Renewable Energy Safety, Health, and Environment Rules and Regulations (RESHERR)

Status: operative
Confidence: high
Effective date: 2012-11-21
Parent law: ra-9513

The RESHERR is the regulatory framework governing safety, health, and environmental protection across all renewable energy operations in the Philippines. It was issued by the DOE on 21 November 2012 through DC2012-11-009 [NREP 2020-2040, p.11, 2022].

Coverage

RESHERR covers all RE technologies and applies to all employers, employees, contractors, and other entities engaged in RE operations in the Philippines [NREP 2020-2040, p.11, 2022].

Objective

To ensure safety and protection against hazards to health, life, and property, and to address environmental concerns — including air, land, and water pollution — during the operation of RE facilities [NREP 2020-2040, p.11, 2022].

Legal Basis

Implementation is in accordance with:

The DOE Act
The Renewable Energy Act (RA 9513)
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Occupational Safety and Health Standards

Technology-Specific DCs (2021)

In line with developments in the RE industry, the DOE issued technology-specific RESHERR policies on 11 June 2021 [NREP 2020-2040, p.42, 2022]:

Technology	Circular
Geothermal	Digest: DC2021-06-0016 — Geothermal Safety, Health and Environment Code of Practice
Hydropower	Digest: DC2021-06-0017 — Hydropower Safety, Health and Environment Code of Practice
Solar	Digest: DC2021-06-0018 — Solar Safety, Health and Environment Code of Practice
Wind	Digest: DC2021-06-0019 — Wind Safety, Health and Environment Code of Practice
Biomass	Digest: DC2021-06-0020 — Biomass and Biofuels Safety, Health and Environment Code of Practice

These require all RE companies to:

Designate an eligible safety officer
Be subject to random safety inspections by the DOE Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB)

The REMB has been ISO 9001:2015-certified since 2020 for processing Geothermal Safety Officer permits; this certification subsequently expanded to solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass facilities [NREP 2020-2040, p.42, 2022].

Sub-Code Structure (All Five Technologies)

Each sub-code follows a parallel structure: (I) Policy Statement, (II) Definitions, (III) General SHE Practices (applicable to all RE), (IV) Power Plant Facilities, (V) Technology-Specific Operations, and closing clauses.

Section III (common to all) covers: contractor management; emergency response plans; incident/accident investigation and reporting; fire prevention; electrical safety; mechanical/machinery safety; work permits (hot work, confined space, lockout/tagout); personal protective equipment; ergonomics; hazardous materials handling; and environmental management.

Technology-specific sections:

Technology	Unique Sections
Geothermal	Well drilling/testing; H₂S monitoring; steam field operations; well maintenance; rig safety [DC2021-06-0016, §V–VII, 2021-06-11]
Hydropower	Dam/weir civil structures; impoundment operations; dam safety monitoring; spillway/gate operations; reservoir and sediment management [DC2021-06-0017, §IV–V, 2021-06-11]
Solar	Panel array structural integrity; inverter operations; arc flash hazards; end-of-life panel disposal [DC2021-06-0018, §IV–V, 2021-06-11]
Wind	WTG structural safety; nacelle/tower access; blade maintenance; lightning protection; ice throw and shadow flicker protocols [DC2021-06-0019, §IV, 2021-06-11]
Biomass/Biofuels	Feedstock storage/handling (dust explosion prevention); biogas collection/flaring; anaerobic digester safety; biomass wastewater treatment; biofuel types (bioethanol, biodiesel, biogas) [DC2021-06-0020, §IV–V, 2021-06-11]

Historical Context

Prior to RESHERR, the DOE (then called the Office of Energy Affairs) had already issued sector-specific safety rules for geothermal operations through OEA Circular No. 91-11-06 and DC2000-02-001. The 2012 RESHERR consolidated and expanded coverage to all RE technologies [NREP 2020-2040, p.11, 2022].