Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Guyana (Ratification: 1983)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report and the attached documentation. It notes that section 75(1)(b) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Act No. 32 of 1997) provides that, with respect to hazardous chemicals, physical and biological agents that might endanger the health of workers, the authority shall issue an order to prohibit, limit or restrict the use of such agents at a workplace. The Committee notes the detailed draft Regulations on the safe use of chemicals at work of 31 January 2003, which were attached to the Government’s report. It notes that Annex 1 provides a list of chemicals that are prohibited and that occupational exposure limits are provided in Annex 2, which refers to the international standard established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. The Committee hopes that these regulations will be adopted in the near future and asks the Government to provide information to the Office once the Regulations on the safe use of chemicals at work are adopted, and hopes that they will ensure that the use of benzene and of products containing benzene is prohibited in certain work processes, and that occupational hygiene and technical measures are taken to ensure effective protection of workers exposed to benzene or to products containing benzene, in accordance with the Convention.