Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Prevention of Accidents (Seafarers) Convention, 1970 (No. 134) - Costa Rica (Ratification: 1979)

Further to the comments it has been making for several years, the Committee notes the information that the regulations on occupational safety and health of seafarers that the Government had referred to in its report in 1998 have not been adopted. The Government indicates however that the provisions of the national legal system of occupational safety and health cover all workers in river and maritime fishing, in maritime, coastal and river transport. The Committee recalls again that it has been expressing the hope that the Government would enact occupational safety and health regulations envisaged by section 283 of the Labour Code, for all seafarers who are employed in any capacity on board a ship, other than a ship of war, and ordinarily engaged in maritime navigation, as provided for under Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention. Consequently, the Committee trusts the Government will not fail to adopt shortly the necessary provisions concerning the prevention of occupational accidents for seafarers (Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention), the appointment of suitable persons or the establishment of joint committees (Article 7) and the prevention of occupational accidents programmes (Article 8).

Article 2 and Part V of the report form. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government. The Committee would like to point out that under Article 2 of the Convention, statistics are required to be recorded on the number, causes and effects of occupational accidents, with a clear indication of the department on board ship (for instance, deck, engine or catering) and the area (for instance, at sea or in port) where the accident occurred. The Committee hopes the Government will provide such statistics, including information on the number of workers covered by the legislation, the number and nature of the contraventions reported and the resulting action taken.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2003.]