No shore leave for Pinoy seafarers docking in Ebola-affected areas – POEA
Citing the threat of contamination, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has barred Filipino seafarers from going on shore leave in areas affected by Ebola.
In a statement, POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said this is among the methods to limit the risk of seafarers being exposed to or contaminated with the virus.
"There will be no shore leave for seafarers and no crew change in the ports of these countries in the meantime," he said in a statement posted on the Official Gazette website Monday.
The POEA also issued guidelines for seafarers and manning agencies in taking precautions against Ebola infection.
Covered by the guidelines are shipping principals or employers with ships operating or calling on Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone ports.
“The guidelines are issued for our seafarers’ welfare and protection. They could be vulnerable to the EVD (Ebola Virus Disease) due to the unavoidable circumstance where they have to interact with shore-based personnel who come on board ships to perform their respective duties,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.
Under the guidelines, the shipping principals shall ensure seafarers are provided with working gear, including personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and goggles.
Also, the ship master or the designated ship medical officer will have the responsibility to report any crewmember with symptoms of EVD.
The guidelines require them to report those who have fever, headache, intense weakness, joint and muscle pains, and sore throat to their principal/employer.
In turn, the employers should coordinate with appropriate international marine medical providers to manage an EVD contamination on board.
Before deployment
The POEA also requested principals, employers and manning agencies to disseminate the following recommendations from the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC), International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) to their ships and hired seafarers prior to deployment:
The POEA also requires principals, employers, and manning agencies to report any incident of EVD contamination on any of their ships.
Reports should contain complete details of the crew affected and the actions taken by the company. They shall be submitted through e-mail to the Office of the POEA Administrator, who in turn shall provide copies of the report to the Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration.
Meanwhile, Baldoz directed the POEA and all concerned to help disseminate the POEA guidelines and advisories on EVD to eliminate apprehension among seafarers regarding possible EVD contamination:
- Department of Health (DOH) Ebola Advisory (in Filipino)
- World Health Organization (WHO) Ebola Virus Disease Fact Sheet No. 103
— Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News
In a statement, POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said this is among the methods to limit the risk of seafarers being exposed to or contaminated with the virus.
"There will be no shore leave for seafarers and no crew change in the ports of these countries in the meantime," he said in a statement posted on the Official Gazette website Monday.
The POEA also issued guidelines for seafarers and manning agencies in taking precautions against Ebola infection.
Covered by the guidelines are shipping principals or employers with ships operating or calling on Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone ports.
“The guidelines are issued for our seafarers’ welfare and protection. They could be vulnerable to the EVD (Ebola Virus Disease) due to the unavoidable circumstance where they have to interact with shore-based personnel who come on board ships to perform their respective duties,” Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said.
Under the guidelines, the shipping principals shall ensure seafarers are provided with working gear, including personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, and goggles.
Also, the ship master or the designated ship medical officer will have the responsibility to report any crewmember with symptoms of EVD.
The guidelines require them to report those who have fever, headache, intense weakness, joint and muscle pains, and sore throat to their principal/employer.
In turn, the employers should coordinate with appropriate international marine medical providers to manage an EVD contamination on board.
Before deployment
The POEA also requested principals, employers and manning agencies to disseminate the following recommendations from the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC), International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) to their ships and hired seafarers prior to deployment:
- The Master must ensure that the crew are aware of the risks, how the virus can be spread and how to mitigate the risk
- The ISPS Code requirements on ensuring that unauthorized personnel are not allowed to board the ship should be strictly enforced throughout the duration of the ship’s stay in port
- After departure, the crew should be aware of the symptoms and report any occurring symptoms immediately to the persons/authorities in charge of medical are onboard
The POEA also requires principals, employers, and manning agencies to report any incident of EVD contamination on any of their ships.
Reports should contain complete details of the crew affected and the actions taken by the company. They shall be submitted through e-mail to the Office of the POEA Administrator, who in turn shall provide copies of the report to the Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration.
Meanwhile, Baldoz directed the POEA and all concerned to help disseminate the POEA guidelines and advisories on EVD to eliminate apprehension among seafarers regarding possible EVD contamination:
- Department of Health (DOH) Ebola Advisory (in Filipino)
- World Health Organization (WHO) Ebola Virus Disease Fact Sheet No. 103
— Joel Locsin/JDS, GMA News
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