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Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139) - Denmark (RATIFICATION: 1978)

The Committee notes with regret 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 with interest the adoption of Order No. 300, dated 12 May 1993, on the "measures to be taken against the dangers of cancer when working with chemicals".

Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that article 7 of the abovementioned Order contains the relevant measures with respect to the application of this paragraph of the Convention. The Committee notes that article 7 of this Order aims to exclude hazards, coming from the working environment and resulting of dust and other harmful substances, by reducing certain work processes and tools. The Committee requests the Government to state whether the limitation of certain tools or work processes also covers measures to reduce the duration of workers’ exposure to carcinogenic substances and agents. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee would recall that Article 2, paragraph 2, of the Convention also aims at reducing the number of workers exposed to carcinogenic substances or agents to the extent compatible with safety. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to reduce the number of workers to the minimum compatible with safety.

Article 3. The Committee notes with interest that data on occupationally exposed persons are recorded. Pursuant to section 22 of the Order on "measures to be taken against the dangers of cancer when working with chemicals", an updated list of workers and their possible exposure must be kept. Section 15 of the abovementioned Order in conjunction with its Annexes 1 and 2 provide for an evaluation of the workplace concerning safety and health conditions. The Committee also notes that all medical doctors are obliged to report to the authorities on known or suspected cases of occupational cancer and that each worker has been registered since 1964 in a pension registry (ATP) collecting information on the name of the enterprise, job title, and time of employment which is combined with the Danish Cancer Registry as a part of the surveillance in the field of occupational cancer. The Committee would ask the Government to indicate whether the reports of the medical doctors to the authorities are recorded. It also requests the Government if the information and data collected are combined, in order to establish a system of records as provided for in this Article of the Convention with the intention to provide information on the size of the exposed active population and on the technical process involving a risk of occupational cancer; to keep under surveillance the various aspects of preventive and protective action taken in this connection; and to improve the knowledge of occupational cancer.

Article 5. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that workers have unlimited access to undergo medical examinations which are free of charge for them and that these examinations also take place after the termination of the employment. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether these medical examinations are obligatory for the workers and to provide further information on the frequency of medical examinations after termination of employment.

Part IV of the report form. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that studies in connection with the adoption of Order No. 300, dated 12 May 1993, on the impact of the new abovementioned Order on different trades and a number of employees covered as well as on suspected cases of occupational cancer have not been carried out. It notes that such studies are only carried out during the consultation of the social partners and, in accordance with the generally agreed procedure, only if the matter is controversial. The Committee also notes that the Danish Cancer Society undertakes a new research project on the exposure of Danish workers to substances or agents suspected being carcinogenic. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the results of this research study as soon as available.