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Article 7 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Application in practice. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, the National Institute for Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health (INPSASEL) uses the morbidity system to record suspected cases of occupational disease treated in the health services of the state occupational health directorates (DIRESAT), as well as certifications by occupational doctors from the institution. According to the Government, there has been no specific diagnosis of lead poisoning, but there were 25 recorded cases of workers being exposed to lead between 2007 and the first quarter of 2009. The Government indicates that four cases were certified and that in the remaining cases, a measure was introduced to reduce the workers’ duties or the workers were transferred to other posts. The Government indicates that it has no information on mortality. Recalling that under this Article, governments which have ratified this Convention have assumed the obligation to obtain statistics on lead poisoning among working painters as to: (a) morbidity, by notification and certification of all cases of lead poisoning; and (b) mortality, by a method approved by the official statistical authority in each country, the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to obtain such statistics and to provide them. Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to provide summaries of the inspection reports relating to the Convention, as well as any documentation relating to the application of the Convention in practice. Furthermore, with regard to the Government’s statement that there have been 25 recorded cases of exposure to lead by workers, of which four have been certified, the Committee understands that the “recorded” cases are cases recorded by DIRESAT and that certification cases are those where an occupational doctor has taken action. However, for the purposes of greater clarity, it requests the Government to indicate whether this interpretation is correct and what differences there are, if any, with regard to the consequences for treatment according to classification.
1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report.
2. Article 7 in conjunction with Part V of the report form. Information on the application of the Convention in practice, including statistics on lead poisoning among working painters. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Government’s last report does not contain information on the data in question and reiterates its request to the Government to compile statistics with regard to lead poisoning among working painters: (a) as to morbidity – by notification and verification of all cases of lead poisoning; and (b) as to mortality – by a method approved by the official statistical authority in each country.
The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report.
The Committee notes Decree No. 3235, of 20 January 1999, issuing regulations under the Organic Labour Act, as well as the Act partially reforming the Organic Labour Act (Gaceta Oficial, 19 June 1997, No. 5152, pp. 1-61). The Committee states that the new Organic Labour Act does not contain any provision setting out the prohibition upon the use of white lead, as was the case of the Labour Act, as amended up to 30 June 1983 (Gaceta Oficial, 12 July 1983, No. 3219, Special Issue, p. 3.) in sections 126 to 129. In this regard, the Committee recalls that the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, as amended by Decree No. 1564 of 31 December 1973, also contained provisions (sections 82 and 83) which gave effect to most of the Articles of this Convention. The Committee understands that the above Regulations may continue to remain in force; however, in view of the substantial reform of the country’s legislation that has been carried out the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the above Regulations do indeed remain in force and to provide information on any legislative measure that has been adopted giving effect to the provisions of the Convention.
The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its direct request of 1998, concerning the absence of cases of mortality due to lead poisoning and of statistics on cases of morbidity due to lead poisoning for the period 1991-2000. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue, in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention, compiling statistics on lead poisoning among working painters as to: (a) morbidity, by notification and certification of all cases of lead poisoning; and (b) mortality, by a method approved by the official statistical authority in each country.
The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report. It notes the Government's indication with regard to Article 7 of the Convention according to which statistics on cases of morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning have never been compiled as required under Article 7 of the Convention. The Committee also notes the statement by the Government that it will be requesting the technical assistance of the ILO for the purpose of compiling such statistics. The Committee welcomes the intention expressed by the Government and requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard.
The Committee notes the information provided in the Government's latest report and the statistics on occupational accidents and diseases for the years 1987 to 1991. It notes, however, that no statistics were provided specifically concerning the number of cases of lead poisoning among workers. The Committee would recall that Article 7 of the Convention calls for statistics with regard to lead poisoning among working painters to be obtained. It notes that section 83 of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, 1974, provides that labour inspectors shall furnish periodic reports to the Ministry of Labour containing the number of cases of lead poisoning and the Ministry of Labour shall establish statistics as to the morbidity and mortality among workers due to lead poisoning. The Government is, therefore, requested to provide in its next report any statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning, as requested in the report form under Article 7 of the Convention.
The Committee notes that no report has been received from the Government. It notes that the Government has not supplied any statistics concerning lead poisoning among working painters for a number of years, as requested in the report form under Article 7 of the Convention. The Government is, therefore, requested to provide statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning in its next report.