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

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Finland (Ratification: 1929)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, including observations submitted by the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) concerning the practical application of the Convention.

2. Article 6 of the Convention. National legislation. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of, inter alia, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Act No. 738 of 2002) and the Occupational Health Care Act (Act No. 1383 of 2001) to improve working conditions, including the obligation for employers to conduct obligatory risk assessments and to eliminate risks at the workplace, arrange occupational health care for employees, train occupational safety and health professionals.

3. Article 7. Statistical information. The Committee notes from the statistical information provided by the Government that, in the period 2001-03, four cases per year of morbidity caused by lead was recorded, although none of these cases was related to work with white lead painting. The Committee invites the Government to continue to submit statistical information with regard to lead poisoning among working painters.

4. Part V of the report form. Labour inspection. The Committee notes the concerns raised by SAK that, even though white lead paint is no longer produced in Finland, it is still being imported and that, as a result of inadequate information, deficient occupational safety and health service and lack of supervision by the authorities, annually some ten to 20 workers working in small paint shops are exposed to white lead paint. The Committee invites the Government to submit comments regarding these concerns.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2006.]