By S. S. Suarez
On Oct. 23, 2012, hundreds of safety professionals, practitioners and consultants alike, will troop to the Occupational Safety and Health Center(OSHC) in North Avenue corner Agham Road, Quezon City for the 13th National Occupational Safety and Health Congress.
To those who are first-timers in the area, the OSHC center is adjacent to nearby TriNoma, a shopping mall owned by the Ayalas. The mall got its name from the Triangle North of Manila bounded by three major thoroughfares, namely, North Avenue, EDSA and Mindanao Avenue. To get to OSHC, you can take the MRT and alight on the North Avenue Station. From TriNoma, it would be a safe walking distance already to the OSHC facility.
On the other side of the fence is the Veterans Memorial Hospital and Golf Club where Representative Gloria Arroyo is under hospital arrest. If you are bringing your own car, you can also take Agham Road where the Office of the Ombudsman and the Philippine Science High School Diliman Campus buildings are located.
“Ensuring enterprise competitiveness through Occupational Safety and Health” will be this year’s theme of the 13th national OSH congress. The biennial event is an occasion for sharing best practices in safety and health by OSH specialists and practitioners from the government, management and labor sectors, non-government organizations and the academe.
In 2006, I had the privilege to talk before the plenary about transport safety focusing on handling chlorine. I shared our best practices in handling dangerous goods from storage, shipping to delivery. Our journey management plan was tedious and comprehensive. We did our actual simulation on the road. We trained our drivers and helpers in emergency preparedness and response in case of chemical spill. I shared the same paper when the City of Davao hosted the Mindanao OSH Congress.
Chlorine is a deadly gas. It was a common chemical element used in World War 1. Professor Fritz Haber, one of Germany’s most distinguished scientists, recommended its use to the German military top brass as a chemical warfare. Chlorine was inexpensive and available and could be easily packaged into artillery shells. Chlorine is an asphyxiant. When inhaled into the lungs, the gas would make breathing difficult by attacking the tiny and delicate air sacs of the lungs. Exposed soldiers would choke, cough and vomit. Worse, they could drown in their own blood.
The time I spent in the Congress would always be memorable. It was a time to meet and make new friends with people who shared the same advocacies. Most importantly, it was like a “pilgrimage” to me where I could renew my commitment to advance the welfare of my fellowmen. The 2-day conference is equivalent to 16 training hours related to safety and could be credited in renewing your safety practitioner license. Despite my hectic schedule, I will find time to visit the 13th Congress and see some old friends.
With the Philippines’ growing economy, quality products and services are not enough. There is a growing pressure for companies to embrace corporate governance. And when we talk about corporate governance, environmental protection and occupational safety and health have become major areas in regulatory compliance.
Consumers would want the makers of their favorite consumer goods to be socially responsible as well. Would you want your favorite footwear be made out from so-called “sweatshops”? Or would you want your toys be handcrafted using child labor? Global companies like P&G, Ford, Nestle and Shell have gained global competitiveness because of their stringent occupational safety and health management systems.
Safety is not merely about compliance or passing the audits. It is larger than life. As safety officers, we add value to enterprises with our safety and health programs. We provide “conscience” to enterprises by advancing the cause of employee welfare. With the kick-off of the 13th National OSH Congress, let it be a reminder of who we are and what we are. The congress should serve as a “pilgrimage” for every safety officer.
