CMNT_TITLE

Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148) - Slovenia (RATIFICATION: 1992)

Other comments on C148

Observation

2009

Direct Request

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Legislation. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the adoption of the Health and Safety at Work Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 43/11), which gives effect to Article 7(1) of the Convention (sections 49, 50 and 77); the practical guidelines on risk assessment for work with dangerous chemical agents; and the practical guidelines for health surveillance and biological monitoring of lead (No. 9/11). It also notes the Government’s indication that Slovenia transposed the directives of the European Union (EU) into its legislation in 2004 after consulting the most representative organizations of employers and workers and experts from the relevant research and educational institutions, and without modifying the criteria and exposure limits specified in the EU directives, thus giving effect to Article 8(2) of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on legislative measures undertaken with regard to the application of the Convention.

Article 11(3) of the Convention. Alternative employment or other measures to maintain the income of transferred workers. The Committee notes that sections 4, 7 and 8 of the Remedying Consequences of Work with Asbestos Act (No. 51/09) provide the workers covered by section 2 with the right to a disability pension under more favourable conditions. It also notes that under article 33(6) of the Health and Safety at Work Act, occupational medicine practitioners shall participate in the occupational rehabilitation process and advise on the choice of other appropriate work. With reference to its previous comments on this issue, the Committee requests the Government to provide further information on measures taken or envisaged to give effect to this Article of the Convention, and to indicate in particular whether the employer who receives this advice has the obligation to make every effort to provide the worker, whose continued assignment to work involving air pollution is found to be medically inadvisable, with suitable alternative employment.

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government according to which research on the effects on forestry workers of the vibration of chainsaws was conducted in 2009, and that these workers tested anti-vibration gloves to prevent the harmful effects of vibration. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that during the reporting period, the annual reports of the labour inspectorate revealed that harmful noise was still present in numerous workplaces, particularly in those with outdated equipment, and that workers were insufficiently aware of the harmful consequences of noise and did not use personal protective equipment consistently. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to address the lack of awareness of workers on the hazards associated with noise, and to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice.