CMNT_TITLE

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Zambia (RATIFICATION: 1973)

Article 4 of the Convention. Prohibition of the use of benzene in certain work processes. The Committee refers to its previous comments in which it requested the Government to adopt legislation to prohibit the use of benzene and products containing benzene in certain work processes, in accordance with the requirements of Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes that in its report, the Government simply acknowledges the Committee’s request without providing information on progress made in this regard. The Committee urges the Government to take all the necessary steps to adopt the required legislation so as to ensure that the use of benzene and products containing benzene is prohibited in certain work processes and that this prohibition includes at least the use of benzene and products containing benzene as a solvent or diluent, except where the process is carried out in an enclosed system or where there are other equally safe methods of work. It further requests the Government to provide information on any developments in this regard.

Application in practice. Noting the absence of a reply on this point, the Committee again requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which the Convention is applied, including relevant extracts of inspection reports and statistics on the number and nature of contraventions reported and the number and nature of occupational diseases reported.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2016.]