Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its latest report, dating from 7 December 1994. It further notes the adoption, in 1989, of the Basic Safety Standards for Radiation Protection.

1. Noting from the Government's report that the recommendations issued by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) are applied to all public sector operators and most private sector operators which deal with radiation in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Committee would request the Government to specify the private sectors excluded, and to supply information on steps taken or envisaged in the light of Article 2, paragraph, 1 of the Convention.

2. In its general observation of 1992 under the Convention, the Committee drew attention to the revised dose limits established on the basis of new physiological findings by the International Commission for Radiological Protection in its publication No. 60 (1991). These recommendations have a bearing on the application of the Convention, in view of the references to knowledge available at the time and current knowledge included in Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee would request the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to amend the dose limits in the light of current knowledge as reflected in the 1990 Recommendations of the ICRP and the International Basic Safety Standards of 1994 jointly sponsored by the IAEA, WHO, ILO and three other international organizations, which are based on the ICRP Recommendations.

3. Article 8. Referring to paragraph 14 of its general observation of 1992 under the Convention, the Committee recalls that the employer has the same obligations towards workers not engaged in radiation work, as far as restricting their radiation exposure is concerned, as if they were members of the public with respect to sources or practices under the employer's control. The dose limits should be those applied to individual members of the public. The annual dose limit for these remains at 1 mSv under the new ICRP Recommendations. While noting that under section 4/318 of the 1989 Basic Safety Standards individuals who work in restricted areas on a temporary basis or from time to time, such as for maintenance or reparations, shall be ensured the same safety measures as the radiation workers, the Committee would request the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to revise the dose limits regarding this category of workers as reflected in the ICRP Recommendations of 1990.

4. Occupational exposure during emergency situations. Referring to the explanations given in paragraphs 16 to 27 and 35(c) of its 1992 general observation and in light of paragraphs 233 and 236 of the 1994 International Basic Safety Standards, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or contemplated in relation to emergency situations, in particular with respect to measures to ensure that exceptional exposure of workers in an emergency is strictly limited in scope and duration to what is required to meet an acute danger to life and health; to preclude situations wherein workers or other volunteers may be exposed to radiation for the purpose of rescuing items of material value during emergency situations; and to ensure the necessary investments in robotized or other techniques of intervention aimed at minimizing the exposure of workers.

5. Part V of the report form. In response to the Committee's previous direct request concerning inspection services, the Government indicates that, under 50 of the Social Insurance Act No. 91, it has set up an integrated occupational health service responsible for various industrial and specialized establishments in the country and for evaluating the conditions of exposure of workers in these establishments to the dangers of contamination of the working environment. The Committee notes this development with interest and requests the Government to supply, in its next report, information regarding the specific tasks of the inspectors with regard to radiation work, the number of personnel assigned for this purpose and, in particular, whether they are empowered to take steps with a view to the remedying of defects observed in the installations, apparatus or work procedures that could constitute a threat to the health and safety of workers.