dust, 
flying particles, or splashes of harmful liquids; 
(F) Use exhaust ventilation to prevent accumulation and recirculation of airborne 
contaminants; 


5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
(G) The employer must obey all safety instructions regarding the storage, transport, 
handling or pouring of chemicals, or the disposal of spent plating baths; 
(H) The mixing of chemicals can only be done with the supervision of a qualified 
chemist or safety professional. 
SECTION 4. Implementing Rules and Reguhtions.- 
The Department shall adopt the 
Implementing Rules and Regulations for this Act which shall include the €allowing: 
(A)Adoption of administrative controls in the form of good work practices; 
(B) Guidelines for the mandatory use of personal protective equipment and clothing 
where necessary; 
(C) Proper engineering controls to minimize the deleterious effects o€ electroplating. 
SECTION 5. Penalties. - The Department is empowered to establish and assess penalties 
or fines against an employer for violations of this Act or regulations adopted under this Act. In 
no circumstance will any penalties or fines exceed P10,OOO.OO for each day the permit holder 
remains in violation. 
SECTION 6. 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 7. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
21 
22 
23 
Approved, 
SECTION 8. E’ectivity 
Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifleen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.