Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Côte d'Ivoire (Ratification: 1973)

Article 6(2) of the Convention. Concentration of benzene in the air of places of employment not exceeding a ceiling value of 25 parts per million (80 mg/m3). Application in practice. With reference to its previous comments, in which it requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that the ceiling value of benzene established by Decree No. 95-307 of 1 March 1995 is not exceeded, the Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the maximum concentration of benzene is brought to the attention of the enterprises concerned during inspections, and that measurements of benzene in the air are carried out by private and semi-public institutions. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the application in practice of this provision, including relevant extracts from inspection reports.

Article 11(2). Prohibition of the employment of young persons under 18 years of age in work processes involving exposure to benzene or products containing benzene, except in the context of education or training. The Committee recalls that, in its previous comments, it noted that, under section 4 of Decree No. 95-307, young persons under 18 years of age are not considered fit for work processes likely to result in benzene poisoning, except with special authorization from a physician, and that this exception runs counter to Article 11(2) of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government refers in its report to section 12 of Order No. 009 MEMEASS/CAB of 19 January 2012 revising Order No. 2250 of 14 March 2005, determining the list of hazardous types of work prohibited for children under 18 years of age, which prohibits the employment of children in types of workshops set out in a list, including workshops where benzene vapour is released. The Committee nevertheless notes that this list is not exhaustive and that the prohibition established in this Order does not explicitly cover all work processes involving exposure to benzene or products containing benzene. It also notes that the Government does not provide information on the measures taken to amend Decree No. 95-307 with a view to repealing the exception established in section 4 concerning the employment of young persons with special authorization from a physician. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to repeal the exception established in section 4 of Decree No. 95-307 regarding the possibility for young persons under 18 years of age who have special authorization from a physician to be employed in work processes likely to result in benzene poisoning, so as to bring it into conformity with Article 11(2) of the Convention. It also encourages the Government to take measures to revise Order No. 009 MEMEASS/CAB of 19 January 2012 to explicitly include in the list of hazardous types of work prohibited for children under 18 years of age all work processes involving exposure to benzene or products containing benzene.

Technical assistance. The Committee notes that the Government wishes to receive technical assistance from the Office in order to strengthen the national occupational safety and health system and the capacities of medical labour inspectors. It also notes that in its report on the White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13), the Government indicates that it requests technical assistance from the Office to study the extent of white lead and benzene use in enterprises. The Committee hopes that the Office will provide the technical assistance requested by the Government.