Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115) - Brazil (Ratification: 1966)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report.

1. In its previous observation, the Committee had referred to comments made by the National Commission of Workers in Nuclear Energy (CONTREN) concerning dangerous working conditions to which workers are exposed in the nuclear industry; it had noted the Government's indication that coordinated action was to be undertaken with the social partners to determine the actual situation in the nuclear industry in order to bring about the necessary changes, and that working conditions needed to be reformulated by collective agreements. The Committee had accordingly asked the Government to communicate information thus collected concerning the present situation in the nuclear industry as well as any collective agreements relevant to the application of the Convention.

The Committee notes that this information has not yet been communicated to the Office. It must, therefore, reiterate its request for this information.

2. Articles 3 and 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. In its previous observation, the Committee had referred to the explanations provided in its 1992 general observation under this Convention where it drew attention to the revised exposure limits adopted on the basis of new physiological findings by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and asked governments to indicate the steps taken to ensure effective protection of workers against ionizing radiation and to review maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiations in the light of current knowledge. The Committee notes with interest the Government's indication in its report that the Coordinating Committee for Protection concerning the Brazilian Nuclear Programme (COPRON) has been sent a proposal for modifying legislation in the light of these recommendations of the ICRP. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to supply information on the amendments adopted or envisaged in this regard, a certain number of points are again being raised in a direct request addressed directly to the Government.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 1996.]