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

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

In comments it has been making for several years, the Committee noted that no provisions existed to give effect to the Convention. In 1988, the Committee had taken 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 has made reference to difficulties faced by the country in the last 13 years which have hindered the implementation of national occupational safety and health programmes. The Government adds, however, that the General Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health has just begun a series of actions aimed at identifying risk situations and establishing measures of control and that the Ibero-American Institute of Co-operation has begun to assist the Government in the drafting of Ministerial resolutions and agreements to regulate certain aspects of safety and health, taking into account the Committee of Experts' comments. The Committee hopes, therefore, that the Government will take the necessary measures in the very near future to ensure the application of the provisions of this Convention, as called for in Article 14 of the Convention.

In particular, the Committee reiterates its hope that the Government will be able to indicate in its next report the measures taken to ensure the application of the following Articles of the Convention: 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 report in detail for the period ending 30 June 1993.]