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Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (RATIFICATION: 1983)

With reference to its observation, the Committee notes that the non-creation of the National Council and the Institute for Prevention and Occupational Health and Safety could have serious effects on the application of this Convention. It, therefore, requests the Government once again to provide additional information on the following points:

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee has noted that under section 27 of Act No. 3850 of 18 July 1986, a register shall be kept of substances which, because of their chemical, toxic or physical nature, may cause a risk to health. It also noted that section 10, paragraph 16, of this Act required the establishment of standards for the testing, classification and control of potentially dangerous substances. In this connection, it noted the Government's statement that the lists of carcinogenic substances or agents which have been elaborated by the Inter-American Safety Council and the International Agency for Research on Cancer are used by the Government authorities as a point of reference. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report which of the substances mentioned in the above lists (other than ionising radiations and asbestos) are subject to control or authorisation, which are prohibited and which are subject to the other provisions of the Convention. The Government is requested to indicate the provisions which have been made for the periodic review of the list of carcinogenic substances and agents.

2. Article 2, paragraph 1. The Government is requested to indicate the measures which have been taken to replace carcinogenic substances and agents with non-carcinogenic substances and agents and also to indicate how account is taken of carcinogenic, toxic or other properties in the choice of the substitutes.

3. Article 2, paragraph 2. The Government is requested to indicate the measures which have been taken to reduce to a minimum the number of workers exposed to carcinogenic substances and agents in general and the duration and level of such exposure.

4. Article 3. The Government is requested to indicate the measures which have been taken to establish a system of records of workers' exposure to carcinogenic substances and agents, as national laws and regulations appear to provide only for notification of occupational diseases, including cancer.

5. Article 5. Noting that COVENIN Standard No. 2274-85 provided for workers to undergo medical examinations, the Government is requested to indicate in its next report the nature and frequency of the medical examinations prescribed for workers exposed to carcinogenic substances and to supply copies of the relevant provisions.

6. The Committee has noted that the COVENIN standards of 1985 - supplied by the Government with its first report - were only in force for a one-year period. The Government is requested to indicate whether any of the COVENIN standards have ceased to apply or have been revised. If the latter has occurred, the Government is requested to supply copies of the most recent COVENIN standards relating to carcinogenic substances in force.

7. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate whether the Regulations on the Conditions of Occupational Health and Safety have been revised since 1968 and if so to supply a copy of the regulations currently in force.

[8. The Government is requested to supply a detailed report for the period ending 30 June 1992.]