Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government's report. It would draw the Government's attention to the following points:

1. Article 6, paragraph 3, of the Convention. The Committee notes that section 26 of the Ordinance on Dangerous Substances prescribes procedures for dealing with emergency situations. Section 20 of this Ordinance requires the employer to establish work instructions which contain, inter alia, first aid measures. According to section 87 of the Works Constitution Act, the works council participates in the preparation of these instructions. The Committee would recall that Article 6, paragraph 3, of the Convention calls for the preparation of procedures dealing with emergency situations by the employer in cooperation with the occupational safety and health services, and after consultation with the workers' representatives concerned. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether occupational safety and health services are involved in the preparation of procedures dealing with emergency situations, and if so, please provide full details.

2. Article 17, paragraph 3. The Committee notes that section 39, subsection 2, of the Ordinance on Dangerous Substances requires the employer to submit in advance detailed work plans before demolition of plants or structures containing friable asbestos insulation materials is carried out. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate whether workers or their representatives are consulted on such work plans as required by Article 17, paragraph 3, of the Convention.

3. Article 19, paragraph 2. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the appropriate measures taken by the competent authority and by employers to prevent pollution of the general environment by asbestos dust released from the workplace.

4. Article 21, paragraph 4. The Committee requests the Government to explain the efforts made, or envisaged, to provide the workers, whose continued assignment to work involves exposure to asbestos which are found to be medically inadvisable, with other means of maintaining their income.