Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) - Czechia (Ratification: 2000)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s reports for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 including the observations of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (CM KOS) made in 2005.

2. Measures to improve safety and health standards in mines and in black coal mines. The Committee notes that according to the information provided by the Government the number of fatal accidents in mines increased over the years 2003 and 2004 and that in these years there were 20 and 21 fatal accidents, respectively with the highest number of fatal accidents occurring in black coal mines. The Committee also notes that the number of work injuries requiring hospitalization for more than five days appears to be on the rise, with 58 such injuries having occurred in 2004 and 34 of these injuries occurring in black coal mines. The Committee notes that CM KOS has expressed serious concerns regarding the increasing number of fatalities and that, in an effort to address these concerns, measures had been taken in cooperation between CM KOS, occupational safety inspectors of the Trade Union of Workers in Mines, Geology and Oil Industry (OS-PGHN), the Czech Mining Office (ČBÚ) and the State Labour Inspection Office. The Committee notes with interest the information submitted by the Government that the state mining administration bodies inspected the status, cause and consequence of each fatality, that proceedings were commenced against every organization concerned, that sanctions were applied if safety norms were breached and that fines were imposed during inspections by the local mining offices for infringement of safety norms. The Committee requests the Government to provide further detailed information on measures taken to address the concerns addressed in this comment including information on the results of the specific cooperation between CM KOS, OS-PGHN, ČBÚ and the State Labour Inspection Office. Furthermore, and in the light of the fact that the highest number of fatal accidents and the highest number of injuries requiring hospitalization for more than five days in both 2003 and 2004 have taken place in black coal mines, the Committee requests the Government to indicate specific measures taken to improve safety and health standards in black coal mines, apart from the imposition of sanctions.

3. The Committee is raising certain other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.