Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184) - Republic of Moldova (Ratification: 2002)

The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government in its latest report, and the attached documentation, indicating recent legislative amendments, which give  further effect to the Convention, including the Law on Occupational Safety and Health of 10 July 2008, No. 186-XVI. The Committee also notes the responses provided with regard to effect given to Articles 6(2) and 7(c) of the Convention. The Committee refers the Government to its previous comments on the Government’s proposed 2003 Plan of Measures to implement the provisions of the Convention and would be grateful if the Government would provide information on progress achieved in this respect. The Committee also reiterates its request that the Government submit a copy of Ordinance No. 193 of 3 September 2003.

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided supplementary information, as requested in the Committee’s previous comments, on effect given to the following provisions of the Convention:

Article 9, paragraph 1. Measures prescribing that personal protective equipment comply with recognized safety and health standards. Information on legislative or other provisions prescribing that personal protective equipment used in agriculture comply with national or other recognized safety and health standards.

Article 9, paragraphs 2 and 3. Provision of information on machinery safety and ergonomics. Measures to ensure that manufacturers, importers and suppliers comply with the technical standards and provide adequate and appropriate information, in the official language or languages of the user country, to the users and, on request, to the competent authority, and that employers ensure that workers receive and understand such information.

Article 11, paragraph 1. Establishing safety and health requirements for the handling and transport of materials. Measures to establish safety and health requirements, based on risk assessment, technical standards and medical opinion, for the handling and transport of materials, particularly on manual handling.

Article 12. Measures to be taken by the competent authority. Measures to ensure that the competent authority establish a system for the importation, classification, packaging and labelling of chemicals used in agriculture and for their banning or restriction as well as a system for the safe collection, recycling and disposal of chemical waste, obsolete chemicals and empty containers of chemicals; provision of adequate and appropriate information to the users from those who produce, import, provide, sell, transfer, store or dispose of chemicals used in agriculture.

Article 13. Preventive and protective measures. Measures to ensure that there are preventive and protective measures for the use of chemicals and handling of chemical waste at the level of the undertaking as well as for the preparation, handling, application, storage and transportation of chemicals.

Article 14. Activities to comply with national or other recognized health and safety standards. Information on national laws or regulations ensuring that risks such as those of infection, allergy or poisoning are prevented or kept to a minimum when biological agents are handled, and activities involving animals, livestock and stabling areas, comply with national or other recognized health and safety standards. Please also include information on legislative or other measures – including the development of national standards – specifically as regards the handling of poultry and the possible risks related thereto.

Article 19, paragraph (b). Minimum accommodation standards for workers. Information on legislative or other provisions prescribing the minimum accommodation standards for workers who are required by the nature of the work to live temporarily or permanently in the undertaking.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes that the Government refers to the report on the activity of the labour inspection for 2008 regarding general information on the procedure of ensuring occupational safety and health in agriculture. The Committee requests the Government to submit relevant extracts of the latest labour inspection report as well as to provide information on any other measures taken or envisaged with regard to the application of the Convention in practice.