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

Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 (No. 127) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1984)

1.  Article 8 of the Convention. Consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers concerned. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report. It notes with interest the adoption of the Organic Act on Prevention, Working Conditions and the Working Environment (LOPCYMAT) of 26 July 2005. It also notes with interest the 2003 activity report of the National Occupational Prevention, Health and Safety Institute (INPSASEL) which deals, amongst other things, with the issue of tripartite participation in occupational health and safety activities (

2. Article 3. Maximum weight of loads to be transported manually by a worker. With reference to section 223(2) of the Occupational Hygiene and Safety Regulations of 1973, which provides that the maximum permissible weight to be transported by a worker shall be 50 kg, the Committee asked the Government, in its previous comments, to provide information on the application of these regulations in the non-industrial sector. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the LOPCYMAT, which is applied to different economic sectors and the scope of which will be widened once new regulations are adopted. The Committee hopes such regulations will be adopted in the very near future and requests the Government to submit a copy of them with its next report.

3. Article 5. Training in working techniques for workers assigned to manual transport of loads. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to a manual that regulates the training, instruction and information provided to workers. The Committee requests the Government to submit a copy of this manual with its next report.

4. Part IV of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes that the statistics do not reflect the current situation in respect of violations of laws or regulations on the manual transport of loads. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to establish such statistics, and that they will contain information on the number of workers covered by the measures adopted in the application of the Convention, and the number and nature of violations reported. The Committee also requests the Government to provide extracts of inspection reports.

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