The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Standards require each piece of heavy equipment to pass inspection before use and the following department orders serves as the legal basis:

• Department Order No. 13, series of 1998 “Guidelines Governing Occupational Safety and Health in the Construction Industry

  Section 10.1.(a), mandates that “All heavy equipment operators assigned at the project site must be tested and certified in accordance with a standard trade test prescribed by  Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in coordination with its accredited organization/s.

  Section 10.1.(b), mandates that “All heavy equipment must be tested and certified in accordance with the standards prepared by DOLE or its recognized organization/s prior to commissioning of said equipment”.

• Department Order No. 198, series of 2018 “Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 11058 entitled “An Act Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards and Providing Penalty Thereof”

  Section 10. Safety in the Use of Equipment – In relation to the use of equipment, such as but not limited to, earth moving equipment, materials handling equipment, and construction equipment, the employer, contractor or subcontractor, if any must comply with the OSH standards set by DOLE on safety and use of such equipment in the different phases of the company or project operation including the transport to and from establishment, project, site or place where work is being undertaken.

  Appropriate training and certification by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), or other concerned government agency shall be a requirement for operators before use of equipment, if applicable.

Note: The standard refers HEAVY EQUIPMENT to any machine with engine or electric motor as prime mover used either for lifting, excavating, leveling, drilling, compacting, transporting and breaking works in the construction site or mining site, such as but not limited to crane, bulldozer, backhoe, grader, road compactor, prime mover and trailer, with minimum operating weight of 1,000 kg and horsepower rating of 10HP.