Republic of the PhilippinesOVERSEAS WORKERS WELFARE ADMINISTRATIONDepartment of Labor and Employment

PDOS ADVISORY NO. re?Series of2012

TO ALL PDOS PROVIDERSOWWA REGIONAL OFFICES

SUBJECT SAFETY MEASURES FOR HSWs

It is important that you advise household service workers (HSWs)to observesafety measures at all times in doing their work, such as cleaning out-facing windowsand outside walls of employers' residence, as well as hanging laundry outside high-rise houses and buildings.

A number of death cases have been reported involving HSWswho accidentallyfell from top floors of high-rise buildings while performing household chores likecleaning windows and putting laundry out to dry.

The safety measures contained in the attached flyer and which were culledfrom publications of the Singapore Ministry of Manpower should be discussed duringthe PDOS and CPDEP sessions. It may also be reproduced and distributed tohousehold service workers.

Yourcooperation is hereby enjoined.

CARMELITAS. DIMZON, DPAAdministrator

11June 2012

OWWA Center, 7th SI. Cor. F.B. Harrison SI.Pasay City 1300, P.O. Box 1617 Manila, Philippines

Trunkline: 891-7601 to 241 Fax: 804-0638Website: www.owwa.gov.ph

24/7 Operation Center: 833-6992Hotlines: 551-6641; 551-1560 "Sa OWWA, ang miyembro protektado. 11

Making Your Work Day A Safe One At HomeWorking in Singapore and other countries can be very different experience from working in your home country. Most Singaporeans and some employers in

other countries live in high-rise apartments, so performing household chores like cleaning windows and hanging laundry would be different from how they are doneback home.

If you are living in high-rise apartments, it is important that you practice good safety habits when performing domestic chores. There are three main areaswhich you should pay attention to - Cleaning Windows, Hanging the Laundry and Handling of Electrical Appliances.

A. Cleaning Windows

As part of the household chores, your employermight require you to clean windows. Be carefulwhen doing this as reaching too far out the win-dow may endanger yousafety.

• Lock window when cleaningthe window interior.

• Make sure all windowgrilles are locked whencleaning exterior windows.

• Use cleaning tools withextended handles toreach all parts of win-dows.

• DO NOT stand on any raised platform suchas stools, planters, or ledges.

• DO NOT climb or leanoutside to clean thewindow exterior.

B. Hanging Laundry

• Stand firmly on the floor,keeping your body shouldbe behind the window.

• Hang the heavier clothingon the pole closest to you,and leave the lighterclothes for the far end.

• When retrieving laundry,you should always bringthe pole into the housebefore removing theclothes.

• !!! Make sure you are most careful if it is windyor raining.

• DO NOT lean too farout of the window.

• DO NOT overload theclothes pole with toomuch clothing.

C. Handling Appliances

You may be required tohandle simple electricalhousehold appliances such askettles, rice cooker and vac-uum cleaners.

Electrical appliances arevery useful equipment in the homes, however,they can cause injuries if not use properly. Al-ways learn the correct way of using the electri-cal appliance and follow the usage instructions .

• Ask your employer to showyou the right way of usingelectrical appliances.

• Make sure wires are ingood condition before use.

• DO NOT touch switches, plugs and power-points with your wet hands as you may getan electric shock.

• DO NOT overload one electrical socket toomany appliances.

• If the electrical appliance is not working, DONOT attempt to repair electrical appliancesyourself. Inform your employer if you findthat the electrical appliances is faulty.

Road Safety

Whether you are going to the marketalone or taking the children to theschool you have to be careful and payattention to the traffic on the roads.

Always look and ensure that the road isclear before crossing. Use pedestriancrossings, overhead bridges or zebracrossings if they are available.

D. Other Safety Measures

• Ensure that the floor area near windows isdry before you hang laundry or clean thewindows.

• DO NOT leantoo fa r out ofthe window topick up clothesor other itemsthat havefallen out thewindow onto aledge.

• DO NOT standon planters orthe ledge.

The materials, information and pictures used in thisbrochure was adapted from the brochure "SafetyGuidelines for Foreign Domestic Workers Do'sand Don'ts" and other materials published by the

Ministry of Manpower, Singapore.

Sampung Bilin ng POOS

1. Isa-isip ang gusto mong makamit sa iyongpagtrabaho sa ibang ban sa. Ito ang susi ngiyong tagumpay.

2. Ihanda ang sarili sa trabahong haharapin salabas ng bansa.

3. Tandaan ang iyong responsibilidad at kara-patan. Ito ay gabay mo sa pagganap sa iyongtungkulin.

4. Umangkop sa batas at kultura ng bansangpupuntahan. Ita ay iyong magigingpansamantalang tirahan.

5. Pangalagaan ang kalusugan. Kailangan angmalusog na pangangatawan sa trabahonggagampanan.

6. Buksan ang isipan sa bagong kaalaman atkasanayan. Ito ay hagdan sa tagumpay.

7. Makipag-ugnayan sa pamilyang naiwan.Panatilihing buo ang pamilya kahit malayoka.

8. Mag-ipon dahil ang katuparan ng iyong mgapangarap ay nakasalalay dito .

9. Maghanda at mag plano para sa iyong pagba-balik.

10. May mga ahensya ng pamahalaan namakakatulong sa oras ng pangangailangan.Huwag mag-atubiling sila ay lapitan.

"Sa tamanq kaalaman, siqurado anqkaliqtasan at taqumpay."

Overseas Workers Welfare Administration7th Street cor. F.B. Harrison St., Pasay City

Trunkline: (+632) 891-7601 to 24 Fax: (+632) 804-0638Website: www.owwa.gov.ph

24/7 Operation Center: (+632) 833-6992Hotlines: (+632) 551-6641, 551-1560

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