This study investigates sectoral occupational safety compliance in selected public and private construction projects within the 4th District of Camarines Sur, Philippines. Recognizing the construction industry’s high-risk nature, the research aims to assess and compare safety awareness levels across sectors using two standardized instruments: the Key Construction Safety Awareness Checklist and the DOLE-OSH Construction Safety Checklist. Employing a descriptive-correlational design, the study surveyed 20 construction workers – each representing a distinct site – to capture sector-specific safety practices and perceptions. Findings reveal that publicly-implemented projects exhibit higher general safety awareness (WM = 2.41) compared to privatecontracted ones (WM = 2.33), particularly in workplace safety culture and equipment maintenance. However, both sectors showed critical gaps in training, hazard identification, and emergency preparedness. Correlation analysis yielded a high positive but statistically insignificant relationship (ρ = 0.765; p = 0.0763) in general safety awareness, while DOLE-OSH compliance demonstrated a very high and significant correlation (ρ = 0.9879; p < 0.001), suggesting strong alignment in core safety practices. The study concludes that while public projects benefit from institutional oversight, private projects demonstrate selective strengths in visible compliance elements. Both sectors require strategic improvements in safety training, emergency systems, and participatory governance. Recommendations include continuous safety education, enhanced signage, improved emergency facilities, and integration of wearable technologies. These findings contribute to the discourse on occupational safety governance and offer actionable insights for policymakers, contractors, and safety officers aiming to elevate construction safety standards across diverse project environments.

Keywords: Occupational Safety Compliance; Construction Sector; Public vs. Private Projects; DOLE-OSH Standards; Safety Awareness Assessment