Villanueva urges Dole to strictly impose safety standards in every workplace

Senator Joel Villanueva. PHOTO FROM JOEL VILLANUEVA FACEBOOK PAGE

The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) should ensure that businesses comply with workplace safety and health standards, Senator Joel Villanueva urged Wednesday following Tuesday’s deadly crane accident in Pasay City.

On Tuesday, a metal crane which was being set up in a construction site of STI building in Pasay City collapsed, killing two men and injuring six others, including security guards, construction workers, and a Chinese national.

READ: 2 dead, 6 hurt as crane crashes down in Pasay

“My deepest sympathies and condolences to the families, friends, and relatives of the workers affected by this tragedy. We constantly pray for your strength and resilience in this difficult time,” Villanueva said in a statement.

The senator stressed that the lack of stricter regulations on occupational safety and health standards is a major factor which leads to accidents in the workplace.

“Incidents such as this recent collapse of a crane in Pasay City could have been avoided if we only have a stricter law that would penalize companies, which are non-compliant of our country’s regulations on occupational safety and health standards,” the senator said.

He likewise called for the prioritization of Senate Bill No. 1317 or An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards.

“For the longest time, violation of occupational health and safety standards has no fines or penalties. The DOLE only issues a work stoppage order if there is an imminent danger or would result to disabling injury,” said Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee and author of the bill.

“We cannot just tolerate that kind of regulation at the expense of our workers,” he added.

Under the proposed measure, a P100,000 fine will be imposed to erring employers for every day of non-correction of workplace safety violation.

The bill was approved on third and final reading on Feb. 19, and has been sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

“Neglecting to comply with occupational safety and health standards does not only pose risk to our workers but may also inconvenience other people as it could even stop business operations in the affected workplace,” Villanueva said. /jpv