ZAMBOANGA CITY – Some 126 Safety Officers from various private establishments in Zamboanga Peninsula joined the Department of Labor and Employment IX’s (DOLE 9) free Zoom Webinar entitled “The Safety Officer and the New Normal” in June 11, 18 and 25, 2020.

The webinar aimed to raise awareness among SOs in the private sector regarding the DOLE-DTI Interim Guidelines on Workplace Prevention and Control of COVID-19 which includes the roles and responsibilities of both employees and employers.

Regional Director, Atty. Roy L. Buenafe said that the initiative also aims to prepare the SOs in the upcoming joint DOLE-DTI monitoring of COVID-19 measures being implemented in the workplace.

Labor Inspector Auditor and Nursing Service Unit (NSU) Head Jerrick Gerard C. Go discussed the guidelines and allowed the participants to ask questions and clarifications during the open forum. The NSU serves as the Secretariat of the Safety, Health and Environment Committee (SHEC) of DOLE 9.

Thru the interim guidelines, companies are guided on developing policies focused on increasing physical and mental resilience, reducing transmission of COVID-19, minimizing contact rate and reducing risk of infection from COVID-19 all of which are all in consonance with Department of Health’s (DOH) guidelines and protocols.

DOLE 9 also created an online webpage for the interim guidelines where all resources may be accessed and downloaded. SOs may now submit requirements such as Work Accident/Illness Report, Return to Work and Establishment Reports via www.dole9portal.com.

END/kcgrafia