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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its latest report indicating a number of recent legislative amendments which give further effect to the provisions of the Convention. The Committee also notes the responses provided indicating effect given to Article 1(2); Article 2(2); Article 5(e); Article 7; Article 11(b); and Article 19(e). The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on legislative measures undertaken with regards to the Convention.

Article 12, subparagraph (c). Studies and research by manufacturers, importers and providers of machinery, equipment and substances necessary to ensure their safe use. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government indicating the requirements under the Machinery Safety Rules for manufacturers to comply with essential health and safety standards when placing machinery on the market, and to provide technical documentation for every machine or safety component in accordance with Article 12(a) and (b). The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on measures taken or envisaged to ensure that those who design, manufacture, import, provide or transfer machinery, equipment or substances for occupational use, undertake studies and research, or otherwise keep abreast, of the scientific and technical knowledge as required by Article 12(c).

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee welcomes the comprehensive information available online in the Labour Inspectorate annual report for 2004, and statistical data on inspections in the field of occupational health and safety and on work accidents. The Committee notes that in 2004 there were 176,335 employers subject to inspection, employing a total of 782,206 employees. The Committee also welcomes the information indicating the continuing decrease in the number of fatalities and the number of serious workplace accidents, with the number of fatal accidents at work falling from 26 in 2002 to 13 in 2004, and the number of serious workplace injuries reported and investigated falling from 325 in 2003 to 323 in 2004. The Committee notes the statement that fatal accidents in 2004 occurred primarily at small businesses, and that the most common business activity involved in the 2004 cases was the construction industry. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to address the trends noted above, and to continue to provide updated information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice.

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1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its reports. It requests the Government to supply supplementary information on the following points:

2. Article 1, paragraph 2, and Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Possible exclusions from the application of the Convention. The Committee notes that article 2 of Health and Safety at Work Act (Official Gazette No. 50/99 as amended until Official Gazette No. 64/01) lays down that it is not applied in spheres of economic activity or parts thereof where the insurance of health and safety at work is governed by special regulation. The Government is requested to indicate whether such special regulations governing the issues of safety and health covering any special spheres of economic activity have been adopted.

3. Article 5, paragraph (e). Main spheres of action taken into consideration by the national policy. The Committee requests the Government to indicate provisions establishing protection of workers and their representatives from disciplinary measures as a result of actions properly taken by them which should be covered by the occupational safety and health (OSH) policy as one of its main spheres of action.

4. Article 7. Arrangements made for reviews provided for at appropriate intervals.  The Government is requested to submit information concerning the review process carried out at the national or branch (particular area) level and to specify the intervals at which such reviews take place.

5. Article 11, paragraph (b). Determination of work processes the exposure to which is to be prohibited, limited or made subject to authorisation or control by the competent authority. The Committee notes that the Practical Guidelines for Work with Dangerous Chemical Substances contain classification of such substances, information about three groups of measures, namely: (i) technical; (ii) organizational; and (iii) of individual safety, which are intended for protecting employees against dangerous substances at work. Noting that the substances to which this Article of the Convention applies are not limited to chemical substances, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the manner in which the competent authority ensures the function of determination of work processes which can be prohibited, limited, made subject to authorization or control.

6. Article 12. Obligations of designer, manufacturer, importer and provider of machinery, equipment or substances for occupational use. The Government is requested to indicate measures to be taken in order to ensure that those who design, manufacture, import, provide or transfer machinery, equipment or substances for occupational use satisfy themselves that equipment or substance does not entail dangers for the safety and health of those using it correctly; make available information concerning the correct installation and use of machinery and equipment and the correct use of substances as well as instructions on how hazards are to be avoided; undertake studies and research or otherwise keep abreast of the scientific and technical knowledge.

7. Article 19, paragraph (e). Arrangements to make workers or their representatives able to inquire into their occupational safety and health aspects. The Committee requests the Government to indicate legislative and/or practical measures enabling workers or their representatives to enquire into all aspects of OSH associated with their work.

8. Part V of the report form. Information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in selected chapter of the "Report on work and activities of the labour inspectorate for 1998". The Government is requested to keep it informed of such activities supplying extracts from inspection reports and, where such statistics exist, information of the number of workers covered by the legislation, if possible, disaggregated by gender, the number and nature of the contraventions reported, the number, nature and cause of the accidents reported, etc.

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The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government's report. It requests the Government to indicate in detail the provisions of laws, regulations, statements or documents which give effect to each of the Articles of the Convention, and any other measures under which they are applied. In addition, please provide any information specifically requested under individual Articles in the report form adopted by the Governing Body. Please also specify what steps have been taken to implement the provisions of the Convention requiring action by the competent authority.

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The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government's report. It requests the Government to indicate in detail the provisions of laws, regulations, statements or documents which give effect to each of the Articles of the Convention, and any other measures under which they are applied. In addition, please provide any information specifically requested under individual Articles in the report form adopted by the Governing Body. Please also specify what steps have been taken to implement the provisions of the Convention requiring action by the competent authority.