Manila, Philippines, Nov. 5, 2009 - Through the years, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through its Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) has been continuously initiating activities and programs for an effective administration and enforcement of OHS Standards. Among these initiatives is the safety recognition of companies for their commitment in implementing OHS programs and activities which have resulted to having no disabling injuries or no lost time accidents
The SMILE Recognition Program is a yearly celebration under the auspices of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) through the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC) and the Regional Offices which recognizes excellent safety performance and commitment of the different companies in ensuring workers safety and health.
For 2009, ABB, Inc. is among the SMILE awardees which showed excellent performance on OHS with the attainment of safe work-hours or No Lost Time Accidents (NLTA) as a result of our commitment and effective implementation of OHS programs.
The conferment ceremonies took place last November 5, 2009 at the Embassy Ballroom B of Traders Hotel in Pasay City, Manila which was very well attended by several representatives of the awardee companies. The event started with an overview of the SMILE awards given by Director Brenda L. Villafuerte of the BWC during her welcome message. It was then followed by an inspirational message from the DOLE Undersecretary Lourdes M. Trasmonte.
Two (2) companies namely the Coca Cola Bottlers Phils. Inc. and Team Energy Corporation presented their own best safety practices giving added information and tips on how to enhance the companies’ OHS initiatives whilst empowering its employees in making safety their way of life.
Accepting the plaque of Safety Milestone Recognition (duly signed by DOLE Secretary Marianito D. Roque) in ABB’s behalf are members of the Safety Committee, Ms. Agnes Magpile, Occupational Health & Safety Administrator and Ms. Vanee Agudo, Quality and Process Improvement Manager which was personally awarded by Director Brenda L. Villafuerte and Undersecretary Lourdes M. Trasmonte.
ABB got the award for meeting the following criteria and qualifications:
1. Achieved NLTA or zero lost time accidents for at least one year.
2. Achieved at least (1) million safe work-hours with NLTA (can be less than one year)
3. Completed a construction project without lost time accidents (preferably with an average of 200 workers)
4. At last one (1) million aggregate safe work- hours for several/ consecutive/concurrent construction projects or an aggregate of 1 million safe work hours achieved by several service/subcontractors.
5. Established an organized safety and health committee
6. Implemented OHS policies and programs and showed commitment for the effective implementation of own safety and health programs
7. Has a designated safety officer or a DOLE accredited OHS Practitioner/Consultant.
8. Complies with the administrative report requirements of the DOLE-OHS (e.g. Registration with DOLE, submission of Annual Exposure Data Report
9. Annual Medical Report, Minutes of the Meeting of Safety Committee, Work Accident and other reports).
10. Has no pending Labor Standard case as certified by the concerned DOLE-Regional office.