Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170) - China (Ratification: 1995)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its latest report, and the attached legislation. The Committee also notes the communication by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) on the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), received on 9 September and transmitted to the Government on 1 October 2009 and the response thereto provided by the Government in its 2010 report under Convention No. 155. The Committee notes that a number of the issues raised by the ITUC in its 2009 communication concern the application of this Convention.

Article 15 of the Convention. Information and training. The Committee notes the response provided by the Government, which indicates that in order to strengthen safety in the production, operation, transport and storage of hazardous chemical processes, targeted safety training for the workers concerned has been emphasised under the Regulations on Safety Management of Hazardous Chemicals and only those workers who have passed the examinations and tests may be involved in the use of hazardous chemicals. The Government indicates that the first draft for chemical safety labelling standards has been drafted under the Regulations on Preparation of Warning Labels for Use of Chemicals at Workplace, and that it has been made available for public comment. The Committee also notes that, according to the abovementioned comments by the ITUC, there are many workers who are unaware of the risk of occupational diseases, and most are never informed of potential hazards at their workplace. The ITUC further states that chemical processing workers, who are mostly migrant workers from the inner provinces, do not receive information about the chemicals and hazards they face at work, and training is not provided on a continuous basis on the practices and procedures to be followed for safety in the use of chemicals at work, nor is any first-aid training provided. The Committee asks the Government to respond to the comments by the ITUC concerning the information and training of workers on the hazards associated with exposure to chemicals used at the workplace, and to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to continue to give effect to Article 15.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, which indicates that the National Registration Centre for Chemicals set up by State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS) is dedicated to the prevention of hazardous chemical accidents, technical research and analysis thereof, and has opened a special hotline for emergency advisory services on chemical accidents; and that, in October 2006, SAWS issued the Emergency Plans for Responding to Hazardous Chemical-induced Accidents and Disasters. The Committee also refers to information provided by the Government under its reports on the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), which states that, since 2004, hazardous chemical accidents in China have demonstrated a declining trend, with a decrease from 193 accidents in 2004 to 83 accidents in 2009. The Government also indicates that there has been a decrease in the number of deaths in this sector, from 300 in 2004 to 149 in 2009. The Committee notes that the ITUC states that chemicals are often unsafely used in producing resin, all forms of plastics, glues and adhesives, toys, fabrics, leather, shoes, furniture, packaging and paints; and that this, together with long working hours, poor workflow designs and inadequate facilities in the factories, results in frequent outbreaks of occupational illnesses due to benzene poisoning, chronic n-hexane poisoning, and pneumoconiosis due to organic dust in the textile industry. The Committee asks the Government to respond to the comments by the ITUC, with reference to the safe use of chemicals, and to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2012.]