MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Following the latest deaths this month at a Korean construction firm in Subic, the labor department has intensified its inspection of all establishments to ensure compliance with safety standards and prevent the recurrence of fatal work-related accidents.

Labor Secretary Marianito Roque has directed all DoLE regional offices to ensure that the establishments in their jurisdictions comply with safety standards, explaining that his order came in the wake of workers' deaths at the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Phils. at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Fifteen workers have died at the Hanjin’s Subic project site since 2007. The latest involved two workers, one of whom died when he fell from a roof while retrieving his helmet. The second was reportedly electrocuted while working at the firm’s motor pool, said Roque.

Initial reports showed that the workers had not been wearing personal protective equipment when they died in accidents.

Roque said two workers assigned to extract septic wastes in a hotel in Lapu-Lapu City also died because of exposure to toxic methane gas last week.

“In view of the fatal incidents, I have ordered the DoLE regional offices to be more vigorous in the conduct of routine inspection and in efforts to require establishments to comply with health and safety standards and other labor laws,” the labor secretary said.

The DoLE inspection teams routinely visit and correct violations in establishments employing 10 to 199 workers.

For establishments with 200 or more workers, the teams would provide assistance in the conduct of self-inspection.

The DoLE also assists establishments with less than 10 workers in undertaking work improvements to help them comply with the law, Roque said.

“The death of the workers is alarming,” Roque said of the Hanjin accidents. He ordered DoLE personnel in Central Luzon and Central Visayas to closely look into the incidents and determine whether there had been violations of safety standards.

Roque said the workers’ relatives were entitled to compensation such as burial and other benefits.

The DOLE chief said if safety standards were found to have been violated, the department would issue a stoppage order against the establishment.