TEXT: Face Shield + Mask, No Mass Gatherings, Mental Health Support And Other Guidelines For Private Employers, Workers

On Aug. 6, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued Resolution No. 61 ratifying the Technical Working Group’s adoption of the Joint Supplemental Guidelines on Minimum Health Protocols in the Workplace by the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Upon consultation with and recommendation of the DOH, the DTI and DOLE issued the following supplemental guidelines under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04 released on Friday, Aug. 14, to further ensure the safety and health of employees in the private sector amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

The circular shall apply to all private establishments regardless of economic activity, including those located inside special economic zones and other areas under the jurisdiction of Investment Promotion Agencies, such as the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Clark Development Corporation, Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan, Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport.

Workplace Safety and Health

Employers are required to implement all necessary workplace safety and health programs, including the following COVID-related programs, at no cost to the employees:

A. Increase physical and mental resilience

1. Employers shall provide their employees with psychosocial support, especially those presenting mental health concerns. If this is not available, a referral system to mental health specialists must be in place, either through establishing a network with an accredited health facility, through telemedicine services, or through the National Center for Mental Health crisis hotline at 0917-899-8727 (0917-899-USAP) and (02) 7-989-8727 ((02)-7-989-USAP).
2. Employers shall likewise promote work-life balance, especially in these trying times through proper scheduling of activities and workforce rotation.
3. Company policies on prevention and control of COVID-19 should be aligned with the existing minimum public health standards and guidelines issued by the DOH and other regulatory agencies.

1. The following are the minimum public health standards to be complied with in all workplaces:

• Masks
– Medical grade masks are highly encouraged and should be properly
disposed of after use.
– Masks with vents should not be used.
– Cloth masks, with additional filter such as tissue paper or similar material, may be used as long as they are clean and washed daily. The filter should be changed daily or after every sneezing or coughing episode, and should be properly disposed of after use. Hands should be washed/disinfected before replacing the filters.
– Frequent mask handling and manipulation should be avoided.
• Face shields
– Face shields shall cover the entire face (completely cover the sides and length of the face). If possible, face shields should extend to the ears and below the chin.
– Visor-type face shields shall not be allowed.
– Face shields and masks should always be worn together when interacting with colleagues, clients and/or visitors.
– Face shields may be removed according to the demands of the work or when the occupational safety and health of the employees so requires.
• Physical Distancing
– Physical distancing of at least one (1) meter, or two (2) meters when possible, shall be observed at all times. This must be practiced in combination with the wearing of masks and face shields.
• Frequent Disinfection
– Frequent handwashing with soap and water or the application of alcohol-based disinfectants shall be mandatory in all workplaces and is encouraged to be practiced at home.

• Handwashing stations,
• Soap and sanitizers, and
• Hand drying equipment or supplies (such as single use paper towel)

The foregoing supplies/materials should be placed in the following strategic locations in the workplace:
– Corridors or hallways
– Conference areas
– Elevators
– Stairways
– Points of entry
– Locker rooms
– Common areas (such as lounge, pantry, etc.)
– Bathroom
– Canteen
– Personal workspace
– Company vehicles and shuttle services

3. Display of signages/visual cues and reminders to practice proper handwashing and other hygiene behaviors among employees is mandatory. These include:

• Hand washing with soap and water, or use of hand disinfectants with
alcohol-based sanitizers specifically, but not limited to, the following instances:
– Before and after handling food or eating
– After using the bathroom
– Before and after taking off their face mask and/or face shield
– After touching frequently-touched surfaces and objects (such as stair
railings, elevator controls, door knobs)
– Before and after touching their face
• Advising employees to conduct surface disinfection in their work stations before the start of the shift, intermittently during shift and at the end of the shift.
• Discouraging sharing of personal items between employees to prevent possible transmission.

4. Employers classified as large and medium sized private establishments (such as those with total assets above P15 million) are enjoined to provide shuttle services to their employees.
–  Minimum public health standards should be enforced in the shuttle services, such use of face shields and face masks, observance of physical distancing, and frequent disinfection. 
–  Employees inside the vehicles should be required to avoid talking with each other, taking phone calls, eating and removing their masks and shields. 
–  Signages of “No Talking,” “No Eating,” and “No Taking Phone Calls” should likewise be displayed or posted on the conspicuous areas in the vehicle.
–  All vehicle types, as long as not expressly prohibited by the Department of Transportation through an issuance, may be used for shuttle services.

5. Adequate ventilation should be strictly enforced in the following:
• Inside the workplace – Natural air flow exchange (opening windows, opening doors, turning off air-conditioning units to reduce air recirculation) is highly encouraged. If possible, the installation of exhaust fans, installation of air filtration devices with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters or the recalibration of building heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems should be explored.
• Inside the shuttle service – The opening of windows, with at least three (3)
inches of opening, while in transit should be practiced whenever possible. The observance of physical distancing of at least one (1) meter and wearing of face masks and face shields shall be followed. Proper disinfection before and after each use of the vehicle is likewise mandatory.

6. Mandatory advocacy awareness raising programs
• In order to enforce these guidelines, the Occupational Safety and Health
(OSH) Committee shall facilitate webinars, virtual lectures and trainings on COVID-19, its prevention and control, including best practices to be attended by all employees and management.
• Topics should include:
1) Recommended best practices on:
– Wearing of masks and face shield and reducing frequent manipulation;
– Physical distancing;
– Frequent and proper handwashing;
– Frequent disinfection; and
e) Other preventive strategies in reducing the spread of COVID-19.
• Frequent updates on relevant information, as it becomes available, from the DOH, World Health Organization and other reliable sources, including COVID-19 test protocols

7. Designated smoking areas in the workplaces shall be provided with individual “booths,” subject to the applicable requirements and standards under Republic Act No. 9211 and Executive Order No. 26. Employers shall require employees to strictly observe physical distancing measures and other applicable health protocols (such as no talking inside designated smoking areas).

C. Reduce contact

1. Most-at-risk population (MARP) for COVID-19 in the workplace (such as senior citizens, pregnant women, individuals with underlying health conditions) and those below 21 years old, shall continue to observe work-from-home arrangements. When needed to occasionally report to work, they may be allowed to, provided a certificate of fit to work is secured from the OSH personnel and must stay in the workplace only for a specified number of hours. They shall limit physical contact inside the premises.

2. Restriction of mass gatherings:
– Depending on the risk classification of the workplace locality, as defined by
IATF’s risk severity grading, Employers shall follow the restriction on mass gatherings, (such as only 10 percent of seating capacity for meeting rooms in high/moderate-risk areas (such as confined spaces) and a maximum of 50 percent seating capacity for low-risk areas (such as open areas).
– Videoconferencing shall always be used for meetings needing large attendance of employees and/or for meetings lasting longer than 15 minutes.
– The safety officer, which refers to any employee or officer of the company trained by the DOLE and tasked by the employer to implement an occupational safety and health program, and ensure that it is in accordance with the provisions of OSH standards, will determine the maximum number of employees allowed to stay at any given time in areas where they usually converge during breaks, or before/after work shifts (e.g. canteens, locker rooms, changing rooms, lounges, rest rooms or comfort rooms). The safety officer shall ensure that minimum public health standards are followed at all times.

3. Employers shall adopt staggered meal schedules to further restrict contact among its employees. Eating alone in the workstation is highly encouraged.
– Dining in canteens may be allowed provided that employees shall strictly comply with the physical distancing of at least one (1) meter and shall be prohibited from talking with each other. Employers are required to provide signages, physical barriers, and such other means to ensure compliance with these protocols.
– To ensure compliance with the physical distancing requirements, employers may set up makeshift dining areas to complement canteens in the workplace.
a. Masks should be immediately worn after eating.
b. Use of communal items such as, but not limited to, dipping sauces and condiments, utensil dispensers, and straw dispensers shall be prohibited.
c. Serving of buffet meals and other similar set-ups shall be prohibited.
4. Employers shall, as much as practicable, minimize the duration of customer transactions to less than 15 minutes.

COVID-19 testing

1. Employers are encouraged to collaborate with the national and/or local government testing efforts like drive-thru or walk-thru testing facilities.

2. Following the expanded testing strategy in DOH Department Memorandum (DM) 2020-0258 and DOH DM 2020-0258-A, the following priority workers shall undergo real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test: 
• All employees in the hospitality and tourism sectors in El Nido, Boracay, Coron, Panglao, Siargao and other tourist zones, as identified and declared by the Department of Tourism (DOT) once every four (4) weeks.
• All employees of manufacturing companies and public service providers in economic zones located within special concern areas once every quarter. 
• Frontline and economic priority Workers, defined as those who (1) work in
high priority sectors, both public and private; (2) have high interaction with and exposure to the public; and (3) live or work in special concern areas, once every quarter. These workers include:

• Transport and Logistics
– Drivers of taxis, ride hailing services (two and four wheels), buses
–  Public transport vehicles
– Conductors
– Pilots, flight attendants, flight engineers
– Rail operators, mechanics, servicemen
– Delivery staff
– Water transport workers — ferries, inter island shipping, ports

• Food retail
– Waiters, waitresses, bar attendants, baristas
– Chefs and cooks
– Restaurant managers and supervisors

• Education — once face-to-face classes resume
– Teachers at all levels of education
– Other school frontliners such as guidance counselors, librarians, cashiers

• Financial services
– Bank tellers

• Non-food retail
– Cashiers
– Stock clerks
– Retail salespersons

• Services
– Hairdressers, barbers, manicurist, dedicurist, massage therapists
– Embalmers, morticians, undertakers, funeral directors
– Parking lot attendants
– Security guards
– Messengers
– Ushers, lobby attendants, receptionist
– Clergy
– Market vendors

• Construction
– Carpenters
– Stonemasons
– Electricians
– Painters
– Construction workers, including foremen, supervisors
– Civil engineers, structural engineers, construction managers
– Crane and tower operators
– Elevator installers and repairers

• Water supply, sewerage, waste management
– Plumbers
– Recycling and reclamation workers/garbage collectors
– Water/wastewater engineers
– Janitors and cleaners
• Public sector
– Judges
– Courtroom clerks, staff and security
– All national and local government employees rendering frontline
services in special concern areas

• Mass Media
– Field reporters, photographers, and camera crew

Employers are highly encouraged to regularly send their employees for testing once every quarter, at no cost to the employees.

3. Testing of symptomatic and close contacts 
– All employees experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and those who are
close contacts must undergo RT-PCR testing.
– Employers shall inform the LGU/s having jurisdiction over the workplace and the respective residence/s of the symptomatic employees and close contacts before testing for monitoring purposes. 
b. Symptomatic employees with travel/exposure to COVID-19 shall undergo fourteen (14) days quarantine. Upon its completion and prior to resumption of work, the employee shall present a certificate of quarantine completion from the step-down care facility or local health office, per Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Disease (PSMID) Guidelines on Return-to-Work.
A step-down care facility refers to a DOH or LGU identified facility, such as Temporary Treatment Mega Facility (TTMF), for recovering COVID-19 patients who have been hospitalized, but have not yet been certified as COVID-free and transferred to the TTMF.

4. Testing of asymptomatic employees returning to work
– RT-PCR or antibody-based tests is NOT recommended nor required for
asymptomatic employees returning to work.
– Employees physically reporting to work shall be screened for COVID-19
symptoms, including fever, cough, colds and other respiratory symptoms, and/or determination of travel or exposure to COVID-19 cases within the last 14 days.
– Asymptomatic employees prior to physically returning to work may be cleared by the local health officer or OSH physician.

See the full text here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gICg_g-q2W3wHktWqRBJoJdq6j4G0heb/view?fbclid=IwAR1jaDKcZQrPhXbJFtsma8_3WfYyVfsudaofuBolzhKhh_ZwBgoEXisiG5Q