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Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120) - Belarus (RATIFICATION: 1968)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report and the information supplied in response to its comments, and in particular the information related to Articles 5 and 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. It would draw the Government’s attention to the following points.

1. With regard to the application of Articles 8, 10, 12, 13 and 14 of the Convention, the Committee notes the Government’s indications referring to numerous sanitary regulations and standards giving effect to the respective Articles of the Convention, namely SniP 2.08.02-89 on public buildings and installations (Article 8); sanitary regulations for ensuring the microclimate of office premises No. 11-13-94 (Article 10); SanPIN 5781-91 "Sanitation rules for food-stuff trading enterprises" and SanPIN 42-123-5777-91 "Sanitation rules for public catering enterprises" (Article 12); SniP 2.09.04-87 "Office and amenity buildings" (Article 13); POTO 7120-1.01 "Occupational safety and health rules at trading establishments" (Article 14); and SniP 2.08.02.89 "Public buildings and installations" (Article 19). In the absence of the texts of the above sanitary regulations and standards, the Committee was not in a position to determine the extent to which these standards and regulations give effect to the principles spelled out in Articles 8, 10, 12, 13 and 14 of the Convention. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide with its next report copies of the sanitary standards and regulations in question.

2. Article 7. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that all premises and workplaces are to be properly maintained and kept clean. The Committee requests the Government to specify the sanitary standard or regulation providing for these requirements.

3. Article 9. The Committee notes the Government’s indication to the effect that the lighting requirements of all premises and administrative services are laid down in specific standards, according to which permanent workplaces have to have natural and artificial lighting and the illumination intensity is to be established on the basis of the eye-strain level at the workplace. The Committee requests the Government to denote the relevant standards.

4. Article 11. As to the layout of workplaces, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the space requirements for each workplace are contained in standards. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to specify these standards.

5. Article 15. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that suitable facilities for changing clothes are provided at each enterprise in accordance with the book strength of the workers employed. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the standard requiring the provision of suitable facilities for changing, leaving and drying clothing which is not worn at work, in conformity with this Article of the Convention.

6. Article 17. The Committee notes the provisions of the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus No. 260 of 22 February 2002 concerning the free provision of milk and analogous products to workers working with harmful substances. It notes that this Decree only contains provisions prescribing compensation measures for workers working with harmful substances. However, the Decree does not contain any provision, neither with regard to measures to be taken to protect workers against substances, processes and techniques which are obnoxious, unhealthy or toxic or for any reason harmful, nor with regard to the provision of personal protective equipment to workers, as provided for in this Article of the Convention. The Committee therefore requests the Government to take the appropriate measures giving effect to Article 17 of the Convention.

7. Article 18. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee again requests the Government to supply a copy of the State Standard GOST 12.1.003-83 concerning the safety requirements to noise and the State Standard GOST 12.1.012-90 SSBT concerning general safety requirements to vibration for further examination.