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

Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139) - Lebanon (Ratification: 2000)

1. Further to its observation, the Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points.

2. Article 2 of the Convention. Replacement of carcinogenic substances and agents by non-carcinogenic substances and agents. The Committee notes with interest that section 46 of the newly adopted Decree No. 11802 of 2004 ensures that dangerous chemical products shall be replaced with non-dangerous or less dangerous products. The Committee requests the Government with its next report to provide examples on carcinogenic substances or agents that have been replaced by non-carcinogenic or less harmful substances or agents. It also asks the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to reduce the number of workers exposed to carcinogenic substances or agents, as well as information on measures taken to reduce the duration and degree of such exposure.

3. Article 3. Measures taken to protect workers against exposure and appropriate system of records. The Committee notes that section 20 of Decree No. 11802 of 2004 provides that necessary precautions must be taken to protect workers against risks of exposure to chemical products and section 21 provides that employers must keep records of all workers exposed to ionizing radiation. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed examples with its next report on measures taken to protect workers against exposure to chemical and other carcinogenic substances or agents at the workplace. It also asks the Government to provide information on the manner in which employers keep records of workers who are exposed to other carcinogenic substances or agents than ionizing radiation at work.

4. Articles 3, 4, 5, and 6, paragraph (a). Protective measures, provision of information, medical examination and promotional campaigns concerning asbestos-related activities. The Committee notes with interest the specific measures taken as regards asbestos-related activities including Decision No. 191/1 of 8 October 1997 requiring that enterprises producing cement in Lebanon keep medical records for a time period of 30 years after the employment was terminated as well as the Government’s reference to the mandatory prevention programme applicable to asbestos-related activities including the activities of enterprises such as Eternet-Company Shaka. The Government is requested to provide detailed information on how the relevant rules are applied in practice in relation to persons engaged in asbestos-related activities, including information on the medical examinations carried out, the keeping of medical records, the provision of information on the dangers involved to workers who may have been exposed to asbestos and on the implementation and results of the mandatory prevention programme.

5. Article 5. Medical examinations. The Committee notes that section 38 of Decree No. 11802 of 2004 ensures that all workers shall undergo medical examinations and that in addition, workers involved with chemical products shall undergo periodical laboratory tests. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information with its next report on the medical examinations carried out before, during and after employment, their frequency and how long information related thereto is kept.

6. Article 6. Labour inspection. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it is the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Public Health that ensure the application of this Convention through the labour inspection services. It requests the Government to provide copies of the latest reports of the labour inspection services on cases which raise issues relating to matters covered by the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to give a general appreciation of the manner in which the Convention is applied in the country, including, for example, extracts from inspection reports and, if available, information on the number of workers covered by the legislation, if possible disaggregated by sex, the number and nature of contraventions reported, the number and cause of accidents recorded and the measures taken to remedy them.