Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

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

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received for the seventh consecutive time. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

Repetition

The Committee notes that the Government does not presently intend to amend Order No. 2265/MT of 9 April 1982, but envisages formulating, in consultation with the social partners, technical guidelines on harmful, hazardous and carcinogenic products, particularly benzene. The Committee also notes that the guidelines envisaged will be made available to all users. It hopes that the guidelines will be formulated and adopted without delay and requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this matter.

Article 4(2) of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s information on processes which use methods of work that are as safe as those carried out in an enclosed system. It notes in particular that the increase in labour and health inspections in enterprises and the involvement of Workers’ Committees for Health, Safety and Working Conditions (CHSCT) ensure that the processes are carried out under the safest possible conditions. The Committee requests the Government to provide an indication of the frequency of the inspections carried out in enterprises that use benzene. It also requests the Government to provide copies of the statistics collected during inspections, to enable the Committee to assess the extent to which this provision of the Convention is applied in practice.

Article 6(2) and (3). With regard to the concentration of benzene vapour in the air of workplaces, the Committee notes that a draft Order concerning data files on the safety of chemical substances establishes a level not exceeding 10 ppm or 32 mg/m3 over an eight-hour time-weighted average. The Committee accordingly concludes that the ceiling established in the draft Order is lower than the one established in the Convention when it was adopted in 1971. It nevertheless wishes to point out to the Government that the threshold limit value recommended by the American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) is 0.5 ppm over an eight-hour time-weighted average. It therefore invites the Government to take measures to bring the ceiling value established by the draft Order into line with the value recommended by the ACGIH. The Committee also requests the Government to specify the guidelines issued by the competent authority on the procedure for determining the concentration of benzene in places of employment. It also requests the Government to provide a copy of the abovementioned Order as soon as it is adopted.

Article 8(2). With regard to limiting the duration of exposure of workers who, for special reasons, may be exposed to concentrations of benzene in the air of places of employment which exceed the maximum established, the Committee notes that, according to the Government, a study is under way on this matter. It requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard.

The Committee also requests the Government to provide relevant extracts of the inspection reports and the statistics available on the number of employees covered by the legislation as well as the number and nature of violations reported, as requested under Part IV of the report form.

In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s statement that a draft Order on occupational cancer giving full effect to the provisions of the Convention had been formulated with ILO technical assistance. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether this Order is still under consideration for enactment.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.