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Since the “Guidelines for the Implementation of GHS in Chemical Safety Program in the Workplace” (D.O. No. 136-14) was signed by the Philippines Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Feb 28th, 2014, industry has expressed uncertainty due to the vague specifications on the implementation timeline.
As specified in Section 11 of DOLE DO 136-14, “this Department Order shall take effect within fifteen days after its publication” and Section 10 “all establishments using industrial chemicals shall be required to comply with all the requirements in this Guidelines within one year of its implementation”. Accordingly it is the publication date that determines the effective date of both the order and the deadline of the grace period and not the date of the announcement.
According to the Bureau of Working Conditions under DOLE, the department order in question was published in the Philippine Star on June 12th, 2014. It came into effect 15 calendar days later on June 27th. Therefore, the grace period will end on June 27th, 2015.
Replacing the Philippines old chemical management system with the globally harmonized system (GHS) of chemical classification and labeling required the formulation of the Guidelines to guide implementation and further enhance the existing provisions in the Philippine Occupational Safety and Health Standards.
Enterprise involved in manufacturing, using and storing chemicals may contact the Occupational Safety and Health Center (an affiliate agency of DOLE) for assistance in complying with the OSH standards.
