CMNT_TITLE

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (RATIFICATION: 1933)

Article 7 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Application in practice. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, the National Institute for Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health (INPSASEL) uses the morbidity system to record suspected cases of occupational disease treated in the health services of the state occupational health directorates (DIRESAT), as well as certifications by occupational doctors from the institution. According to the Government, there has been no specific diagnosis of lead poisoning, but there were 25 recorded cases of workers being exposed to lead between 2007 and the first quarter of 2009. The Government indicates that four cases were certified and that in the remaining cases, a measure was introduced to reduce the workers’ duties or the workers were transferred to other posts. The Government indicates that it has no information on mortality. Recalling that under this Article, governments which have ratified this Convention have assumed the obligation to obtain statistics on lead poisoning among working painters as to: (a) morbidity, by notification and certification of all cases of lead poisoning; and (b) mortality, by a method approved by the official statistical authority in each country, the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to obtain such statistics and to provide them. Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to provide summaries of the inspection reports relating to the Convention, as well as any documentation relating to the application of the Convention in practice. Furthermore, with regard to the Government’s statement that there have been 25 recorded cases of exposure to lead by workers, of which four have been certified, the Committee understands that the “recorded” cases are cases recorded by DIRESAT and that certification cases are those where an occupational doctor has taken action. However, for the purposes of greater clarity, it requests the Government to indicate whether this interpretation is correct and what differences there are, if any, with regard to the consequences for treatment according to classification.