(published in the December 2018 printed issue of Sulyapinoy – a monthly newsletter published by the Filipino EPS Workers Association in South Korea)
On November 18, 2018, the Philippine Women’s Club (PWC) organized and held the “Chemical Safety Training” for Filipino workers at the KEB Hana Bank Building in Myeongdong, Seoul.
The training was sponsored by the Korea Chemicals Management Association (KCMA) and Migrant Network TV. The KCMA provided and distributed a book of guidelines for chemical safety at work, translated into the Filipino language. It was conducted by Prof. Song Dae Jong with Ms. Katherine Corteza translating the lecture to Filipino for the better understanding of the attendees.
Attendees came from all over Korea, some as far as Busan, Siheung, Kwangju, Ansan, Pyeongtaek, Icheon and Paju to name a few. Mr. Cenas Teofilo, Jr. learned about the training from shared posts in the EPS Facebook book. Mr. Rodney Queman and Mr. Peter Palomata Corocoto were very instrumental in spreading information about the training designed for the Filipino workers here in South Korea. The 3-hour training included a demonstration of the proper wear of chemical safety gears. The attendees also had the chance to actually put on the gears and learn how to put them on and take them off properly without exposing themselves to chemical hazards.
Asked how important the training was, these were some of the feedback given by the attendees:
“Very helpful yung training para maiwasan ang accident specially sa tamang paglagay ng safety materials at higit sa lahat yung pagtanggal din”. – Mr. Emerson Molina
“Marami po ako natutunan in case of emergency at paano maging maingat sa mga pagkakataon para maiwasan ang aksidente. Isa din sa mga importante na dapat gawin ay dapat alam ang mga numero na dapat tawagan at ano ang mga dapat sabihin sakali meron aksidente ng chemical leak. Importante din malaman ang mga iba’t ibang paraan na dapat gawin kung meron aksidente at ano ang mga safety measure sa mga delivery at gas. Importante sa bawat isa ang meron chemical safety training kasi hindi lang kabuhayan at sa kalikasan ang pinsala na dulot ng aksidente kundi maging sa buhay ng tao. Importante at mahalaga ay nasusunod ang lahat ng mga alituntunin upang maiwasan ang mga sakuna”. – Mr. Alfonso Velasquez
“Napakalaki po ng tulong nito sa aming manggagawa. Nagkaroon po kami ng kaalaman tungkol sa iba’t ibang uri ng chemical especially po sa mga chemical na nakakaapekto sa ating kalusugan at sa kapaligiran. Natutunan din po naming ang tamang pag handle ng chemical at kung ano ano ang angkop na personal protective gear at mga tamang hakbangin with regards sa chemical accidents”. – Mr. Israel Tantoy
Ms. Katherine Corteza, who was instrumental in translating the guidelines to Filipino, knows the module by heart. She says the training material is good but wishes to have more trainings that will focus on what the workers need to know. “A part of me feels that there is a much better way to relay the message than just translating”. Perhaps, this could be a big push to do something more and conduct the training on her own in the future?
The question and answer portion was well-participated and clarified further questions of the attendees regarding the lecture. A quiz game immediately followed and the winners went home with goodies from the Philippines. The training concluded with distribution of “Certificate of Completion” to all the attendees.
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