Occupational Health and Safety and Environmental Compliance
Occupational health and safety and environmental compliance tests hazard recognition, control selection, emergency response, and waste handling on a carpentry site. In the Philippines, RA 11058 and DOLE Department Order 198-18 set the framework for OSH, while RA 9003 guides solid waste segregation.
Core rules
- Follow the hierarchy of controls: eliminate, substitute, engineer, administrate, then PPE. PPE is the last line, not the only control.
- Inspect tools and cords before use; remove damaged equipment from service and tag it.
- Use guarding, push sticks, and correct blades on saws; never bypass interlocks.
- Control dust at source with extraction or wet methods; wear the right respirator for the hazard.
- Keep SDS for chemicals, label containers, and store fuels and solvents properly.
- Segregate waste: wood offcuts, metal, packaging, and hazardous waste.
- Know emergency routes, assembly points, first-aid arrangements, and reporting channels.
Worked example
You find a circular saw with a missing lower guard. You stop the operator, unplug the saw, attach a “Do Not Use” tag, move it to the quarantine area, and report it. The reasoning: a missing guard is an immediate danger, so the control is isolation, not a warning to “be careful.” Production pressure does not override a stop-work condition.
Traps
- Treating PPE as a substitute for guarding or extraction.
- Returning a tagged tool to service without repair and inspection.
- Putting solvents or used oil in ordinary waste.
- Reporting an incident late or leaving out witnesses.
The exam rewards controls that remove exposure and records that allow follow-up.