Philippines

Organization Profile

About IHAP

The Industrial Hygienists Association of the Philippines, Inc. (IHAP), is a non-stock, non-profit, non-governmental organization that was established in 2003 by group of professionals and the Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC). The IHAP is the only association in the Philippines that specializes on Industrial Hygiene. The association is composed of members who aim to improve and maintain a safe and healthy working environment for all.

History

In 2002, OSHC conducted a national survey to determine the scope of involvement of occupational safety & health practitioners in industrial hygiene. On October 7, 2002 a general meeting was held at OSHC to discuss and resolve the prevailing issues concerning the establishment of the association. A total of one hundred thirty (130) participants attended the meeting. Amended Rule 1030 of the Occupational Safety & Health Standards and the results of the national survey were presented. The survey showed a fundamental need of qualified industrial hygienists in different industries. The need for the establishment of an industrial hygienists association was emphasized; for this will allow provision of formalized training, meeting of demands for industrial hygiene services, formation of a curriculum for an industrial hygiene course in the academe, and upgrading of the industrial hygiene profession. Various names for the association were mentioned, like “Industrial Hygiene Advocates,” “Industrial Hygiene Promoters,” “Industrial Hygiene Association of the Philippines,” “Occupational Safety & Health Association of the Philippines,” “Industrial Hygiene Leaders,” and “Integrated Industrial Hygienists of the Philippines”. The participants reached a consensus that the name of the association will be “Industrial Hygienists Association of the Philippines (IHAP).” Thus, IHAP was born.

Election of an interim set of officers immediately took place. Mr. Eularito Tagalog of OHNAP and Dr. Susan Sison of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas were elected President and Vice-President. Engrs. Nelia Granadillos, Manuel Abanilla and Antonio Bugarin were elected Secretary, Treasurer, and P.R.O., respectively. Five (5) working committees were also formed: Registration & Chapter Development, Legislation & Legal Affairs, By-Laws & Technical, Ways & Means, and Information & Dissemination Committees.

In 2003, the 1st General Membership Assembly was conducted. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Usec. Lourdes Trasmonte and Dr. Dulce Estrella-Gust administered the oath taking of the interim officers. In 2006, Jessie Dela Cruz was elected as the 1st President of IHAP. Through the years, IHAP provided trainings and seminars to upgrade the knowledge and skills of fellow practitioners.

Today, IHAP has gained international recognition by being a member of the Asian Network of Occupational Hygiene (ANOH) and International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA). IHAP is continuously working with international organizations to strengthen and enhance the practice of Industrial Hygiene in the country.

HGoals of IHAP

IHAP will be a national builder and advocate for public, private and government policies in the advancement of occupational safety and health (OSH) and the professionals of the field.

To achieve this goal, IHAP will:

• Facilitate consensus among relevant stakeholders regarding major scientific and policy issues in industrial hygiene and other areas of OSH by developing and disseminating consensus guidelines and standards as the basis of professional practice.
• Identify and pursue opportunities for partnerships, liaisons with regulatory agencies, public groups and international organizations of Industrial Hygienist.
• Disseminate information about Industrial Hygiene to promote the practice and increase the number of Industrial Hygiene practitioner nationwide.
• Strengthen two-way communications with members and ensure opportunities for membership involvement and participation.

Mission

IHAP aims to promote, protect and enhance industrial hygienists and other occupational safety and health professionals in their efforts to improve the health and well-being of workers, the community, and the environment through the prevention of exposures to occupational hazards in the workplace.

Vision

To become a national leader in promoting excellence in industrial hygiene, occupational safety and health that can be effectively applied to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment for workers and the surrounding community.

Purpose

To achieve its mission, IHAP will identify and pursue specific goals.  The following are the purposes for which the association was established:

1. To professionalize industrial hygiene practice in the Philippines;
2. To continually improve and maintain the application of industrial hygiene principles and practices for a safe and healthy working environment for all Filipino workers;
3. To provide technical information of highest quality;

To serve the membership and continuously improve the organization, by achieving the following goals:

¨   Policy Goal

• IHAP will be a national consensus builder and advocate for public, private and government policies that advance occupational and environmental health and safety and the professions. To achieve this goal, IHAP will:
• Facilitate consensus among relevant stakeholders regarding major scientific and policy issues in industrial hygiene and other areas of OHSE by developing and disseminating consensus guidelines and standards as the basis of professional practice.
• Identify and selectively pursue opportunities for partnerships, liaisons and coalitions with regulatory agencies, public groups and other interested parties on public policy issues of mutual interest and with clearly identified outcomes.

¨   Membership Goal

• IHAP will establish effective criteria for membership recruitment and retention. To achieve this goal, IHAP will:
• Increase IH and OHSE practitioner membership nationwide.
• Strengthen two-way communications with members.
• Ensure opportunities for membership involvement.

¨   Fiscal Resources Goal

• IHAP will have a diversified funding base to enable an exceptional range of programs and services for all constituencies. To achieve this goal, IHAP will:
• Identify and achieve the ideal balance for IHAP of dues and non-dues revenues.
• Align cost of basic member services and member dues schedules.
• Utilize zero-based budgeting as the primary method.

¨   Structure and Governance Goal

• IHAP will be structured and governed so as to facilitate timely decision making and efficient utilization of human, technological and fiscal resources. To achieve this goal, IHAP will:
• Develop and implement a policy and process on bias and potential conflicts of interest for the Board of Trustees, Committee Chairs, and Committee members.
• Revise the by-laws to reflect the contemporary structure and governance model.
• Continue to utilize short-term, task- and time-specific task forces to accomplish organizational goals.
• Track achievement of strategic initiatives at each Board meeting.

Strategies

1. To promote and develop new educational programs and delivery systems to meet members’ needs (capability building);
2. To provide forum for the exchange of industrial hygiene information among individuals as well as local, national, and international organizations;
3. To encourage cooperation with the government, industrial sector, academe, professional organizations and other stakeholders, through:

• Initiation of joint activities with allied health and safety organizations;
• Participation in joint forums with other organizations; and
• Development of additional and cooperative alliances with other organizations

4. To promote scientific research in industrial hygiene;
5. To conduct technical assistance in the form of exposure assessment methods and workplace improvement. 

CORE VALUES

I           Integrity

H         Humane and holistic

A         Advancement

P          Professionalism

Activities/Services

• IHAP provides technical assistance and support, technical trainings, seminars, workshops and consultancy related to Industrial Hygiene.
• Collaboration and international linkages with international occupational hygiene communities and organizations such as IOHA, ANOH etc.