White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Finland (Ratification: 1929)

Replies received to the issues raised in a direct request which do not give rise to further comments (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, which answers the points raised in its previous direct request and has no further matters to raise in this regard.

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

Application of the Convention in practice. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, white lead is used in low quantities in professional maintenance and restoration work where exposure is not likely to be substantial, and that authorities have not discovered cases where a worker would have been exposed to white lead or lead sulfochromate, namely during the process of stripping old paint from buildings. Furthermore, while it appears from the report that none of the 4,161 blood samples monitored by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health between June 2010 and May 2015 mentioned white lead, the Government indicates that 24 of the 42 samples obtained from painters exceeded the reference value for the non-exposed but that no sample reached the bio-monitoring level where the employer is required to take action to reduce exposure. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the results of bio-monitoring conducted by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health with regard to concentrations of white lead, and to provide statistical information on the number of inspections carried out, the outcome of these inspections, and on the number and nature of the contraventions reported.

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

The Committee notes the information and new legislation provided which gives further effect to the Convention. The Committee also notes, in particular, the adoption of the REACH regulations (EC 1907/2006) (Registrations, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances) on chemicals and their safety, prohibiting the importation and marketing of white lead. The Committee further notes the observations from the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) included in the Government’s report.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the SAK’s concerns that problems may arise in the paint manufacturing process and in relation to dust emanating from dry pigments during the mixing process and that, according to a survey conducted between 2002–03 by the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Pirkanmaa, significant lead concentrations, exceeding the limit value of hazardous waste, are still found on the walls of wooden houses painted using old oil-based paints; that workers may be exposed to lead from the old paints in connection with sanding the walls or other work process, and that no information is available on the number of exposed workers or possible protective measures. The Committee further notes the statistics provided by the Government regarding the number of inspections carried out in the country. Accordingly, and while both the number of inspections carried out and the number of inspected workplaces increased between 2005–08, both the number of inspections carried out decreased from 20,477 in 2008 to 19,916 in 2009 and the number of inspected workplaces decreased from 14,717 in 2008 to 14,618 in 2009. In addition, the average time used for each inspection decreasing from 2.6 hours to 2 hours over the past four years. The Committee requests the Government to indicate measures taken to address the comments raised by the SAK and to provide further statistical information on not only on the number of inspections carried out but also on the outcome of these inspections.

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

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report.

2. Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the Government’s response to the concern previously expressed by the Central Organizations of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) that white lead paint, even though not produced in Finland, is still imported and workers in small enterprises are exposed thereto. It notes the Government’s statement that the Chemical Act (No. 744 of 1998) and the Ordinance on chemicals (No. 675 of 1993) also is applicable, inter alia, to manufacturers and importers of products that contain lead.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, including observations submitted by the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) concerning the practical application of the Convention.

2. Article 6 of the Convention. National legislation. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of, inter alia, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Act No. 738 of 2002) and the Occupational Health Care Act (Act No. 1383 of 2001) to improve working conditions, including the obligation for employers to conduct obligatory risk assessments and to eliminate risks at the workplace, arrange occupational health care for employees, train occupational safety and health professionals.

3. Article 7. Statistical information. The Committee notes from the statistical information provided by the Government that, in the period 2001-03, four cases per year of morbidity caused by lead was recorded, although none of these cases was related to work with white lead painting. The Committee invites the Government to continue to submit statistical information with regard to lead poisoning among working painters.

4. Part V of the report form. Labour inspection. The Committee notes the concerns raised by SAK that, even though white lead paint is no longer produced in Finland, it is still being imported and that, as a result of inadequate information, deficient occupational safety and health service and lack of supervision by the authorities, annually some ten to 20 workers working in small paint shops are exposed to white lead paint. The Committee invites the Government to submit comments regarding these concerns.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2006.]

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report as concerns the application of Article 1 of the Convention. It further notes the Government’s indication that no permissions have been granted for the employment of painters’ apprentices in work involving the use of white lead and sulphate of lead or other products containing these pigments.

2. Article 7. The Committee takes note of the statistical data provided by the Government. It notes that in 1999 ten cases of morbidity caused by lead were notified to the Finnish Register on Occupational Diseases, however none of them was related to painting work. Moreover, the Finnish Register on Occupational Diseases has no record of lead poisoning among working painters for the period of 1 July 1996 to 31 May 2001.

The Committee would invite the Government to continue to provide statistics with regard to lead poisoning among working painters to the ILO.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes that Act (101/29) on the Prohibition of White Lead and Lead Sulphate in Certain Painting Work has been repealed by the Act (564/96) of 26 July 1996. The Committee would therefore request the Government whether another law or regulation, as for example the Decision of the Council of State (27 May 1992/489), provide for the prohibition of the use of white lead or sulphate of lead in order to give effect to Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention.

2. Article 7. The Committee notes the statistical data provided by the Government. It would request the Government to continue to provide all statistics with regard to lead poisoning among working painters to the ILO.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee notes from the Government's report that there has been no change in the legislation giving effect to the Convention. It notes, however, that the Government has not supplied any statistics concerning lead poisoning among working painters for a number of years, as requested in the report form under Article 7 of the Convention. The Government is, therefore, requested to provide statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning in its next report.