Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152) - Cyprus (Ratification: 1987)

The Committee notes with interest the information supplied in the Government's first report concerning the application of the Convention.

1. The Government has indicated that, although no measures exist to ensure the full application of Articles 3, 8, 18, 19(2), 20(1) and (4), 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 and 40 of the Convention, provision has already been made in the proposed new Dock Regulations to give full effect to these Articles. The Committee requests the Government to indicate, in its next report, whether these new Dock Regulations have been adopted and, if so, to provide a copy of the text.

2. The Committee requests the Government to provide further clarification on the following points:

Article 2, paragraphs 1 and 3. The Committee takes note of the exemption from the provisions of this Convention indicated by the Government in respect of dock work in relation to fishing vessels, small ships and barges. It requests the Government to indicate how the employers' and workers' organisations concerned were consulted about this exemption and to indicate the measures which ensure that safe working conditions are, nevertheless, maintained in respect of dock work for these exempted vessels. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the reasons for this exemption, in particular for barges.

3. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the laws or regulations prescribing measures with a view to meeting the objectives listed in Article 4(1), subparagraphs (a), (c), (d) and (f) and which cover the subjects listed in Article 4(2), subparagraphs (a), (b), (j), (l), (m), (n), (o), (g) and (r). Furthermore, in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 3, the Committee requests the Government to supply, in its next report, copies of any technical standards, codes of practices or similar documents approved for the practical implementation of the objectives set forth in Article 4, paragraph 1.

4. The Government is also requested to indicate the measures taken to ensure that, whenever two or more employers undertake activities simultaneously at one workplace, they shall have the duty to collaborate in order to comply with the prescribed safety and health measures, in accordance with Article 5(2).

5. The Committee requests the Government to supply details concerning arrangements made regarding the duty of workers to report to their immediate supervisor any situation which they have reason to believe could present a risk, in accordance with Article 6(1)(c).

6. Article 12. The Government has referred to guide-lines concerning the installation of fire-fighting means which are established by the Fire Brigade. The Government is requested to supply copies of these guide-lines, if available, and to indicate the specific means actually made available for fighting fire.

7. Article 13. The Committee notes that section 73 of the Factories Act 1954 limits the scope of the application of the Act so that, as concerns Part V of the Act, only the sections on court orders and steam boilers are applied to dock work. It requests the Government to indicate whether, as a result of court orders issued under section 47 of the Act, the other sections of Part V also apply to dock work. If the sections of Part V concerning guarding of machinery generally do not apply to dock work, the Government is requested to indicate the measures taken to ensure the application of this Article of the Convention. The Government is also requested to supply copies of the Factories (Amending) Law No. 25/89.

8. The Government is also requested to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the application of Article 11 (width and safety of vehicle and pedestrian passageways) and Article 38 (prohibition of employment of dockworkers who have not received adequate instruction and training and prohibition of operation of lifting appliances or cargo-handling appliances by any person under 18 years of age).