News and Events
SLCM conducts Chemical Spillage Awareness Seminar
Alarming news struck the country recently involving chemical spillage in a few schools in MetroManila, and the discovery of chemical wastes dumped in a nearby suburb. Due to the risks to human lives and the environment, the proper transport, handling, storage and disposal of chemical materials are not only a concern but a responsibility of all those who are involved with chemicals.
As part of its tasks, the Human Resources/Administration Office of the St. Luke’s College of Medicine – WHQM conducted a Chemical Spillage Awareness Seminar in coordination with the Engineering Department of the Medical Center.
On December 7, 2006, from 8:30 am – 12 noon at the Executive Lounge of the College Building, the following College personnel: Building Administrator and Engineer, Laboratory Technicians, Medical Technologists, Housekeepers, and Security Guards were given this seminar. Inherent to their duties and responsibilities, these group are directly involved with chemicals and therefore are also the first line of defense when related accidents occur.
With the help of the St. Luke’s Medical Center’s Safety and Environment Section, Ms. Maria Teresita B. Roxas, Chief Operating Officer of the Environmental Management & Technologies Unlimited, Philippines, Inc., served as resource speaker. As a primer, Ms. Roxas discussed the various enacted laws supporting the proper management of chemicals and identified the different kinds of chemicals especially those contained in the College’s laboratory. She also stressed the importance of being familiar with them, as each chemical will have its own specific danger to one’s health and or the environment. She showed a sample spill kit and oriented the participants on how to use the equipment when a spillage occurs. She highlighted the value of having the necessary equipment to ensure safety when exposed to chemicals. The respective roles of each group of participants when such emergencies occur were discussed. Like a Fire Brigade, she pointed out the importance of having a Response Team and a Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Program for the College or any institution, for that matter.
The Chemical Spillage Awareness Seminar served as an eye opener for the College and its people on the potential risks of chemicals and the value of preparedness and emergency response. It also provided a direction on how to organize a competent and effective team that can actually respond to such situations in order to preserve the utmost safety of the College – its student body, faculty and staff.
