More than 500 Basic Education employees attend Occupational Safety & Health training

More than 500 faculty, staff, and administrators from Ateneo de Manila University Basic Education- 231 from the Grade School (GS), 177 from the Junior High School (JHS), and 97 from the Senior High School (SHS) - attended the Occupational Safety and Health Training session on 22 July 2024 from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon in the AGS Singson Hall. A requirement of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the talk was organized by Nerie Cabacungan, AGS Assistant Headmaster for Administration; Dingdong Guerrero, AJHS Assistant Principal for Administration; and Czel Lacson, ASHS Assistant Principal for Administration.  

The session consisted of talks given by Engr Nhoy Almosera, Director of the Campus Safety and Mobility Office (CSMO); and Dr Izzy Escobillo, Occupational Health Physician of the University Physician and Clinic’s Office. Both speakers discussed the University’s compliance with and enforcement of occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, plus the duties and rights of employers and workers to maintain a safe and healthy work space. They also covered topics such as industrial hygiene, health hazards, and disaster preparedness, using real life examples such as the Taal eruption and the “Eddie Garcia Bill” to drive home their points. They also reminded the community about the importance of earthquake drills and fire drills, which the University conducts annually as mandated by law.

The session ended with a lively open forum, during which the attendees, among other things, asked about the availability of first-aid kits for off-campus activities, inquired about the school’s growing cat population, and expressed concern about the safety of those involved in the construction of new facilities. In closing, Almosera encouraged the attendees to report any health and/or safety concerns they had to the CSMO, while also reminding them that protecting the safety and health of Ateneo’s workers was a shared responsibility of every member of the community.  

Lasting four hours, the morning talks were the first part of the eight-hour OSH training mandated by DOLE. In the afternoon, the participants worked on asynchronous tasks.