Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Kuwait (Ratification: 1974)

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Articles 6 and 14 of the Convention. Maximum concentration and measurement of benzene in the air in workplaces. Supervision of the application of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government provides a special memorandum, prepared on the Convention, which includes information on inspection visits undertaken to workplaces where workers could be exposed to benzene fumes. This memorandum indicates that the Environment Public Authority (EPA) has set the maximum permissible level of airborne benzene in the workplace during an eight-hour working day at 0.1 part per million (ppm) and at 1 ppm for a 40-hour working week, as set out in the implementing regulations of the Act establishing the EPA (Decision No. 210 of 2001). The memorandum also details the results of inspection visits carried out by the EPA in several industries where workers are exposed to benzene. The Committee notes that according to the figures provided, higher maximum limits for exposure appear to have been set in some industries (10 ppm or 50 ppm). It also notes that in a great number of the undertakings inspected, the exposure levels observed largely exceeded the threshold limit value set by the EPA (that is 43 ppm for oil refineries, 180 ppm in fibreglass industries, 210 ppm in print, 224 ppm in woodworking). The Committee therefore requests the Government to take all necessary measures to ensure that the threshold limit values set for all industries producing or using benzene do not exceed the ceiling value of 25 ppm provided in Article 6(2) of the Convention and are applied in practice. It also requests the Government to take all necessary measures to ensure that appropriate monitoring is carried out by labour inspection services and that remedial or corrective actions are taken in response to the numerous infringements reported in the memorandum. Please provide all relevant information in this respect.