Occupational health and safety is a shared responsibility. The International Labor Organization emphasizes that working in a safe environment is a right that every employer must provide. Both factors are critical in ensuring that the workplace is conducive to productivity and nurtures employee well-being. As part of its commitment to responsible operations, Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) highlights the importance of building a workplace culture grounded on effective implementation of occupational safety and health standards. Establishing this as part of the organization’s goals prioritizes the welfare of employees across different business functions, and helps mitigate risks of common industrial and office hazards. PCPPI president and CEO Frederick D. Ong said the company continues to observe strict compliance to industry regulations in keeping its employees, fondly called Bravehearts, safe and healthy while at work. “Having a safe workplace gives our Bravehearts confidence that they are well looked-after while performing their responsibilities across our nationwide locations. At PCPPI, we uphold policies and standards that ensure workplace safety, and implement processes to keep our employees well and productive,” said Ong. Safety at the heart of operations Enforcing organizational policies and safety standards is led by the Environment, Health, Safety, and Security (EHSS) teams across PCPPI’s multiple manufacturing facilities and offices The department oversees regulatory compliance measures, safety trainings and certifications, and policy development and assessment. In 2022, all of PCPPI’s plants received the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Safety Seal. This affirms that all of PCPPI’s manufacturing facilities comply with government-mandated public health standards, and the DOLE’s General Labor Standards and Occupational Safety and Health Standards. Periodic assessments and reporting measures are established to regularly check the operating conditions of manufacturing equipment, as well as environmental factors that may possibly affect production. The EHSS team conducts the Annual Work Environment Measurement testing, which evaluates actual levels of illumination, ventilation, and capacity of on-site health stations vis-à-vis international standards. This process assesses how these factors encourage productivity in line with benchmarks for workplace well-being. Training series are also scheduled for all first-time visitors and third-party contractors. Accountability and collaboration While enforcing compliance across its nationwide locations, PCPPI also recognizes facilities that have successfully adhered to the recommended safety procedures and met workplace safety standards. In the recently concluded National Summit of Bravehearts, the organization conferred the 2022 Galing at Sikap Plant Excellence Award in Safety to its Cagayan De Oro (CDO) plant team for demonstrating commitment to safety by maintaining an excellent r-ecord in meeting the PCPPI’s Environment, Occupational Safety, and Health standards. The CDO facility also filed and completed the necessary permits, licenses, and controls in a timely manner as part of its regulatory compliance procedures. CDO EHSS Officers Virnie Apostol and Gideon Emanel shared how safety rests on the shoulders of all employees. “From conducting patrols and documentation to equipment assessment, we work closely with colleagues from other departments to keep our area secure. We have streamlined our communications channels to ensure visibility for possible areas of concern before they escalate,” said Apostol. “Being recognized for our safety track record is an honor for our team in Cagayan De Oro. We consider this further motivation to further improve our processes and empower more employees to integrate safety awareness in all initiatives,” said Emanel. “This way, employees have a strong sense of accountability in keeping each other safe,” he added. The CDO team rolls out programs to reinforce occupational safety procedures based on international standards, including practicing Hazard Identifications, Risk Assessment, and Controls (HIRAC), immediate reporting of near-miss incidents to immediately address potential risks, and conducting mandatory trainings and safety orientations for all employees. The organization continues to be guided by its ICARE (Integrity and Innovation, Care and Respect, Empowerment and Excellence) Values in fulfilling its responsibilities towards its employees and the local community. PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of well-loved international beverage brands in the country. These include Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton Ice Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Premier Purified Water.