Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167) - Belarus (Ratification: 2001)

1. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in its report for the period ending 30 June 2003.

2. Article 1 of the Convention. Application of the Convention to all construction activities, namely building, civil engineering, and erection and dismantling work, including any process, operation or transport on a construction site. The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no information about the scope of application of the Convention in Belarus and requests the Government to indicate the provisions which ensure that the Convention applies to all activities referred to in paragraph 1, and such persons referred to in paragraph 3, of this Article.

3. Articles 4 and 5. Adoption of laws or regulations ensuring the application of the provisions of the Convention, on the basis of an assessment of the safety and health hazards involved; their practical application through technical standards or codes of practice. The Committee notes that the Government refers to numerous national legal and regulatory instruments giving effect to the Convention, among which: Law of 10 January 2000 concerning industrial safety of hazardous facilities; Presidential Decree No. 1 of 4 January 2000 concerning issues relating to compensation for damage to the life or health of citizens; Council of Ministers Order No. 865 of 13 June 2000 concerning improvements to the provision of workers with personal protective equipment; Council of Ministers Order No. 309 of 9 March 2000 concerning measures to organize safety and health in Belarus; Council of Ministers Order No. 507 of 12 April 1999 concerning measures to safeguard safety and health and implement labour legislation in undertakings and organizations; Council of Ministers Order No. 402 of 23 March 1999 concerning regulations for investigating and recording industrial accidents and occupational diseases; Cabinet Order No. 114 of 12 October 1994 concerning measures to implement labour legislation and prevent occupational injuries and diseases. The Committee also notes the Government’s reference to national technical standards among which the construction standards SNB 1.03.02-96 "General content and procedures for drawing up and approving construction plans", approved by Ministry of Construction Directive No. 344 of 4 October 1996; SNiP 3.01.01-85 on "Organization of construction operations", approved by Order No. 140 of the State Construction Committee of the USSR (2 September 1985); the regulations SNiP III-4-80 "Safety equipment in construction" are also applicable (approved by Order No. 82 of the State Construction Committee of the USSR, 9 June 1980). As these texts are not available to the Committee, it requests the Government to provide copies of them with its next report so that it can examine the extent to which they give effect to the provisions of the Convention.

4. Articles 13 to 15. Precautions to ensure the safety of workplaces as well as safe use of scaffolds, ladders, lifting appliances and gear. The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains a general description of employers’ activities undertaken in order to give effect to the abovementioned provisions of the Convention. The Government is requested to indicate the provisions by which effect is given to each of these Articles.