The Department of Labor and Employment in Central Visayas (DOLE-7) has issued a work stoppage order addressed to Cebu-Manila Water Development (CMWD) Inc., the water supplier of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) in Carmen town, northern Cebu.
On Thursday (May 10), DOLE-7 conducted a mandatory conference with the management of CMWD to shed light on the results of their investigation.
The department’s investigation showed that the facility, particularly the CMWD water treatment lagoon, has failed to comply with the Basic Occupational Safety and Health Standards.
On April 30, Renato Peroso, an employee of the treatment facility, lost his right foot after he fell to the lagoon while he was draining waste from the water pump.
The investigation found that the facility did not have a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in cleaning the pump, which is necessary to provide the employees some guidelines in cleaning the lagoon and ensuring their safety.
Other violations that were discovered include the absence of a trained workplace safety officer, a Red Cross-certified first aider, and a safety and health committee.
Luchel Taniza, DOLE-7 Information Officer, said that the stoppage order was effective starting May 9 and will continue until the management of the CMWD can provide proof that they have addressed the labor law violations.
Taniza, however, clarified that it is only the operations in the water treatment lagoon is suspended.