Challenges and Strategies of School Heads in Implementing Occupational Health and Safety Programs

This study examined the challenges and strategies of school heads in implementing Occupational Health and Safety Programs (OHSP) among secondary schools in the 4th District of Negros Occidental. The study assessed how school leaders managed safety initiatives amid resource limitations, policy constraints, and diverse stakeholder involvement. The scope covered six public secondary schools utilizing a qualitative narrative exploratory research design. Participants included six school heads, selected through purposive sampling based on their experience implementing safety programs. Six participants were considered sufficient since these were the only school heads who voluntarily agreed to participate in an interview among secondary schools in the 4th District of Negros Occidental. Participation in research must be purely voluntary based on ethical standards. Data were collected using a researcher-developed Key Informant Interview (KII) Question Guide, validated by experts using the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) Tool. Data analysis involved systematic organization, coding, thematic identification, and interpretation, following Wa Mbaleka’s process. Results revealed themes such as implementation of safety protocols, community engagement, resource constraints, stakeholder involvement, and monitoring efforts. Findings indicated that school heads faced challenges like parental engagement, resource shortages, policy restrictions, and environmental hazards, but effectively employed strategies such as collaborative decision-making, continuous safety orientations, and community partnerships. The study concluded that successful OHSP implementation depended on strong leadership, stakeholder participation, and resource mobilization. It recommended that DepEd enhance training, strengthen monitoring systems, and foster community collaboration to improve safety compliance. Additionally, local government units and school administrators were urged to prioritize resource allocation and policy enforcement to sustain safe learning environments. The findings serve as a basis for policy refinement and future research on school safety management in the Philippines.

Challenges, Strategies, Implementing Occupational Health and Safety Programs, Secondary Schools, School Heads

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