WITH the aim of safeguarding occupational safety and health in the workplace, the regional office of the labor department (DOLE) recently conducted a conference on Influenza A(H1N1).
H1N1 symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, lack or loss of appetite, runny nose, sore throat, and cough. Vomiting or nausea and diarrhea have also been identified as signs of said flu.
DOLE’s concern with regards to the deadly virus is for employers and workers groups to be informed and to take precautionary measures against A(H1N1).
DOLE Prov. Dir. Virginia Bonbon, said the conference, dubbed “AH1N1 Emergency Information Campaign and CGCNet Expansion Program,” focused on spreading the correct information on the swine flu virus.
The whole-day conference was attended by officers and members of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, other stakeholders and members of the press.
The seminar followed DOLE’s issuance of Administrative Order No. 199, series of 2009 which created “Task Force on H1N1 in the Workplace” in an effort to fight a possible outbreak of the disease in workplaces.
The labor department’s advisory enjoins employers “to maintain a clean work area and provide household disinfectant, water, and soap in washrooms and toilets.”
Also advised is the provision of personal protective equipment like respirators, gowns, and gloves to workers while at work.
And in instances where there are workers suspected of contracting AH1N1, the company is required to isolate the worker in a separate well-ventilated room while the work area is decontaminated.
The employer is also directed to allow the worker to stay at home, take adequate rest, take plenty of fluids, and seek medical care and his leave of absence charged to the sick or vacation leave credits under the company policy.
In view of the growing number of diagnosed cases of H1N1 in the country, Gov. Aurora Cerilles ordered two weeks ago the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council and the Integrated Provincial Health Office to come up with a contingency plan related to the possible occurrence of A(H1N1) in the province.
The meeting of health officials called by Cerilles conducted their orientation and emergency preparedness and planning workshop.
The meeting tackled on the health department’s new interim guidelines on A(H1N1), which includes effective intervention to reduce mortality and further morbidity, clinical management, the revised response level guide for schools, and the policy changes from containment to mitigation response to the virus threat.
Health representatives from the regional office Center for Health Development (CHD-9) headed by Dr. Marcos Redoble conducted the said workshop at Hotel Guillermo.
Last May, the City Health Office conducted a one orientation on disease surveillance to health personnel to make them aware of the virus and or be able to detect people suspected or with confirmed A (H1N1) sickness.
The activity was a re-echo seminar in response to the government’s call to conduct Epidemic and Alert Response (EAR) on H1N1 held earlier in Zamboanga City.
Last June also, Provincial Health Officer Maria Corazon Ariosa conducted statistical updates and risk assessment concerning A(H1N1) in the country with the health sector.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA
H1N1 symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, lack or loss of appetite, runny nose, sore throat, and cough. Vomiting or nausea and diarrhea have also been identified as signs of said flu.
DOLE’s concern with regards to the deadly virus is for employers and workers groups to be informed and to take precautionary measures against A(H1N1).
DOLE Prov. Dir. Virginia Bonbon, said the conference, dubbed “AH1N1 Emergency Information Campaign and CGCNet Expansion Program,” focused on spreading the correct information on the swine flu virus.
The whole-day conference was attended by officers and members of the Tripartite Industrial Peace Council, other stakeholders and members of the press.
The seminar followed DOLE’s issuance of Administrative Order No. 199, series of 2009 which created “Task Force on H1N1 in the Workplace” in an effort to fight a possible outbreak of the disease in workplaces.
The labor department’s advisory enjoins employers “to maintain a clean work area and provide household disinfectant, water, and soap in washrooms and toilets.”
Also advised is the provision of personal protective equipment like respirators, gowns, and gloves to workers while at work.
And in instances where there are workers suspected of contracting AH1N1, the company is required to isolate the worker in a separate well-ventilated room while the work area is decontaminated.
The employer is also directed to allow the worker to stay at home, take adequate rest, take plenty of fluids, and seek medical care and his leave of absence charged to the sick or vacation leave credits under the company policy.
In view of the growing number of diagnosed cases of H1N1 in the country, Gov. Aurora Cerilles ordered two weeks ago the Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council and the Integrated Provincial Health Office to come up with a contingency plan related to the possible occurrence of A(H1N1) in the province.
The meeting of health officials called by Cerilles conducted their orientation and emergency preparedness and planning workshop.
The meeting tackled on the health department’s new interim guidelines on A(H1N1), which includes effective intervention to reduce mortality and further morbidity, clinical management, the revised response level guide for schools, and the policy changes from containment to mitigation response to the virus threat.
Health representatives from the regional office Center for Health Development (CHD-9) headed by Dr. Marcos Redoble conducted the said workshop at Hotel Guillermo.
Last May, the City Health Office conducted a one orientation on disease surveillance to health personnel to make them aware of the virus and or be able to detect people suspected or with confirmed A (H1N1) sickness.
The activity was a re-echo seminar in response to the government’s call to conduct Epidemic and Alert Response (EAR) on H1N1 held earlier in Zamboanga City.
Last June also, Provincial Health Officer Maria Corazon Ariosa conducted statistical updates and risk assessment concerning A(H1N1) in the country with the health sector.
REPORT BY MICHAEL MEDINA