C127 - Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 (No. 127)

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Article 1

For the purpose of this Convention--

• (a) the term manual transport of loads means any transport in which the weight of the load is wholly borne by one worker; it covers the lifting and putting down of loads;
• (b) the term regular manual transport of loads means any activity which is continuously or principally devoted to the manual transport of loads, or which normally includes, even though intermittently, the manual transport of loads;
• (c) the term young worker means a worker under 18 years of age.

Article 2

1. 1. This Convention applies to regular manual transport of loads.
2. 2. This Convention applies to all branches of economic activity in respect of which the Member concerned maintains a system of labour inspection.

Article 3

No worker shall be required or permitted to engage in the manual transport of a load which, by reason of its weight, is likely to jeopardise his health or safety.

Article 4

In the application of the principle set forth in Article 3, Members shall take account of all the conditions in which the work is to be performed.

Article 5

Each Member shall take appropriate steps to ensure that any worker assigned to manual transport of loads other than light loads receives, prior to such assignment, adequate training or instruction in working techniques, with a view to safeguarding health and preventing accidents.

Article 6

In order to limit or to facilitate the manual transport of loads, suitable technical devices shall be used as much as possible.

Article 7

1. 1. The assignment of women and young workers to manual transport of loads other than light loads shall be limited.
2. 2. Where women and young workers are engaged in the manual transport of loads, the maximum weight of such loads shall be substantially less than that permitted for adult male workers.

Article 8

Each Member shall, by laws or regulations or any other method consistent with national practice and conditions and in consultation with the most representative organisations of employers and workers concerned, take such steps as may be necessary to give effect to the provisions of the Convention.

Article 9

The formal ratifications of this Convention shall be communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour Office for registration.

Article 10

1. 1. This Convention shall be binding only upon those Members of the International Labour Organisation whose ratifications have been registered with the Director-General.
2. 2. It shall come into force twelve months after the date on which the ratifications of two Members have been registered with the Director-General.
3. 3. Thereafter, this Convention shall come into force for any Member twelve months after the date on which its ratification has been registered.

Article 11

1. 1. A Member which has ratified this Convention may denounce it after the expiration of ten years from the date on which the Convention first comes into force, by an act communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour Office for registration. Such denunciation shall not take effect until one year after the date on which it is registered.
2. 2. Each Member which has ratified this Convention and which does not, within the year following the expiration of the period of ten years mentioned in the preceding paragraph, exercise the right of denunciation provided for in this Article, will be bound for another period of ten years and, thereafter, may denounce this Convention at the expiration of each period of ten years under the terms provided for in this Article.

Article 12

1. 1. The Director-General of the International Labour Office shall notify all Members of the International Labour Organisation of the registration of all ratifications and denunciations communicated to him by the Members of the Organisation.
2. 2. When notifying the Members of the Organisation of the registration of the second ratification communicated to him, the Director-General shall draw the attention of the Members of the Organisation to the date upon which the Convention will come into force.

Article 13

The Director-General of the International Labour Office shall communicate to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for registration in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations full particulars of all ratifications and acts of denunciation registered by him in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Articles.

Article 14

At such times as it may consider necessary the Governing Body of the International Labour Office shall present to the General Conference a report on the working of this Convention and shall examine the desirability of placing on the agenda of the Conference the question of its revision in whole or in part.

Article 15

1. 1. Should the Conference adopt a new Convention revising this Convention in whole or in part, then, unless the new Convention otherwise provides:
   • (a) the ratification by a Member of the new revising Convention shall ipso jure involve the immediate denunciation of this Convention, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 11 above, if and when the new revising Convention shall have come into force;
   • (b) as from the date when the new revising Convention comes into force this Convention shall cease to be open to ratification by the Members.
2. 2. This Convention shall in any case remain in force in its actual form and content for those Members which have ratified it but have not ratified the revising Convention.

Article 16

The English and French versions of the text of this Convention are equally authoritative.