Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised), 1932 (No. 32) - Belgium (Ratification: 1952)

1. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report, in particular the numerous Royal Orders adopted since 2002 in the area of occupational safety and health. The Committee also notes the Government’s statement that the labour inspectorate was restructured on 1 April 2004 and that the department responsible for monitoring occupational welfare (CBE) is now part of the Federal Public Service for Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue, but that this restructuring has not produced any changes in inspection practices with regard to the protection of dockworkers. The Committee takes this opportunity to draw the Government’s attention to the code of practice entitled Safety and health in ports (Geneva, 2005), recently adopted by the ILO. The code is available on the ILO web site at the following address: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/
protection/safework/cops/english/download/f_ports.pdf.

2. Article 9, paragraph 2(2) of the Convention and Part V of the report form. Measures taken to ensure the safe functioning of hoisting machines and all fixed gear accessory thereto; and application in practice of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s information with regard to an accident that occurred in the port of Zeebrugge, when a container fell from a crane, and that the investigation into this accident revealed technical defects in installations, particularly cranes. The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, inspection visits in ports are regular and have always been carried out in the presence of an adviser, but that comments made in writing against enterprises do not appear to be followed up with the imposition of penalties. The Committee also notes that the overall statistics concerning the number of industrial accidents in ports are not available. The Committee would like to emphasize the importance of the collection of this information in order to be able to assess the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice in the country. The Committee requests the Government to supply further information on the impact of the measures taken to improve the safety of dockworkers in the port of Zeebrugge, and encourages the Government to collect statistical information on the number of industrial accidents in ports, including dangerous incidents, and requests it to supply any other relevant information enabling an assessment of the practical application of the Convention.

3. The Committee takes this opportunity to remind the Government that the ILO Governing Body invited the parties to Convention No. 32 to consider the ratification of the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152), which revises Convention No. 32 (document GB.268/LILS/5(Rev.1), paragraphs 99–101). Such ratification would automatically entail the immediate denunciation of Convention No. 32. The Government is requested to keep the Committee informed of all progress made in this respect.