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

Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) - Canada (Ratification: 1988)

1. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report and the attached statistical information.

2. Article 2. Harmonization of definitions relevant for the application of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments regarding the application of this Article of the Convention, the Committee notes that the Government’s report is silent on this issue. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on measures taken and envisaged to harmonize the legislation in the country in accordance with the definitions set forth in this Article and to provide further information on the efforts of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee of the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Law in this respect.

3. Part V of the report form. Appreciation of the application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that national detailed occupational injury and diseases statistics are compiled through the National Work Injuries Statistics Program (NWISP), which is administered by the Association of Workers’ Compensations Boards of Canada (AWCBC). It notes that the primary purpose of NWISP is to collect data from all Canadian jurisdictions and maintain a national database of occupational injury and disease statistics, and that the data collection is administrative in nature, meaning that all cases are documented in the statistics and these statistics are harmonized by AWCBC which converts data submitted under different coding structures into a standard coding structure. The Committee notes with concern that, according to the submitted statistical tables for the period 1998-2004 for accepted claims for asbestos-related injuries, the number of cases caused by mesothelioma have doubled (from 29 to 58 in 2004) while the number of cases of injuries related to asbestosis have remained relatively stable. As regards fatalities, the number of mesothelioma-related fatalities have also doubled, while the number of fatalities caused by asbestosis for the same period increased from 30 to 55. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide relevant statistical information as well as information on further measures planned or envisaged to curb what seems to be a significant increase of asbestos-related injuries and fatalities.