Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Finland (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee notes the observations of the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), communicated with the Government’s report.

With reference to its previous comment, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the effect given to Article 6(3) of the Convention concerning the measurement of the concentration of benzene.

Article 9. Medical examination of workers. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the training of future occupational hygienists and the training of licenced physicians in occupational health care, but that no further information is provided on the measures taken to ensure that all workers concerned undergo pre-employment and periodic medical examinations. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the measures taken to ensure that all workers employed in work processes involving exposure to benzene or to products containing benzene undergo pre-employment and periodic medical examinations.

Application in practice. With reference to its previous comment, the Committee notes that the Government indicates that the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health collects information on worker exposure to benzene using both air measurements and biological samples and that, considering the number of workers exposed to benzene has remained steady for many years, preventive procedures should be developed, including the provision of information and the induction and training of workers. According to the statistics provided by the Government, 1,675 workers (1,557 men and 118 women) were exposed to benzene in 2012 and the most common occupations of exposed workers included mechanics or repairpersons working on motor vehicles, aircrafts and agricultural and industrial machines, plastic processing machine operators, and oil or gas refinery process operators. The Committee also notes that the SAK continues to express concerns as regards the exposure of workers to benzene. The SAK observes that the number of workers exposed to benzene, as reported in the register for workers at risk of exposure to carcinogenic substances and processes (ASA register), has not decreased in the past decade. The SAK also states that the exposure of workers is not comprehensively assessed and that approximately 2,000 to 3,000 workers in the motor fuel supply chain and 8,000 service station workers can occasionally be exposed to benzene. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the preventive measures that have been taken with a view to decrease the number of workers exposed to benzene or decreasing products containing benzene. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, including statistics on the number of workers exposed to benzene or products containing benzene, the number and nature of infringements reported and the measures taken to address them, and the number and nature of cases of occupational disease reported.