Hospital, contractor vow to comply safety order

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayas Community Medical Center and its building contractor have agreed to comply within the month the necessary requirements to stop the suspension order the Department of Labor and Employment-7 recently issued against the hospital’s construction project.

On February 6, DOLE-7 ordered to stop the ongoing construction of VCMC along Osmeña Boulevard in Cebu City due to possible dangers at the work area.

The stoppage order was directed to VCMC chief executive Mequias Camba Jr. and the owner of Summit Home and Building Products Corp, the hospital’s contractor.

In a meeting with DOLE-7 Director Exequiel Sarcauga Tuesday, officials from the VCMC and the construction firm agreed to comply with the agency’s requirements within this week or before February ends, said Regional Labor Communications Officer Luchel Taniza.

She said the stoppage order came after Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, during her recent Cebu visit, personally saw workers at the construction site installing aluminum panels without body harness as protection.

DOLE-7 said the assessment made by its labor laws compliance officers at the work area last week showed there was an absence of the following: DOLE-approved construction safety and health program; safety officer; Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board registration; and approval to use monkey ladder as scaffolding for exterior works. Taniza said the findings were clarified during the Tuesday meeting.

Site inspectors noted during the inspection the absence of first aid, administrative reports, safety committee with trade contractor and policy on drug-free workplace and prevention of other ailments.

“The concerned establishments could not also present an appropriate Personal Protective Equipment used by the workers,” read DOLE-7’s statement.

Sarcauga said Baldoz wants safety and health to be always observed in the construction industry.

“So we make sure that our LLCOs are able to check and monitor all construction projects in Region 7,” he added.

Joint assessment in the construction sector should be done to monitor safety of the workers, he said.

Taniza, however, said the two companies have not been fined as there have not been reported damages yet. But the labor agency wants to prevent those incidents by issuing a stoppage order.

“They really have to comply kay kung dili ma-comply mo-continue mi sa stoppage [order],” she said, noting the firms involved have to comply because project delays would mean business losses.

“I think they [VCMC] are amenable,” she added.

The labor department said the order will remain until the said companies are able to comply with the requirements.

The labor agency reiterated its call to follow its Department Order No. 13 or the Guidelines Governing Occupational Safety and Health in the Construction Industry and the Occupational Health and General Standards.

December last year, the labor agency already issued stoppage orders to: FLB Corporate Center project at Cebu Business Park, SM Hypermarket construction at MEZ 2 in Basak, Lapu-Lapu City and Chong Hua Hospital project in Cebu City. — (FREEMAN)