IRDC/GCC fined P5T

The regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-V) here recently fined the Ibalong Resources and Development Corporation/Goodfound Cement Corporation (IRDC/GCC) for violating at least three (3) rules of the Mine Safety and Health Standards or DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources ) Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2000-98.

OIC Regional Director Sulpicio B. Bernardo III, in his letter of 01 August 2003, advised Mr. Juang Ben Lun, President of IRDC/GCC, to pay the MGB-V (for eventual remittance to the National Treasury) five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) as fine for violating Rules 856, 986, and 858 of DAO 2000-98.

The fine arose from the result of routinary safety inspection conducted by technical personnel of MGB-V on July 22,2003 on the cement plant and quarry operation of IRDC/GCC at Barangay Palanog in Camalig, Albay.

Rule 856 requires person working in surface mining operations to wear safety hard hats and safety rubber boots or safety shoes; Rule 986 requires that machinery and equipment shall be equipped with appropriate guards to provide adequate protection for employees against contact with moving parts, or prevent access by employees to the dangerous areas during operation; and Rule 858 also requires employee (person) to wear safety belts, harness, straps or lifelines while working at elevations three (3) meters above or where there is hazard of falling or slipping from dangerous heights.

DAO 2000-98 imposes a fine of P1,000.00 for the first violation and P2,000.00 for repeat violation.  IRDC/GCC violated Rules 856 and 986 twice (repeat violation) and Rule 858 once.

Bernardo, through the same letter, warned IRDC/GCC that if the same violation/s will be noted again in the next safety inspection an additional administrative sanction will be imposed by MGB-V.