The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently issued guidelines contained in the DOLE Department Advisory No. 4, series of 2009 on the prevention and control of swine flu or the influenza A (H1N1) in workplaces.

The said advisory will guide the employers and workers in setting up their own plant level precautionary measures against the fearful swine flu. Labor and Employment Secretary Marianito D. Roque cited the need to be vigilant against H1N1 as Philippines is no longer swine-flu free.

Other highlights of the guidelines include:

1. Social partners may delegate a focal person who would be responsible in monitoring and ensuring that the measures are strictly followed at the workplace. DOLE will be ready to assist establishments in building the capabilities of their H1N1 focal persons. DOLE will also provide technical assistance in risk assessment, use of protective equipment including a respirator program, and workplace improvements to reduce the likelihood droplet infection and contamination by materials possibly infected by H1N1.

2. In case a worker in public or private sector gets infected with H1N1, the worker may avail of P150,000 medical insurance package in addition to existing company health-care benefits and the PhilHealth coverage. PhilHealth members and their dependents infected with the disease may also avail of PhilHealth hospital benefits amounting to P75,000.

3. A worker who contracts H1N1 in the performance of his/her work is also entitled to sickness benefits under the Social Security System and employees compensation benefits under PD 626 or the ECC law.

4. The advisory ordered the employers to provide regular information about H1N1 including its transmission, disease outcome, and treatment options to their workers. The employers are also being encouraged to monitor the health of their workers particularly those with fever and those who have traveled to countries affected by H1N1.

5. If a worker is ill or has fever, he/she must be advised to take prudent measures to limit the spread of communicable diseases. If the worker is suspected as having H1N1, the employer should immediately refer him/her to the company healthcare provider and subsequently decontaminate the work area. H1N1 symptoms include fever, cough, difficulty of breathing, vomiting or nausea, and diarrhea.

6. The advisory pointed out the need to keep yourself healthy and the workplaces to be clean all the time.

• Cover the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.

• Wash hands with soap and water frequently.

• Spit at proper places.

• Avoid close contact with sick individuals.

• Increase body resistance by having adequate sleep, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating nutritious foods.

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