Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170) - Colombia (Ratification: 1994)

The Committee refers to its observation and requests the Government to supply information on the following points.

Article 4 of the Convention. Formulation, implementation and periodic review of a coherent policy on safety in the use of chemicals at work, in consultation with the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it signed an agreement in 2008 with the National Institute of Cancerology with a view to drafting the Technical Standard and the National Plan for the Prevention of Occupational Cancer. In view of the fundamental importance of ensuring the systematic implementation and periodic review of the aforementioned policy in order to maintain progress, the Committee requests the Government to supply practical information on the manner in which this process is implemented, in consultation with the most representative employers’ and workers’ organizations.

Part V of the Convention. Application in practice. The Committee welcomes the five guides, drawn up in 2008, focusing on occupational safety and health with specific reference to: occupational dermatitis; cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides; lung cancer; asthma; and benzene and its derivatives. The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts, while also requesting it to supply practical information on the application of the aforementioned codes in practice.

The Committee notes that the Government has not supplied the information requested in the last paragraph of its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee requests the Government to indicate in detail measures taken or envisaged to give effect to each of the Articles of the Convention and to pay special attention to the following provisions: Article 6 (system of chemicals’ classification), Article 7 (obligation of labelling and marking chemicals), Article 8 (safety data sheets for hazardous chemicals), Article 9 (suppliers’ responsibilities), Articles 10 to 13 (employers’ responsibilities related to identification of chemicals, transfer of chemicals, exposure of workers to chemicals, operational control), Articles 17 and 18 (rights of workers and their representatives, workers’ duties).

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to adopt the necessary measures in the near future.