SAFETY FIRST!

Industrial Engineers are known for designing and implementing systems and processes that enhance workplace safety and health. Their contributions in this area are essential for preventing accidents, reducing risks, and ensuring a safe working environment. Reflecting on this commitment, the Society of PATTS Industrial Engineering Students (SPIES) hosted a Basic Occupational Safety and Health for Safety Officer 1 Training, which took place during the Industrial Engineering Week on April 27, 2024, in Drawing Room 1. The certification training was held in collaboration with Jobqehs Management Consultancy Service and Actsafe, Health and Environmental Corp.

"As Industrial Engineers, we constantly seek ways to expand our knowledge," said Engr. Joann O. Gabasa (SPIES Faculty Adviser) as she delivered her opening remarks.  She, then, introduced the guest speaker, Mr. John Erwin O. Balaoeg, a registered nurse and BOSH consultant with a rich background in safety seminars. 

The certification training started with Mr. Balaoeg discussing the importance of safety and health, and the concept of OSH, as he brought life to the room with his deep insights and interactive approach. He urges the participants to avoid accidents, as they do not simply end with injury but possibly property damage and death.

After this, he discussed how to recognize safety hazards to acceptable atmospheric contamination values and how to mitigate and minimize exposure. He highlighted that the primary responsibility of safety officers is to prevent safety-related concerns, accidents, and risks. This reminder elicited silence from the listeners at the gravity of the caution.

The event concluded with a series of activities that preceded his talk. One is an activity labeled Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Control (HIRAC), where students must identify the severity of situations through the assessment and control of said hazards.