DoLE to check GMA Network’s compliance with occupational safety standards

THE Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) is looking into GMA Network, Inc.’s compliance with occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, after veteran actor Eddie Garcia suffered a fatal injury on the set of a new TV series.

Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III said Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) Executive Director Noel C. Binag and DoLE Undersecretary Ana C. Dione will meet with GMA Network officials on Wednesday.

“I’m issuing a memo to executive director Binag of the Occupational Safety and Health Center to conduct an inspection and find out if the company involved with whatever show that is — was compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Standards,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

Mr. Garcia suffered a neck fracture after falling on the set of GMA show Rosang Agimat in Tondo, Manila last June 8. The 90-year-old actor died on June 20.

Mr. Binag said they will look possible violations of OSH standards on the set at the time of Mr. Garcia’s accident.

“We will conduct a factfinding on the real cause of the incident for us to come up with a conclusion. We have already created a body to help us find the facts and hopefully soon we can come up with it,” he said. “In the investigation, we can determine how many violations have existed during the time of the incident.”

Mr. Binag said he saw a video of Mr. Garcia’s accident and observed some signs of noncompliance with the OSH law.

“Na-observe namin (We observed) through the video (that) obviously, there was no first aid involved in the incident. Second, I think wala silang (they don’t have) medical supplies and equipment like stretchers kasi nakita natin na binuhat lang siya (because we saw that he was being lifted [by people on set]). Obviously, hindi sila nasunod sa (they didn’t follow the) standard when it comes to provision of safety officers and provision of first aid and medical supplies and health equipment,” he said.

When an accident happens within the workplace in which a death or injury has occurred, employers are required to submit a report to the DoLE within 48 hours or two days since the incident happened. —