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DOLE issues guidelines for A(H1N1) contagion in workplace


MANILA, Philippines - Workers infected with A(H1N1) in the workplace may avail of up to P150,000 in medical insurance as well as company health-care benefits and the PhilHealth coverage. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said this health package is part of the guidelines on the prevention and control of the spread of the Influenza strain in the workplace. "A(H1N1) poses a serious threat on people's lives and the economy as well," DOLE Secretary Marianito Roque said in an article on the DOLE Web site. He added that PhilHealth members and their dependents infected with the disease may also avail of the agency's hospital benefits amounting P75,000. Roque called on employers and workers to put up plant-level precautionary measures soonest. He cited the DOLE Department Advisory No. 4 to guide employers and workers in setting up their own preventive measures against A(H1N1), commonly known as swine flu. Also, he urged social partners and all other sectors to be vigilant against the disease to prevent its spread as the country is no longer swine-flu free. Measures for the prevention and control of A(H1N1) should be part of plant-level efforts aimed at preventing disruptions that would undermine workers' productivity, he said. Roque suggested that social partners delegate a focal person to monitor and ensure that the measures are strictly followed at the workplace. He said the DOLE is ready to assist establishments in building the capabilities of their A(H1N1) focal persons. The agency would also provide technical assistance in risk assessment, use of protective equipment including a respirator program, and workplace improvements to reduce the likelihood of droplet infection and contamination by materials possibly infected with A(H1N1), he added. A worker who contracts the virus 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 Employees' Compensation Commission, Roque said. DOLE Advisory No. 4 enjoins establishments to regularly provide information about A(H1N1) including its transmission, disease outcome, and treatment options to their workers. It also asked employers to monitor the health of their workers particularly those with fever and those who have traveled to countries affected by the flu. If a worker is ill or has fever, he/she must be advised to take prudent measures to limit the spread of the communicable disease. If the worker is suspected as having A(H1N1), the employer should immediately refer him/her to the company health care provider and subsequently decontaminate the work area. A(H1N1) symptoms include fever, cough, difficulty of breathing, vomiting or nausea, and diarrhea. The advisory also stresses everyday actions to stay healthy and keep workplaces always clean with disinfectants. Workers are asked to 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; and increase body resistance by having adequate sleep, drinking plenty of fluids, and eating nutritious food. - GMANews.TV
Tags: swineflu, ah1n1, dole
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