Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Latvia (Ratification: 1924)

Article 2, in conjunction with Article 5, of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest the provision of article 1 of the Regulations No. 158 on "Restrictions and Prohibition to Utilise and Market Hazardous Chemical Substances and Hazardous Chemical Products", in conjunction with No. 17 of Annex 1 prohibiting the use of lead carbonates and lead hydrogen carbonates as substances and components of products in paints with the exception of paints used for maintenance and restoration of works of art as well as the preservation and maintenance of historical buildings and their interior.

With regard to regulations determining health and safety requirements at work regarding the use of white lead in painting, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that no legal acts have been elaborated. However, when white lead is used, the Regulations No. 158 have to be considered. In this respect, the Committee points out that the above Regulations read together with Annex 1 provide only for the enumeration of hazardous substances or agents for which the use is restricted or prohibited, but they do not prescribe measures to be taken to prevent dangers arising from the application of painting containing white lead in operations for which its use is not prohibited, as called for in Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or contemplated to regulate the safety and health requirements that have to be taken at the workplace when white lead is used, in conformity with the principles enshrined in Article 5 of the Convention.

In this context, the Committee further notes that according to the information provided by the biggest restoration companies in the country, white lead was not used in restoration work for the last four years. Moreover, according to the data collected by the Customs Department of the State Revenue Service, lead hydrogen carbonates have not been imported to the country in the year 2000.

Article 7. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that according to the data of the State Labour Inspectorate on registered occupational diseases (cases of chronic lead poisoning), no case of intoxication with white lead contained in painting has been registered in Latvia in the year 2000. The Committee invites the Government to continue to supply statistics on the morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning.