Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Nicaragua (Ratification: 1981)

In comments it has been making for several years now, the Committee noted that no provisions existed to give effect to the Convention. In 1988, the Committee took note of the Government's indication that special inquiries were being carried out with a view to adopting safety measures for the prevention of risks of intoxication by benzene and requested the Government to supply information on the progress made in this regard. In its latest report, the Government indicates that no change has occurred since its previous report and makes no mention of the status of these special inquiries. The Committee, therefore, urges the Government to take the necessary measures by laws or regulations or any other method to ensure the application of the provisions of this Convention, as called for in Article 14 of the Convention.

In particular, the Committee hopes that the measures necessary to ensure the application of the following Articles of the Convention will be taken in the near future: Article 2 (the use of available harmless or less harmful substitute products instead of benzene or products containing benzene), Article 4 (the prohibition of the use of benzene and of products containing benzene in certain work processes, including its use as a solvent or diluent, except where the process is carried out in an enclosed system or where there are other equally safe methods of work), Article 6 (concentration of benzene in the air not to exceed 25 parts per million (80 mg/m3)), Article 8 (the provision of adequate means of personal protection and the limitation of duration of exposure to levels of benzene exceeding the maximum), Articles 9 and 10 (pre-employment and periodic medical examinations), Article 11 (the prohibition of employment of pregnant and nursing women, as well as young persons under 18 years of age in work processes involving exposure to benzene).

[The Government is requested to provide a detailed report for the period ending 30 June 1992.]