Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) - Slovenia (Ratification: 1992)

The Committee notes with interest the information provided in the Government's report. It notes from the Government's report, that no special regulations concerning asbestos have been adopted because the only factory dealing with asbestos was forced to abandon its use due to market requirements. The Committee would point out, however, that the Convention applies not only to manufacturers of products containing asbestos but also to suppliers and users of such products and, more generally, to all activities involving exposure of workers to asbestos in the course of work (Article 1(1) of the Convention), including, for example, the demolition work referred to in Article 17 of the Convention and mentioned by the Government in its report. Protective and preventive measures to be taken in this regard under Articles 3 to 22 of the Convention are not limited to those specified in Article 17 but include, inter alia, the fixing of exposure limits and of standards for respiratory protective equipment under Article 15 of the Convention.

The Committee accordingly hopes that the Government will review the position so as to ascertain whether any legislative provisions complying with the specific requirements under the various Articles of the Convention had been in force in the Republic of Slovenia at the time of independence that might be applicable under Article 4 of the Constitutional Act of 25 June 1991, referred to by the Government in its report. Insofar as no such provisions can be identified, the Committee hopes that the necessary measures will be taken by the Government, in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers concerned for the adoption of laws or regulations providing for the application of the specific requirements of the Convention and that the Government will indicate, in its next report, the progress made in this regard.

Article 17 and point V of the report form. The Government has indicated, in its report, that section 34 of the Safety at Work Act requires that dangerous work, including demolition of plants or structures containing asbestos, be notified in advance to the labour inspectorate which shall also be provided with a complete safety programme and the name of the responsible person. The Government is requested to indicate the manner in which the workers or their representatives are consulted on the work plan and any statistics available concerning the number of authorized cases of demolition involving asbestos and the number of workers concerned.