Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) - Germany (Ratification: 1994)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of occupational safety and health (OSH) Conventions, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 115 (radiation protection), 161 (occupational health services), 162 (asbestos), 167 (OSH in construction), 170 (chemicals), 176 (safety and health in mines) and 187 (promotional framework for OSH) together.

General provisions

Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187)

Article 2(3) of the Convention. Measures that could be taken, in consultation with social partners, to ratify relevant OSH Conventions of the ILO. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that it regularly assesses, with the involvement of the social partners, whether additional ILO conventions can be ratified. The Government indicates that the pre-ratification assessment process for the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184) was concluded with a positive result, and the Convention was ratified in June 2024. The Government further indicates that the assessment process for the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) has not yet been concluded. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the periodic consideration of the measures that could be taken to ratify OSH Conventions, in consultation with the social partners.

Article 4(2)(d). Arrangements to promote, at the level of the undertaking, cooperation between management, workers and their representatives. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on measures taken in practice in enterprises employing less than 20 workers to promote cooperation on OSH matters. In this respect, the Government indicates that the New Quality of Work Initiative assists micro and small enterprises in establishing a sustainable, human-focused corporate culture through offering practical knowledge, advice, self-assessments, networking opportunities and project support. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in particular the measures taken to promote cooperation between employers and workers on OSH matters in such enterprises, including in the context of the New Quality of Work Initiative.

Article 4(3)(h). Support mechanisms for progressive improvement of OSH conditions in micro-enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal economy. In reply to Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that in order to enhance OSH support for micro and small enterprises, the Federal Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs launched an expert dialogue with accident insurance institutions, and, in this context, four collaborative events were held since 2022, that produced proposals for improved OSH support for micro and small enterprises. In this respect, the Government refers to an approach called “alternative support”, which will be implemented from autumn 2024, and which includes training business owners on their OSH responsibilities, enabling them to manage these independently or with professional advice. Furthermore, the Committee notes that the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) is working with various stakeholders to update the accident prevention regulations entitled “Occupational Physicians and OSH Professionals” (DGUV Regulation 2) to enhance OSH for both small and large businesses, with the new regulation expected to be in force by spring 2025. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in the revision of the DGUV Regulation 2 and to provide a copy once it has been adopted. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on support mechanisms for the progressive improvement of OSH conditions in the informal economy, if any.

Article 5(1) and (2)(c) of the Convention. Continuous improvement of OSH. Formulation, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and periodical review of the national programme on OSH. Consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the positive outcomes of the evaluation of the Joint German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy (GDA) for the period 2013–18, which demonstrated strengthened OSH compliance, particularly within small and medium-sized enterprises. The Government indicates that companies familiar with GDA guidelines were 11 per cent more likely to conduct risk assessments compared to those that were not, and further reports notable successes in specific GDA work programmes. In this respect, the Committee takes note of the new Joint German Occupational Safety and Health Strategy for the period 2021–25, that emphasises the strategic goal of making work safe and healthy through prevention with the help of risk assessment. It focuses on three core topics: musculoskeletal disorders, mental stress, and exposure to carcinogenic substances. The Government indicates that there are also work programmes that correspond to the three core topics, targeting a broad range of stakeholders, including employers, managers, workplace safety professionals, physicians, and workers’ representatives. In this respect, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that it aims to increase the number of workplaces implementing effective risk assessments and OSH structures through coordinated regulatory practices, focusing on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, with plans for approximately 200,000 workplace inspections and system audits. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the evaluation of the GDA for the period 2021–25, including the progress achieved as regards the three abovementioned core topics and the application of the related work programmes.

Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161)

Article 5 of the Convention. The functions of occupational health services. The Committee notes that the DGUV Regulation 2, which includes detailed provisions on the scope of the supervision by Occupational Physicians and OSH Professionals, is currently being revised, with the aim to create a future-orientated occupational medicine and safety technology structure, for both larger and smaller firms. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information regarding relevant developments.

Application in practice. With reference to its previous comments regarding the shortfall in occupational health physicians, the Government indicates that, the Committee on Occupational Medicine at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs determined in 2022 that, contrary to the pessimistic predictions based on data prior to 2011, the situation regarding young professionals in occupational medicine has improved steadily over the past few years. The Government also indicates that, in 2021, a working group set up by the German Medical Association concluded that, at the end of 2019, approximately 9,100 doctors were available. Nevertheless, the Committee notes that the Government indicates that the lack of qualified personnel in the field of occupational medicine remains an issue, and, in this context, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs supports the Occupational Medicine Action Alliance which aims to encourage young occupational physicians and to attract more medical practitioners to occupational medicine. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to strengthen the application in practice of the Convention, including through addressing the shortage in occupational health physicians. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on evaluations regarding the availability of occupational health services.

Protection against specific risks

Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115)

Articles 1 and 3(1) of the Convention. Legislation giving effect to the Convention. All appropriate steps to ensure the effective protection of workers, in the light of available knowledge. The Government indicates that a comprehensive revision of the radiation protection legislation was carried out which aimed of transposing the European Council Directive 2013/59/EURATOM into national legislation. In this respect, the Committee notes the adoption of the new Radiation Protection Act and the new Radiation Protection Ordinance in 2017, which give effect to most of the provisions of the Convention. The Government indicates that the Act advanced the radiation protection requirements in accordance with European law and aligned them with current scientific and technological advances. In this respect, the Committee notes with interest that section 78(2) of the Act provides for dose limits for occupationally exposed persons per calendar year, which are consistent with the dose limits set out in the 2015 General Observation. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

Article 14. Discontinuation of assignment to work involving exposure to ionizing radiation pursuant to medical advice and alternative employment. The Committee previously noted the Government’s indication that section 241(2) of the German Civil Code (a general provision referring to duties arising out of an obligation, including respect for rights and legal interests) may oblige an employer to propose alternative employment in the enterprise to an employee who, because of exposure to radiation, can no longer perform a particular type of duty. It also noted the Government’s indication that if a worker discontinues work because there is a risk due to radiation exposure, that by continuing their work they would suffer a radiation-induced disease, the worker may be entitled to transitional financial benefits from the statutory accident insurance fund. In this respect the Government indicates that, under certain conditions, according to section 3 of the Occupational Diseases Ordinance, insured persons who refrain from performing hazardous activities because the hazard persists can claim transitional benefits from the accident insurance institutions to compensate for any reduction in earnings or other economic disadvantages incurred as a result. The Committee further notes that neither the Radiation Protection Act nor the Radiation Protection Ordinance include specific provisions that require employers to offer alternative roles or maintain income levels in the event that a worker must cease radiation-related duties due to health concerns after medical advice. Recalling that the Committee indicated in paragraph 40 of its general observation of 2015 on the Convention that employers should make all reasonable efforts to provide workers with suitable alternative employment in circumstances for which it has been determined that the workers, for health reasons, may no longer continue in employment in which they are, or could be, subject to occupational exposure, it requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged in this regard. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of section 241(2) of the Civil Code and section 3 of the Occupational Diseases Ordinance to workers for whom it is medically inadvisable to continue work involving occupational exposure to ionizing radiations, including the circumstances under which these provisions apply and the conditions that must be met for such workers to receive compensation.

Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162)

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee takes note of the detailed statistics provided by the Government on the number and type of occupational diseases registered as being caused by asbestos and the number of workers in Germany exposed to asbestos in 2022, as well as the measures taken to reduce these numbers. In this respect, it notes that as of 31 December 2022, a total of 710,924 persons were registered as being currently or previously exposed to asbestos, 679,594 had job-related exposure to dust containing asbestos and 333 persons were registered for post-exposure examinations and 225,232 persons for further preventive health screenings. The Committee notes that, in 2022, from the 2,164 deaths of insured persons as a result of an occupational disease, 1,350 (62.4 per cent) were due to exposure to dust containing asbestos. The Government indicates that it is continuing the consistent implementation of the European Directive 2009/148/EC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work and is currently in the process of amending the Hazardous Substances Ordinance. Noting that asbestos remains a leading cause of occupational disease-related deaths in Germany, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice including on the number and nature of occupational diseases reported as being caused by asbestos and the number of workers being exposed to asbestos. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in the revision of the Ordinance on Hazardous Substances and to provide a copy once it has been adopted.

Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170)

Article 12(d) of the Convention. Keeping of records of monitoring of the working environment and of exposure. With reference to its previous request concerning the time period for which records of the exposure of workers must be kept, the Committee notes that according to section 14(3) points 3, 4, 6 and 7 of the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, employers are required to ensure that the records of the monitoring of the working environment and of the exposure of workers who carry out activities that involve hazardous substances are kept for a period of 40 years and are accessible to the workers and their representatives. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

Protection in specific branches of activity

Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167)

Articles 3, 4 and 13 of the Convention. Consultation of the most representative organizations of employers and workers. Adoption of laws or regulations on the basis of a risk assessment. Measures to ensure that all workplaces are safe and without risk of injury to safety and health. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that seven national OSH committees, established under the OSH Act and its Ordinances, advise the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on issues related to OSH and contribute to the development of regulations that help implement national OSH laws. The Committee notes that these committees include representatives from national authorities, statutory health insurance institutions, the scientific community, trade unions, and employers’ associations. Taking due note of the information provided by the Government, the Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the consultations held regarding occupational safety and health in the construction sector, including within the national OSH Committees.

Article 35(b). Provision of appropriate labour inspection services. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that section 21 of the OSH Act was amended in 2021 to ensure that, in selecting companies to be inspected, the inspecting authorities must take into account the nature and extent of the potential occupational hazards. According to the Government, workplaces in the construction sector are to be monitored accordingly. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on how section 21(1) of the OSH Act is applied in practice, in order to ensure the appropriate inspection of workplaces in the construction industry, and particularly small enterprises. It requests the Government to provide information on the number of labour inspections conducted in the construction sector.

Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176)

Articles 5 and 16 of the Convention. Statistics on occupational accidents and diseases and compliance with OSH legislation in mining. The Committee takes notes of the statistical information provided in the labour inspection reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022 regarding the number of occupational accidents and diseases in the mining sector, disaggregated by sex. Regarding the accidents, the Committee notes that although the fatality rate remains low (3 fatalities occurred in 2022), the number of accidents increased from 1,438 in 2020 to 1,507 in 2022. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, including the number and nature of occupational accidents and diseases recorded in the mining sector and to indicate the reasons for the increase in occupational accidents from 2020 to 2022.

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

The Committee notes the observations of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB), received on 4 September 2015.

Article 2 of the Convention. National policy. With reference to its previous comment concerning the reform of the provisions on standard occupational health services (OHS) provisions for larger enterprises, the Committee notes that new accident prevention regulations entitled “Occupational Physicians and OSH Professionals” (DGUV Regulation 2) entered into force on 1 January 2011. The Government reports that one of the main objectives of DGUV Regulation 2 is to optimize the standard supervision provided by occupational physicians and occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals for larger enterprises employing more than ten workers. Moreover, the reformed regulation constitutes a joint accident prevention regulation for both industry and public sector occupational accident insurance schemes in Germany. The Government adds that the supervisory bodies of the occupational accident insurance institutions provide support for enterprises and public administrations in the practical implementation of DGUV Regulation 2. The Committee notes this information.

Article 5. The functions of occupational health services. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in response to its previous comment regarding the functions of OHS required by the national legal framework. The Committee notes that, in addition to a non-exhaustive list of OHS functions prescribed in section 3 of the OSH Act (ASiG), DGUV Regulation 2 contains detailed provisions on the scope of the supervision to be provided, composed of basic and company-specific supervision, which includes the provision of support for risk assessments, the investigation of accidents, fundamental work-design activities and the action taken to address company-specific accident and health hazards. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the practical application of the OHS functions set out under section 3 of the ASiG and DGUV Regulation 2.

Application in practice. The Committee notes the indication by the DGB that there is an estimated shortfall of 4.7 million hours per annum of health-care provision, according to a 2014 study by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and that it is likely to increase to 6.8 million hours per annum over the next ten years due to the shortfall in occupational health physicians. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments on this subject.

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

The Committee notes the information provided regarding effect given to Articles 7(2), 8 and 12 of the Convention.

Article 2 of the Convention. National policy. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information provided indicating that the reform regarding standard occupational health service (OHS) provisions for larger enterprises has been delayed due to the proposed accident prevention provisions being too diverse, but that the Government expects the new rules to come into force on 1 January 2011. The Committees requests the Government to continue to provide information on legislative measures taken or envisaged to ensure the application of the Convention and to provide copies of legislative enactments.

Article 5. The functions of the occupational health services. The Committee notes the information provided indication that a non-exhaustive list of OHS functions are given under section 3 of the Safety at Work Act 2003 (ASiG). The Committee further notes that the draft proposal for the standard occupational health services provisions for larger enterprises, that is due to come into force on 1 January 2011, will describe in greater detail the basic provisions to be made in all enterprises in addition to the enterprise-specific component. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of the functions of OHS under section 3 of the ASiG in practice.

Part VI of the report form. Labour inspections. The Committee notes the information that according to national statistics, some 350,000 inspections per year were carried out between 2006 and 2008, and that during this period an average of some 140,000 enterprises were inspected. It also notes that according to the 2008 federal Government report on the status of OHS, and the incidence of occupational accidents and diseases in Germany, all official insurers conducted a total of 690,658 inspections in a total of 384,914 enterprises. With reference to the information provided regarding the inspections services in the country, the Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the findings of the inspections carried out, including on contraventions relevant to the application of the present Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

1. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report and the attached legislation.

2. Article 2. National policy. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of the Accident Prevention Regulations “Company doctors and occupational safety and health specialists” (BGV A 2) establishing the possibility for small enterprises (employing less than ten workers) to provide occupational health services under the Safety at Work Act by applying either the standard health service provision or an entrepreneur model. It further notes the Government’s statement that it is currently revising the legislation applicable to larger enterprises and that it estimates this to be terminated by the end of 2008. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on legislative measures taken or envisaged to ensure the application of the Convention and to provide copies of legislative enactments.

3. Article 5. The functions of the occupational health services. With reference to its previous comments concerning the extent to which certain functions enumerated in this Article could be have been exempted by an order issued by the Federal Minister of Labour, the Committee notes with interest that section 14, subsection of the ASiG has been repealed and that section 3 of the AsiG, section 23 of the BGV A 2 provide detailed regulations on the functions of occupational health services. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information in its next report on the practical application of the functions of the occupational health services.

4. Article 7, paragraph 2. Organization of occupational health services. With respect to its previous comments concerning the manner on how employers may organize their occupational health services under section 19 of the AsiG, the Committee notes that, under section 24 of Book VII of the Social Code (SGB VII), the accident prevention and insurance associations, Berufsgenossenschaften (BG), can establish inter-enterprise occupational health services and can issue detailed regulations. It notes that the occupational health services shall be separate from the organizational units of the accident prevention and insurance associations as regards their organization, location and staff, and that these regulations may provide that an employer failing to appoint a company doctor or a safety specialist, or fails to do so within a specific time period, may be obliged to join an inter-enterprise occupational health service. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information in its next report on the practical application of these inter-enterprise occupational health services, for example, the number of services in existence and the number of workers covered by them.

5. Article 8. Cooperation between the employer, the workers and their representatives. The Committee notes the Government’s statement with respect to the cooperation and participation in undertakings employing less than 20 workers, that BGV A 2 provides that employers must inform the workers of the type of occupational health service provided and the name of the contact persons. It further notes that section 89 of the Works Constitution Act provides for close cooperation between the works council and the employer and authorities responsible for OSH in all matters related to OSH and accident prevention. The Committee notes that work councils are normally set up in workplaces with five or more permanent workers eligible to vote. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the cooperation between the employer, the workers and their representatives in enterprises with less than five permanent workers.

6. Article 11. Qualifications of the occupational health services personnel. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government that the authorization of not fully qualified company doctors and occupational safety experts under section 18 of the ASiG will only be granted if the employer undertakes to have the person concerned undergo further training within a specified time limit as a mandatory prerequisite for obtaining an authorization.

7. Article 12. Surveillance of workers’ health. The Committee notes that the Government omits to provide any information with respect to its previous comments concerning that the surveillance of workers’ health should take place as far as possible during working hours. The Committee therefore reiterates its previous requests and asks the Government to provide information in its next report on measures taken or envisaged to ensure that medical surveillance of workers’ health takes place a far as possible during working hours.

8. Part VI of the report form. Labour inspections. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the implementation of the ASiG is the responsibility of OSH offices of Länder, whereas the implementation of the accident prevention regulations is the responsibility of the technical inspection services of the BG. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information in its next report on measures taken by the offices of Länder and the technical inspection services of the BG to ensure the application of the Convention, including the number of inspections carried out, their findings, the number of workers covered by the legislation, disaggregated by gender if available.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

1.  The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its reports. It requests the Government to provide copies, with its next report, of the Accident Prevention Regulations "Industrial Medical Prevention" (VBG 100) and of some of the federal and Länder directives, mentioned with respect to the application of Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6 of the Convention. The Committee further requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points.

2.  Article 3, paragraph 1.  In its report, the Government indicates that the Occupational Health and Safety Act allows no exceptions as regards the obligation of the employer to provide occupational health services. Sections 2 and 5 of the Law on Accident Prevention (ASIG), however, appear to leave it to the employer’s discretion, to a certain extent, as to whether the employer will appoint occupational health and safety personnel or not. Moreover, section 17 of the ASIG allows the non-application of the Occupational Health and Safety Act in several sectors of activity. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the criteria used: (a) to determine the extent of the employer’s discretion to appoint occupational health and safety personnel, and (b) to allow the non-application of the ASIG in several sectors of activity.

3.  Article 3, paragraph 3.  The Government indicates that in some of the relevant accident prevention regulations of the accident insurance funds (Berufsgenassenschaften) the obligation to provide occupational health services is still made dependent on the size of the enterprise (number of workers). The Government further states that the relevant threshold values in the Accident Prevention Regulations "Company Doctors" (VBG 123) are of a merely transitional nature and that an increasing number of accident insurance funds have, up to now, revised VBG 123 in such a way that occupational health care is provided for all enterprises, irrespective of the number of persons employed.

The Committee notes that progress has been made in the extension of the coverage of VBG 123 to most branches of industrial activity and that, where this has so far not been done, its implementation is under further discussion. The Committee requests the Government to continue to report on any progress made in establishing occupational health services for all workers, including at small workplaces.

4.  Article 5(a)-(k).  The Committee notes that all of the obligations listed in Article 5 appear to be met by sections 3 and 6 of the ASIG in a manner related to the specific risks of the individual undertaking. With respect to the extent to which the functions in question are carried out, section 14(2), in conjunction with section 2(1), No. 2 and No. 3, and section 5(1), No. 2 and No. 3, of the ASIG, provides for the Federal Minister of Labour to determine by ordinance that in individual categories of undertakings such functions need not be carried out at all or need only be carried out partly, depending on the size and the composition of the labour force or on the number and the composition of the occupational health service personnel available. The Committee understands that this implies the possibility that, especially at small workplaces, the health care system might fulfil only the basic level of requirements. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify the extent to which the functions enumerated in Article 5(a)-(k) are guaranteed by occupational health services, in view of the abovementioned power of the Federal Minister of Labour to allow exceptions in accordance with section 14(2) of the ASIG.

5.  Article 7, paragraph 2(a)-(e).  The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the individual employer is given the choice of meeting his obligation of providing occupational health care by either appointing an independent occupational medical practitioner or employing a company doctor as staff or engaging an industry-wide occupational health service. The report further indicates in a general way that the occupational health services may be organized by private bodies or by public authorities, e.g. the accident insurance authorities, but it is silent with regard to the system and the methods of organizing such services, in accordance with the possibilities listed in Article 7, paragraph 2(a)-(e). The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information concerning the system and methods of organizing the occupational health services.

According to section 12 of the ASIG, the competent supervisory authorities may impose specific orders on an employer as to how to organize occupational health services. According to section 14(1) of the ASIG, the Federal Minister of Labour is entitled to define by ordinance the measures to be taken by the employer in order to fulfil his legal duties, especially as regards the nomination of company doctors and safety experts. The Committee requests the Government to provide more information on the extent to which the system and the methods of organizing occupational health services are regulated on the basis of sections 12 and 14(2) of the ASIG.

The Committee requests the Government to indicate the manner in which the accident insurance institutions organize occupational health services, e.g. as set forth in section 2 of VBG 123 in conjunction with the relevant implementing provisions.

Finally, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether occupational health services are organized by a combination of the methods described under paragraphs 2(a)-(c) of this Article and if so, give examples.

6.  Article 8.  Section 11 of the ASIG provides, in enterprises with 20 employees upwards, for the establishment of an occupational safety and health committee. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to bring about the cooperation and participation of the parties concerned in companies with less than 20 employees.

The Committee notes the information regarding the participation and co-determination rights of workers, as well as works councils with respect to occupational health and safety matters. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the different modes of such participation of the parties concerned in the implementation of the organizational and other measures relating to occupational health services, especially according to sections 80-85, 87 and 89-91 of the Works Constitution Act.

7.  Article 11.  In the information provided in the report relating to Article 7, paragraph 2(a), the Government points out that whatever method of organizing the occupational health service the employer chooses the standards required would remain identical under the terms of national law. Section 18 of the ASIG, however, enables the competent authorities to allow not fully-qualified company doctors and occupational safety experts to execute their functions during a period of further training. Thus, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure that the personnel providing occupational health services has adequate and full qualification.

8.  Article 12.  Please indicate also the provisions that ensure that the surveillance of workers’ health takes place, as far as possible, during working time.

9.  Article 14.  The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which workers are required to inform the occupational health services about any factor or suspected factor in the working environment which may affect the workers’ health.