CMNT_TITLE

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (RATIFICATION: 1984)

Article 11(f) of the Convention. The Committee notes National Standard No. 2277-91 of the Venezuelan Industrial Standards Commission (COVENIN) relating to occupational safety and hygiene measures in the use of lead and its compounds, a copy of which has been sent with the Government's report. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government to the effect that the text of the other standard requested -- COVENIN Standard No. 2253-90 -- respecting the maximum permissible concentrations in the workplace environment is not available, since it is currently being reviewed and updated by the Fund for Quality Standardization and Certification (FONDONORMA). The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the revised text of this standard once it has been adopted.

Since it has not received any information on the systems used to examine other agents, including biological agents, in respect of the effects of their use on workers' health, the Committee reiterates its request for information on the measures taken by the competent authorities to guarantee the gradual introduction of the investigation of various agents in relation to the risks which they entail for workers' health.

Article 12(b) and (c). In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to indicate the legislative or regulatory provision obliging the hygiene and industrial health inspectors attached to the Ministry of Labour to observe the standards established by the National Council for Prevention, Health and Safety at Work and the National Institute on Prevention, Health and Safety at Work. Since it has not received any information on the texts in question, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government for details of the standards used by the inspectors in respect of the design, manufacture, import or transfer of machinery, equipment or substances.

Article 17. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee observes that no information is included in the Government's last report on a provision or measure to guarantee that two or more undertakings engaged in activities simultaneously at one workplace collaborate, pursuant to the measures provided for in the Convention. The Committee is obliged once again to request the Government to indicate the legislative or other measures which oblige enterprises that are in the situation covered by this Article to collaborate, pursuant to the occupational safety and health measures adopted.