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management or their employer did not have any mechanisms to warn workers
about possible hazards in the workplace. In this case, the survey participants
understood mechanisms such as having different alarm levels, a security officer,
alarms, and signages for dangerous chemicals.
Interestingly, 50% of the respondents were informed that they have the right to
refuse work (without any sanctions or harassment from the employers) in cases
where workers do not feel safe or think there is an imminent danger to them and
others in the workplace. One of the respondents did claim that refusing work in
dangerous situations was punished with a three-day suspension. Regarding the
question of incidents where even with sufficient mechanisms to warn the company
of present dangers yet being forced to report to work anyway, 67.7% answered in
the negative, while 32.3% in the positive.
Figure 11: Awareness of the Right to Refuse Work
In addition, only a quarter of the survey participants confirmed a case where they
had informed their company or DOLE of hazards or risks to their lives or health in
the workplace. Likewise, 83.9% of respondents expressed that they were not
consulted or included by company management in discussions regarding the
organization, planning, implementation, monitoring, regular reporting to DOLE,
and evaluation of OSH plans. Likewise, many respondents expressed the lack of
a consistent and objective process for selecting workers for the consultations.
Cases range from workers being simply appointed by supervisors, management,
and employers, restrictions to only fore[persons] or plant managers, to being
determined based on job performance and track record, as well as through
committee decisions.