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

Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139) - Uruguay (Ratification: 1980)

The Committee notes with interest the indication in the Government's report that workers engaged in activities where there is a risk of exposure to carcinogenic substances must have a yearly "health book" indicating the clinical and laboratory examinations which they have undergone, even after leaving the workplace. It notes that section 3 of Decree No. 406/988 of 3 June 1988 only provides, however, that workers exposed to chemical, biological and physical risks shall be submitted to medical supervision at the beginning of the employment, periodically and upon leaving the employment, in accordance with the standards established by the competent authority. Section 6 of Decree No. 651/990 of 18 December 1990 provides that the medical examinations to be recorded in the health book shall correspond to the type of work activity and shall be undergone with the periodicity determined by the Ministry of Public Health. The Committee would recall that Article 5 of the Convention provides that workers shall undergo medical examinations, as are necessary, after employment in order to ensure that appropriate medical supervision is provided to workers who may not reveal any symptoms of cancer until some time after the period of exposure. The Government is requested to indicate the periodicity determined by the Ministry of Public Health, or other competent authority, with which workers who have been exposed to carcinogenic substances are medically supervised.