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

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Czechia (Ratification: 1993)

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s latest report, including references to the availability of legislation online, and recent amendments to legislation concerning the application of the Convention, including the adoption of Act No. 309/2006 Coll., on further requirements for health and safety at work in labour relations and concerning occupational health and safety protection in activities or services provided outside labour relations, and later amended by Acts Nos 362/2007 Coll., 189/2008 Coll. and 223/2009 Coll.; the repeal, and replacement of Act No. 65/1965 Coll., Labour Code, by Act No. 262/2006 Coll., Labour Code, which came into effect on 1 January 2007; the amending of Act No. 251/2005 Coll., on labour inspection by Act No. 264/2006 Coll., and the amending of Act No. 174/1968 Coll., on state supervision of occupational safety, by Acts Nos 189/2008 Coll. and 223/2009 Coll. The Committee further notes the response by the Government regarding the application of occupational safety and health provisions in the Labour Code to home workers in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on relevant measures undertaken with regard to the Convention.

Articles 4 and 7 of the Convention. National policy and reviews at appropriate intervals. The Committee notes the response provided by the Government, which indicates that, in 2008, the National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Policy was reviewed in accordance with the adopted Community Strategy on Health and Safety at Work for the period 2007–12. The National Action Programme for Occupational Safety and Health for the period 2009–10 is based on the priorities and targets of the National Occupational Safety and Health Policy. The targets of the National Action Programme for Occupational Safety and Health include, inter alia, more efficient implementation, exercise and enforcement of legal regulations through inspection bodies; focus on new employment trends; and an increase in the efficiency of OSH prevention activities. This programme is subject to evaluation, and a new programme for the period 2011–12 is under preparation. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the development of national policies and programmes on occupational safety, occupational health and the working environment and to indicate how the situation regarding occupational safety and health and the working environment is reviewed at appropriate intervals, either overall or, in respect of particular areas, with a view to identifying major problems.

Part V of the report form and Article 9. Application of the Convention in practice and labour inspection. The Committee welcomes the detailed information provided by the Government, which indicates that there were 50,173 cases of incapacity caused by work accidents in 2009, of which 14,188 occurred to women. In comparison to the preceding year, the number of work accidents resulting in incapacity has substantially decreased (by 21,108 cases or 29.6 per cent). In 2009, statistical records registered 105 fatal work accidents, 69 less than in 2008. In 2009, 1,107 employees reported 1,313 occupational health problems, of which 1,245 were occupational diseases and 68 were threats of occupational diseases. Some 739 occupational diseases affected men and 574 to women. Most occupational diseases were caused by physical factors, most frequently peripheral nerve disorders caused by limb overburdening (166 cases); and the majority occurred in the health-care sector (169 cases). The Government indicates its intention to submit further information under its reports on the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129), which the Czech Republic intends to ratify shortly. The Committee notes the comments by the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions, included in the Government’s report, which indicate that the Government’s report focuses on legislative changes and lacks detailed analysis of measures aimed at the practical implementation of the Convention, and that information gained through labour inspections suggests that more has to be done, particularly by the Government, in the area of inspection and enforcement. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, with reference to the comments by the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions on inspection and enforcement; and to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to address the high number of cases of occupational diseases occurring in the health-care sector.