BACKGROUND

State universities in the Philippines should comply with the 2020 Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) standards for government workers and must be guided by the 2017 ASEAN University Network’s Healthy University Framework (HUF) for them to become healthy universities. Both policy documents identify OSH policy and programs as key components.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore the challenges and opportunities in the implementation of health and safety policies and programs in a state university in the Philippines.

METHODS

A case study design was used with a state university as its study site. Investigators conducted 14 key informant interviews and nine focus group discussions which were participated by system officials, campus officials, academic teaching staff, academic non-teaching Staff, support staff, and students. Thematic analysis was used to identify and understand emerging patterns and themes.

RESULTS

The results generated seven themes consisting of Policy and Committee, Dedicated Personnel and Unit,Budget and Technology, Collaboration, Programs and Services, Working and Learning Environment, and Role Models. The identified challenges in the implementation of health and safety programs in the university were: (1) limited budget to implement initiatives, (2) lack of collaboration among its offices, and (3) absence of a dedicated unit and staff. There were also opportunities to improve implementation: (1) strong implementation of certain policies and programs, (2) presence of a good working and learning environment, and (3) existence of role models.

CONCLUSION

The identified challenges and opportunities correspond to the elements of the system and infrastructure considered as principal determinants of a healthy university. There is a need to recognize the interrelatedness of such elements to ensure effective implementation of health and safety programs in the university. It also underscores the relevance of the HUF in promoting OSH within a university context.

Human ; Health ; Safety ; Universities

OBJECTIVES:This study aims to determine demographics, job suitability, job satisfaction and perception among the administrative staff and research, extension and professional staff (REPS) of the University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine.
METHODS:This is a descriptive study. A questionnaire was developed and administered to 71 administrative employees and Research, Extension and Professional Staff (REPS) to assess job profile, actual duties and responsibilities of the official job position/title during a period of five years from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014.
RESULTS:There are 71 employees of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM), 61 administrative staff and 10 REPS. A majority (62%) have been with the UPCM for more than 15 years. Sixty-two employees had complete information and among these, 45 (72.6%) were hired for jobs related to their educational backgrounds. All employees underwent some form of training as part of staff development (2.56 courses/employee/year) and the staff recognized that these courses enhanced their ability to do their jobs (95.3%). However, the staff also feel that they attend many other courses (66.4% of courses attended) that are not directly related to their jobs, with only 33.6% of these courses having any bearing on the performance of their specific jobs. Survey results showed that job satisfaction and perception of the value of their work is generally high. However, sources of dissatisfaction include being assigned tasks by people other than their immediate supervisor, not enough time to do their jobs and duties assigned that are not within their job description.
CONCLUSION:Most employees of the UPCM have a high level of satisfaction with their jobs. Cited factors for this include job is essential to the organization as a whole. Some areas are seen to be sources of dissatisfaction. These include mismatch between training and actual duties, work assigned by people other than their supervisors, too little time allotted for the work assigned, and tasks expected of them that are not within their job descriptions.