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

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Belize (Ratification: 1983)

I. The Committee notes from the information provided in the Government's latest report that no recent notifications concerning operations involving the exposure of workers to ionising radiations have been made under section 93 of the Labour Ordinance of 1960, as amended in 1964. The Government has indicated in its previous reports that work which involves exposure to ionising radiations for medical or dental purposes is the only type of work in Belize which involves such exposure. The Government is requested to continue to supply information on any other activites undertaken in the future which might involve occupational exposure to ionising radiations and on any measures taken in conformity with Articles 2(1) and 3 of the Convention to regulate these activities.

II. The Committee would draw the Government's attention to its General Observation under this Convention which sets forth, inter alia, the revised dose limits established on the basis of new physiological findings by the International Commission on Radiological Protection in its 1990 recommendations (Publication No. 60). The Committee notes that the United Kingdom Code of Practice for the Protection of Persons against Radiation arising from Medical and Dental Use, 1964, sets forth dose limits of exposure to ionising radiations no longer considered tolerable by the international community. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or regulations made pursuant to section 94 of the Labour Ordinance to bring the dose limits into line with current knowledge, as called for by Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention, and to indicate also the steps taken or being considered in relation to the other matters raised in the conclusions to the General Observation.