Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Greece (Ratification: 1977)

1. Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes the publication of Presidential Decree No. 399/94 (FEK/221/A/19.12.1994) respecting the protection of workers against risks arising out of exposure to carcinogenic agents at work, issued under European Council Directive No. 90/394/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens at work. It also notes that section 4 of the above European Directive does not explicitly envisage the prohibition of the use of benzene and of products containing benzene. In this respect, the Committee noted in its previous comment that section 3 of Act No. 61 of 1975 prohibits the use of benzene and of products with a benzene content of over 1 per cent as solvents or diluents, except in an enclosed system or where there are equally safe methods of work, in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 2, of the Convention. It recalled that paragraph 1 of this Article provides that the use of benzene and of products containing benzene shall be prohibited in certain work processes to be specified by national laws or regulations. This prohibition could cover the use of benzene in forms other than as solvents or diluents, but in work processes where its use may be considered an unnecessary risk. The Committee had requested the Government to indicate the measures which had been taken or were envisaged to prohibit the use of benzene in certain work processes other than those covered by the minimum requirement set out in Article 4, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government's report does not contain a reply in this respect. It therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures which have been taken or are envisaged to prohibit the use of benzene in cases other than the prohibition set out in section 3 of Act No. 61 of 1975.

2. Part IV of the report form. The Committee notes with interest that the Occupational Safety and Health Centre of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has commissioned research, including the registration of results, on the exposure to benzene of certain categories of workers in places in which petrol is produced and distributed (refineries and loading and sales points). With regard to the results of this research, the Committee understands that the exposure values are lower than the maximum levels established. The Committee also notes that the research is being undertaken once again in view of the increased use of unleaded petrol. Furthermore, the new research has been extended to other workplaces and workers who are exposed to benzene. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the results of the above research and to provide a copy of any statistics which may be established on the basis of the data which are compiled.