Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) - Switzerland (Ratification: 1992)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its first and second reports. The Committee requests the Government to supply further information on the following points:

1. Article 6, paragraph 3, of the Convention. The Committee notes that under section 3.2 of Regulation No. 6503 (1991) concerning cleaning work on premises incorporating loosely compacted asbestos, all the measures necessary to preserve workers' safety and health will be taken. The Committee requests the Government to specify the measures adopted to ensure that employers prepare procedures for dealing with emergency situations.

2. Article 20, paragraph 1. The Committee notes that under section 3.4 of the above-mentioned Rule, the employer must ensure by technical measures and appropriate working methods that the concentration of airborne asbestos dust in workplaces remains as low as possible. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the particular methods specified by the competent authorities to measure the concentrations of airborne asbestos dust and to monitor the exposure of workers to asbestos, and the intervals at which these measures and monitoring must be conducted.

3. Article 20, paragraphs 2 and 3. The Committee notes that under section 76 of the OPA (Ordonnance sur la prévention des accidents et des maladies professionnels -- order on the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases) of 19 December 1983, as amended, the CNA (Caisse nationale d'assurance en cas d'accident -- Swiss national accident insurance fund) may introduce personal records (livrets personnels de contrôle) in which the employer records the nature of the danger and duration of exposure and which he returns to the worker on termination of the working relationship. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether records of workplace monitoring and exposure of workers are kept for a specified period and whether the workers, their representatives and the inspection services have access to these records.

4. Article 21, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that under section 75 of the OPA, the CNA pays the workers' necessary travel, accommodation and maintenance costs for preventive examinations and compensates loss of earnings up the maximum insured limit. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure that the monitoring of workers' health in connection with asbestos will not result in any loss of earnings for them; that it shall be free of charge; and that, if possible, it shall take place during working hours.