Philippine E-Journals

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH STANDARD PRACTICES OF WELDING INDUSTRIES OF A CITY IN NORTHERN PHILIPPINES

Belinda A Ramos | Gemlee O. Baptista | Lorna V. Fulong

 

Abstract:

Welding is a process used in Engineering especially in building edifices and material productions. Technology has had a great impact on the process with the invention of robotics. However, human labor is still cheaper than using robots in doing the welding job thus, importation of welders from the third world countries are hired to do the dirty work of welding. In this regard, the researchers would like to find out the occupational safety and health standard practices of welders from a city in northern Philippines to identify the gaps between practice and compliance. The researchers made use of the survey questionnaire and adopted the compliance assessment tool of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) with the 48 male welders who consented to participate in the study. Results showed that there is no difference in the practice and compliance with participants’ ages, civil status and educational attainment. There is also no relationship between their practices on occupational safety and health standards and their compliance to the guidelines of the DOLE. Unstructured interviews revealed that the welders are aware of the hazards of their welding job but are forced to provide other protective equipment for themselves because of the inadequate number of personal protective gears provided by the company they work with. There is no training given because most of them are contractual or job order men. In this regard, the researchers recommended that trainings and seminars on occupational safety and health standards be included in the orientation of workers and regular monitoring visits be conducted by responsible agencies that include licensing bodies other than the DOLE.