EHS Global Moments: Emergency Vehicles in the Philippines

The world is full of environment, health and safety regulations, with new ones being added every day. Most of these requirements focus on manufacturing operations, but a surprising number of regulations apply to offices and other non-manufacturing, lower-risk operations! Check in with us once a month for our new blog series: EHS Global Moments, where we highlight a country-specific EHS regulation applicable to non-manufacturing operations, organized by place, topic, or theme.

In the Philippines, the law places an emphasis on taking care of employees if a crisis arises. Their Department of Labor and Employment issued a regulation (DOLE Department Order 198 – Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11058) that mandates employers to provide their workers with transportation to a hospital or dental facility if they should need it. To stay in compliance with the law, companies must have a plan that documents their emergency response and the site’s occupational health and safety (OHS) program. Learn more about how this regulation applies to employers in the Philippines:

• Employers must have facilities readily available to transport employees to a hospital or dental clinic in case of emergency. Options to fulfill this requirement may include:
  • Purchase a vehicle and hire a driver to be available when the facility is operating.
  • Contract with an external transportation company capable of providing immediate transportation when there is an emergency. This may be a standby vehicle that is always on-site and ready to be used anytime or a vehicle that is charged per call/transport. The decision on whether to have a stand by vehicle or on-call vehicle should be based on the type of emergencies normally encountered and capability of the in-house clinic of the company. Taxi services and use of other employees' cars typically fail the government's intent of managing risk and guaranteeing quick access to medical services.
  • Utilize a landlord’s service. Landlords for larger multitenant facilities often provide a standby vehicle. 
     
• To demonstrate compliance employers must enter into a written contract with a local hospital and/or an ambulatory service as noted above.
   
• There is no set trigger condition for the regulation (e.g., number of employees), thus employers should analyze their occupational risks and proximity to healthcare providers and document their choice of transportation in their programs (both emergency response and the OSH program).

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