Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Ecuador (Ratification: 1975)

Legislation. Technical assistance. The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, no specific regulations and standard practices on the handling, use and monitoring of benzene have yet been drafted, and a meeting of the Inter-institutional Committee was to be convened to draft technical regulations for the use of benzene on 5 January 2014. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it would like to receive technical assistance, given that the legislation is limited on the subject and that the required standards have not yet been reached, either in the technical area or with respect to monitoring. Consequently, the Committee invites the Government to formally request technical assistance from the Office and to provide information on all developments on this matter.

The Committee therefore requests the Government once again to adopt all the necessary measures in the very near future to give full effect to the provisions under the Convention, and in particular the provisions listed here below, and to provide information in this respect:

• -Article 2(1) of the Convention. Use of substitute products, where they are available, instead of benzene or products containing benzene;
• -Article 4(1) and (2). Prohibition of the use of benzene or products containing benzene in certain processes, at least as a solvent or diluent, except where the process is carried out in an enclosed system or where there are other equally safe methods of work;
• -Article 5. Occupational hygiene and technical measures to ensure effective protection of workers exposed to benzene;
• -Article 6(1)–(3). Measures to prevent the escape of benzene vapour into the air of places of employment; measures to ensure that the concentration of benzene in the air of places of employment does not exceed a ceiling which shall be fixed by the competent authority at a level not exceeding 25 parts per million, and the establishment of appropriate standards for measuring the concentration of benzene in the air;
• -Article 7(1) and (2). Work processes involving the use of benzene or of products containing benzene to be carried out, as far as possible, in an enclosed system or, where this is not practicable, places of work to be equipped with effective means to ensure the removal of benzene vapour;
• -Article 8(1) and (2). Adequate means of personal protection against the risk of absorbing benzene through the skin or of inhaling benzene vapour, where its concentration in the air of the place of employment exceeds the ceiling of 25 parts per million; and the obligation to limit exposure as far as possible;
• -Articles 9 and 10. Pre-employment medical examinations and periodical re examinations at no cost to the workers to be undergone by all workers who are employed in work processes involving exposure to benzene or to products containing benzene; medical examinations to include blood tests and biological tests carried out under the supervision or with the assistance, as appropriate, of a competent laboratory; appropriate certification;
• -Article 11(1) and (2). Prohibition on the employment of pregnant women, nursing mothers and young persons under 18 years of age in work processes involving exposure to benzene or products containing benzene;
• -Article 12. Clearly visible danger symbols on any container holding benzene or products containing benzene;
• -Article 13. Appropriate measures to provide that any worker exposed to benzene or products containing benzene receives proper instructions on measures to safeguard health and prevent accidents, and on the appropriate action in the event of poisoning; and
• -Article 14. Procedures for the prevention of occupational risks and appropriate inspection.