Health Protocols Officer in Biz Establishments Pushed

To ensure that minimum health standards are observed amid the Coronavirus pandemic, Councilor Michael Lawana wants every business establishment to assign a health protocol officer (HPO).
In a proposed ordinance approved on first reading, Lawana said employees in business establishments such as security guards, managers, and the like, have been compelled to implement precautionary measures since the first day of resumption of business.

The divided attention in carrying multiple tasks may impact the very purpose and motivation in implementing minimum health standards to safeguard the community against the Coronavirus disease, Lawana furthered.
To avoid compromising either the quality of work of employees or the safety of the public, Lawana said there is a need to designate an HPO in all business establishments in the city.
According to the ordinance, an HPO is a worker temporarily designated from the pool of existing workers/employees to exclusively implement and exercise utmost hygiene and sanitation and minimum health standards such as the imposition of physical distancing and the wearing of face masks and face shields, the continuous disinfection of high traffic and high touch contact areas and other health and sanitation practices prescribed by the local and national governments.
Also, the HPO shall collate, store, and organize data from the collected information slips for monitoring and contact tracing purposes in compliance with Ordinance 107-2020 which mandates all business establishments to allow the use of information slips in lieu of log books/log sheets.
Under the ordinance, an employee shall have undergone an orientation/seminar on health protocols and guidelines to be conducted by the City Health Services Office (CHSO) before their appointment as the HPO.
Also, under the ordinance, it shall be the duty of the management to “direct, instruct, and supervise its HPO in the performance and accomplishment of their functions.”
Any business establishment that fails to comply with the ordinance shall be fined P1,000.00 for the first offense, P2,000.00 for the second offense, and P3,000.00 and cancellation of business permit if applicable for the third offense.
The offices responsible for the implementation of the ordinance shall be the CHSO, the Baguio City Police Office, the Public Order and Safety Division, the Permits and Licensing Division, and the members of the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams.
The ordinance was referred to the Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology, and Environmental Protection for review following its approval on first reading.
Jordan G. Habbiling
Amianan Balita Ngayon