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

Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ratification: 1967)

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s latest report, the attached documentation, and the response provided by the Government on Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee also notes the Government’s reference to a review on the regulations and guidance on working temperatures, which includes consultations with stakeholders from both sides of the industry. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on legislative measures undertaken with regards to the Convention.

Article 2. Exclusion of specific categories of workers. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government indicating that while workers employed in offshore premises are excluded from the application of the provisions of this Convention, they are covered by legislation that provides the same level of protection. The Government has also stated that, on a practical level, the difficulties in identifying workers in domestic premises to be covered by the Convention would mean that effective enforcement of the legislation would be impossible, and that a large proportion of workers employed in domestic premises are care workers providing services to vulnerable sections of the community and that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to justify applying health and safety legislation to the homes of people who are already disadvantaged. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to ensure workers in domestic premises are afforded, as far as practicable, occupational safety and health protection; and invites the Government to continue to consider the possibility of including excluded groups of workers into the scope of application of the Convention.

Part IV of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the attached statistical information indicating the number of enforcement notices issued and prosecutions taken. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information concerning the application of the Convention in practice, including the number of workers covered, and the number and nature of accidents and occupational diseases reported.