RTF, IATF MEID 7 to hold orientation on work guidelines for gov’t, private sectors under 'new normal'

CEBU CITY, May 27 (PIA) -- As several areas in Region 7 transition to the "new normal" phase after the downgrading of community quarantine in local government units, the Regional Task Force (RTF-7) together with the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) 7 will conduct an "Orientation Seminar on Workplace Safety and Health" on May 28 and 29, 2020 at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office. 

Invited to participate in the activity are representatives from private companies and government agencies in Cebu. 

A total of 60 participants are expected to attend each day, composed of safety officers and human resource personnel (HR) from their respective offices. 

According to Marlou Salazar, Office of Civil Defense (OCD-7) Regional Director and Co-Chairperson of IATG-MEID-RDRRMC 7, the seminar aims to ensure the safety of the workforce in the private and government sectors. 

It also aims to ensure that guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH) can be put into practice in the workplace.

“This seminar shall prepare employers and employees alike, so that proper health and safety processes will be done such as decontamination processes, isolation and monitoring protocols,” said Salazar. 

The seminar will cover topics such as understanding COVID-19, contact tracing and infection control, interim guidelines by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as well as the Civil Service Commission (CSC) Guidelines, decontamination procedures, and innovating the workplace to have an isolation facility. 

Resource persons during the seminar are representatives from DOLE-7, DOH-7, Police Regional Office (PRO-7), DPWH-7, and OCD-7. 

Salazar emphasized the importance of practicing DOH’s guidelines in the workplace, as well as designating safety officers to ensure that personnel are following health protocols. 

“Safety officers should be designated at respective agencies and workplaces. The safety officers will maintain and ensure that only healthy people are working. Secondly, they should practice DOH’s guidelines about not allowing people who are not feeling well to go out,” the OCD-7 chief said. (poc/PIA7)

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)