The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) issued Labor Advisory No. 15, Series of 2026 to guide private-sector employers in protecting workers when poor air quality creates a health risk. The advisory, signed on 18 September 2026 and discussed in DOLE’s 22 September release, places occupational safety and health planning at the center of the employer’s response to environmental air pollution.

Employers are directed to use Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment, and Control (HIRAC) procedures to assess worker exposure. The assessment should be informed by the Air Quality Index Matrix and Action Points issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Health. A HIRAC should not be treated as a one-time document: DOLE states that it must be reviewed and updated when air quality, workplace conditions, exposure levels, or surrounding circumstances materially change.

When air quality reaches hazardous levels, employers should actively monitor official advisories and implement controls appropriate to the risk. DOLE identifies measures that include providing necessary personal protective equipment, improving indoor airflow and ventilation, temporarily stopping or limiting outdoor work, and informing workers about the health effects of air pollution. The measures adopted should fit the actual exposure of employees and the nature of the workplace.

For conditions that are extremely hazardous to health, DOLE advises employers to consider flexible-work arrangements. If conditions worsen, suspension of non-essential work or another protective arrangement may be appropriate. Employers should document their assessment, consult the safety and health committee or responsible safety personnel, communicate decisions clearly, and apply workplace rules consistently.

Companies should review the advisory together with Republic Act No. 11058, its implementing rules, and their existing occupational safety and health program. The official DOLE release is available at “DOLE: Protect Workers amid Poor Air Quality”. This article provides general information; the proper response in a particular workplace depends on the measured risk, official health advisories, and the employer’s legal obligations.