Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139) - Norway (Ratification: 1977)

1. With reference to its previous direct request concerning the application of Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention, the Committee notes with interest from the Government's report that the list of carcinogenic substances was revised in 1991.

2. In its previous comment, the Committee had noted that the Government was planning to issue Toxic Substance Regulations concerning the occupational use of very toxic and carcinogenic substances in 1988. In its latest report, the Government has only referred to, and enclosed copies of, the Regulations concerning the List of Substances for the Health, Fire and Explosion Hazard Labelling Regulations and the Labelling Regulations. The Government is requested to indicated whether recent Toxic Substance Regulations have been issued and, if so, to provide a copy of these regulations with its next report.

3. Article 2, paragraph 2. The Committee notes the Government's indication that the recently revised Asbestos regulations will set the stage for preventive measures against carcinogenic substances. It notes, however, that the information provided by the Government concerning the Asbestos regulations does not refer to measures for the reduction of the number of workers exposed to carcinogenic substances or agents and the duration and degree of such exposure, as provided for in this Article of the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to reduce to a minimum the number of workers exposed to carcinogenic substances and agents (and not merely asbestos) and to reduce the duration and level of such exposure. The Government is requested to provide information in its next report on the progress made in this regard and to communicate a copy of the new Asbestos regulations.

4. Article 3. In 1980, the Committee had noted that a system of records was established for workers exposed to ionising radiations and asbestos and was also planned for workers in the reinforced plastics industry. The Committee had expressed its hope that the system of records would be progressively expanded to cover further carcinogenic substances and agents. In its latest report, the Government has not provided any information concerning the system of records. The Committee would refer the Government to Chapter 8 of the ILO: Occupational Health Series, No. 39 on Occupational Cancer: Prevention and Control (Second (revised) edition), 1988 concerning the establishment of registers which notes that the purpose of a system of records is to enable "the competent authority and selected scientific workers to keep a close watch on the magnitude of the problem of occupational cancer in the country, the level of risk involved in the various types of exposure, the dose-response relationship and the effectiveness of preventive action". The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to establish an appropriate system of records for all carcinogenic substances or agents and requests the Government to indicate the progress made in this regard in its next report.

5. Article 5. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government concerning the regulations on enterprise health services which entered into force on 1 January 1990. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the function of these health services is to undertake periodic health checks of heavily exposed workers, including workers who are or have been exposed to carcinogenic substances. The Committee notes, however, that the list of enterprises which must have health services is limited and does not ensure, therefore, that all workers exposed to carcinogenic substances will be provided with medical examinations during employment and thereafter. The Government is requested to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that all workers exposed to carcinogenic substances or agents are provided with medical examinations during employment and thereafter. Furthermore, the Government is requested to indicate, for enterprises covered by the regulations concerning enterprise health services, the nature of the examinations provided for workers exposed to carcinogenic substances, the prescribed tests, and their frequency.