Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Greece (Ratification: 1977)

1. Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's reply to its previous comments that section 3 of Act No. 61 of 1975 prohibits the use of benzene and of products with a benzene content of over 1 per cent as solvents or diluents except when carried out in an enclosed system or where there are other equally safe methods of work, in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee would recall that paragraph 1 of this Article provides that the use of benzene and of products containing benzene shall be prohibited in certain work processes to be specified by national laws or regulations. Such prohibition could cover the use of benzene in forms other than as solvents or diluents, but in work processes where its use may be considered an unnecessary risk. The Government has not supplied any information on measures taken to prohibit the use of benzene in certain work processes other than the minimum requirement set out in Article 4, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Government is, therefore, requested to indicate in its next report whether any measures have been taken or envisaged to prohibit the use of benzene other than the prohibition set out in section 3 of Act No. 61.

2. Point IV of the report form. In comments it has been making since 1984, the Committee has requested the Government to supply information on the practical application of the Convention. In its latest report, the Government has indicated that sufficient data are not available in this regard. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures both through the inspection services, as required by Article 14(c) of the Convention, and any other competent bodies to obtain information concerning the practical application of the Convention (e.g., the work processes in which benzene is used, the number of persons employed in these work processes, the number and nature of contraventions reported, any sanctions applied, etc.) and to provide this information with its next report, in accordance with point IV of the report form.