Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Iraq (Ratification: 1972)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on Instruction No. 6 of 1993 (O.G. No. 3488) concerning risks of benzene, which gives effect to a number of Articles of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information, in its next report, on measures undertaken or envisaged to give effect to the following provisions of the Convention:

Article 6(3) of the Convention on the directions issued by the competent authority on carrying out the measurement of the concentration of benzene in the air of places of employment.

Article 8(2) on whether the exposure of a worker to concentrations of benzene in the air of places of employment, which exceed the maximum provided for in section 5 of Instruction No. 6 of 1993, shall be limited as far as possible.

Article 9(b) on whether the periodic medical re-examinations, specified in section 9(2), include biological tests.

Article 10 on whether qualified physicians, specified in section 9(3) of Instruction No. 6 of 1993, are approved by the competent authority, and measures to ensure workers are not involved in any expense.

Article 12 on whether containers holding benzene, or products containing benzene, are labelled as containing “benzene”.

Article 13 on measures to ensure that any worker exposed to benzene, or products containing benzene, receive appropriate instructions on measures to safeguard health and prevent accidents, as well as on the appropriate action if there is any evidence of poisoning.

Article 14 on who is responsible for compliance with the provisions of this Convention.

Part IV of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee requests the Government to give a general appreciation of the manner in which the Convention is applied in the country and attach extracts from inspection reports and, where such exist, information on the number of workers covered by the legislation; the number and nature of the contraventions reported; and the number, nature and cause of accidents reported.