FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) on DO 198-18

1. Question: Who will certify safety officer?

Answer:
Pursuant to Labor Advisory No. 04-19, Safety Officer shall be certified by the
company’s Human Resource (HR) Unit/Section based on the qualification
requirements as provided for under Section 14 of DO 198-18 which include
completion of the prescribed training on OSH and the required minimum years of
experience in OSH, as applicable.

2. Question: Can the safety officer be outsourced?

Answer:
No. Safety Officer as certified by the company must be a regular/organic employee
or officer of the company who has knowledge on the operation of the company
and tasked to oversee the overall management of the OSH program in
coordination with the OSH committee.

3. Question : Can the safety officer perform other tasks or do multi-tasking?

Answer:
Yes, the company can either designate a safety officer from any of the regular
employee, supervisor or manager or employ a safety officer to perform the
functions as provided for in the OSH law. However, for the designated safety
officer, the company shall ensure that appropriate time shall be devoted by the
designated safety officer in the performance of the required functions as safety
officer.

4. Question: How to determine the number and type/level of safety officer/s required
for a company?

Answer:
The required number and type or level of safety officer (SO1, SO2 SO3, SO4)
shall be based on the number of workers and the company’s risk category
(low risk, medium risk, high risk). Please refer to the table on the minimum
number of safety officers and risk classification under Section 14 of DO 198.
5. Question: Does a company with many branches employing one (1) worker only
per branch/ area need to designate a safety officer per branch/area.

Answer:
A roving employee/officer of the company, if any, may be designated as safety
officer to oversee, monitor and coordinate implementation of OSH program of the
company. A joint OSH Committee (if these establishments are found in malls or
multi-tenanted buildings) may likewise be organized for the effective
implementation of the company’s OSH program.

6. Question: How can the company comply with the required safety officer given
that the company does not have any qualified safety officer?

Answer:
The company may enter into contract or engaged the services of an accredited
Practitioner or accredited SO3 or accredited Consultant or accredited SO4 for a
maximum of one (1) year.

7. Question: What are the new classifications of establishments and who will
determine establishments’ classification?

Answer:
Previous classification of establishments as non-hazardous, hazardous and highly
hazardous will now be classified based on the risk category such as low risk,
medium risk or high risk. The establishment shall be responsible in determining
its own level of classification based on the HIRAC developed by the company’s
safety officer.

A HIRAC table or matrix is prepared for a major task or operation of a company.

8. Question: For clinic to be established in the workplace, how many clinic beds are
required?

Answer:
The company may be allowed to maintain a maximum of two (2) clinic beds onsite
with corresponding measures in attending to the health conditions of the patients.
A maximum of 1-2 hours stay of the patient in the clinic may be observed and
 the company must ensure that patients are properly attended to and should be
sent immediately to the nearest hospital, as necessary or be sent home upon
clearance.

9. Question: Can the Mandatory Workers 8 hours OSH seminar be conducted on-
line?
Answer:
Yes, The manner of conducting the required 8 hour OSH training for the workers
through on line or other means (face to face) is allowed as long as it adheres with
the prescribed module to achieve its objectives. The necessary components in the
effective conduct of the mandatory training on OSH for workers must be integrated
in the company’s online training platform to include immediate feedback
mechanism/ validation to ascertain learning of the participants. Monitoring of re-
entry plan as an important part of the training module must also be included as a
post training activity.

10. Question: Should the Does the mandatory Worker’s OSH Seminar be taken in 8
continuous hours (1 whole day)?

Answer:
Not necessarily. The company has the option and flexibility in the conduct of this
training. It can be conducted on a broken time schedule or staggered basis but
should be completed not longer than 2 weeks week per participant upon
commencement of training.

11. Question: Are Safety Officer required to be accredited by the DOLE?

Answer:
No Accreditation is required for OSH personnel working in any establishment or
workplace.

However, should those OSH personnel wanting to be engaged with Safety Training
Organizations or STOs as resource speaker/trainer then DOLE- Accreditation is
required.

12. Question: Who are authorized to conduct the mandatory Worker’s OSH Seminar
and who are required to attend?

Answer:
The company’s safety officer is recommended to conduct the mandatory Workers
8 hours OSH seminar. They are familiar with the hazards and risks in the
companies and will provide relevant and practical information. They shall also
 provide the company policies on OSH that workers should know and follow.
However, companies may also engage the service of any accredited SO3 or SO4
(accredited practitioner or consultant) using the prescribed module.

All workers are required to undergo the mandatory workers OSH seminar which
shall be jointly participated by workers and employers. A certificate of attendance
to the Workers’ OSH Seminar, attendance sheet and other documents as proof
of compliance shall be presented during conduct of inspection for validation.

13. Question: Is there a required timeline in the conduct of the mandatory Worker’s
OSH Seminar?

Answer:
Although the law and IRR does not specify a definite time period for the conduct
of the Workers OSH Seminar, it is highly recommended that company’s conduct
this as soon as possible. Assistance in the development of the prescribed module
may be provided by the DOLE.

14. Question: Does the mandatory Worker’s OSH Seminar be taken annually?

Answer:
No. Said mandatory training should be taken one time only. However, the company
must provide other OSH related trainings to the workers as part of the company’s
OSH program implementation and shall be at no cost to the worker and considered
as compensable working time.

DOLE DO 198 required quarterly re-orientation for high risk activities; and a re-
orientation should also follow after changes in operations and production.

15. Question: Where can OSH personnel get the required Basic OSH training?

Answer:
OSH Personnel must undergo the prescribed BOSH training required of them to
the DOLE-Accredited Safety Training Organizations. (www.oshc.dole.gov.ph)

16. Question: Can OSH related trainings conducted by non-DOLE-Accredited Safety

Answer: Yes, but only for additional trainings required, but NOT for the prescribed
trainings for OSH Personnel which should be done by the DOLE-Accredited STOs.

17. Question: Can a company with HMO or with MOA with the nearest hospital still
be required to provide a medical clinic/first aid treatment room in the workplace?
 Answer:
Yes, Section 15 of D0198-18 states that “Every employer covered by this Rule
shall provide his/her workers medical services and facilities and shall not be an
excuse by employer from maintaining in his/her workplace a first-aid treatment
room or clinic for workers”. Thus, medical clinic or first aid treatment room within
the workplace is required together with the required OH personnel and facilities.

MOA with the nearest hospital is only applied in lieu of the required hospital or
dental clinic in the workplace employing more than 1,000 workers, wherein the
hospital or dental clinic is located not more than five (5) kilometers away from the
workplace and accessible in not more than twenty-five (25) minutes travel time.
The agreement with the hospital shall cover the treatment of workers in cases of
emergency.

Likewise, having an HMO or MOA is not an equivalency/replacement also of the

18. Question: Can the OH nurse or safety officer be designated as first-aider?

Answer:
Yes, OH nurse or safety officer may be designated as first aider as long as
he/she has a first-aider Certificate issued by the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)
and other organizations recognized by DOLE like Department of Health (DOH),
Bureau of Fire (BFP) and Technical Education Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) .

19. Question: Are OH personnel required to be full time?

Answer:
OH personnel may be part-time or full-time based on the level of risks and
number of employees. They may also be outsourced.

20. Question: Is OSH Committee required for company with less than 10
employees?

Answer:
Yes, OSH Committee is required for all covered workplaces to ensure that the
safety and health program is observed and enforced. Section 13 of DO 198
provides:
(a) For establishments with less than (10) workers and low risk establishments
with ten (10) to fifty (50) workers – A SO1 shall establish an OSH Committee
composed of the following:
Chairperson: Company Owner or manager
Secretary: Safety Officer of the Workplace, who may also be the owner, manager
or his/her designated representative
Member: At least one (1) worker