DOLE 7 Intensifies Drive on Construction Firms’ Compliance with Safety, Health Rules

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 7 has intensified its joint assessments (JAs) on compliance by construction companies with the rules on occupational safety and health and the general labor standards to avoid more injuries and deaths in the workplace.

The intensified JAs resulted in the issuance of work stoppage orders of ongoing construction of several buildings in Cebu City.

The latest was the work stoppage order issued by DOLE 7 Director Exequiel R. Sarcauga to Dakay Construction and Development Corp. (DCDC) and the Cebu Landmasters Inc. on their building project at IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City last Feb. 18.

Sarcauga said immediate action was taken after a team of labor laws compliance officers observed “imminent danger” during an assessment conducted at the project site.

The compliance officers reportedly spotted some workers who were using a sub-standard scaffolding.

“The construction company could not present any approved structural analysis and design on the monkey ladder used as scaffolding for elevated exterior works duly signed by a structural engineer,” said Sarcauga.

He said this indicated that most of the deficiencies noted were on occupation safety and health standards.

He said the construction company also cannot present the minutes of their safety committee meeting and the annual medical report for year 2014.

“Until all deficiencies noted shall be corrected and the imminent danger at the workplace is removed, then the establishment is ordered to cease-and-desist from all its exterior operations,” said Sarcauga.

But Engr. Ricky Dakay, president and chief executive officer of Dakay Construction, said DOLE 7 should qualify its statement on the matter because what was issued was a work stoppage order only for Paintworks, the painting subcontractor of Cebu Landmasters.

“The painting works are not done by DCDC. We are a general contractor and not trade contractor. In fact, DCDC and Cebu Landmasters have admonished Paintworks to be compliant with DOLE regulations,” said Dakay. (PNA) FFC/EB