Solicitud directa (CEACR) - Adopción: 1996, Publicación: 85ª reunión CIT (1997)

Convenio sobre seguridad y salud en la construcción, 1988 (núm. 167) - Iraq (Ratificación : 1990)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its first report.

1. The Committee requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to supply copies or extracts from programmes and plans adopted by the construction company committees.

Article 10. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the provisions laying down the right of workers (and not only workers' representatives) to participate in ensuring safe working conditions and to express views on the working procedures adopted.

Article 14. The Committee notes certain regulations which lay down the obligation of the employer to provide construction workers with scaffolds, lateral supports and mobile ladders (section 5, paragraphs 21 and 30, of the 1967 Instructions No. 22 on occupational safety and health). It requests the Government to indicate the specific national measures covering the construction, quality, safety and correct use of scaffolds, ladders and any other means of access to the workplace as well as those relating to inspection of scaffolds.

Article 15, paragraphs 1(a), (b), (c), (d) and 2. The Committee notes the Government's references in its report to the provisions of section 5(13) and (30) of the 1967 Instructions No. 22 on occupational safety and health concerning the employer's obligation to provide lifting appliances, to ensure that their cords, chains and ancillary gear are of sound mechanical construction, and to submit them to periodic examination by a technician. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the provisions governing the design, construction, installation, proper use, maintenance, examination and testing of lifting appliances and gear.

Articles 15, paragraph 1(e), 16, paragraph 1(d), and 17, paragraph 1(d). The Committee notes the Government's reference to section 4, paragraph III(a), of the 1967 Instructions No. 22 on occupational safety and health as giving effect to the provisions mentioned above. It notes that the provision cited of the national instrument provides only that the person responsible for occupational safety and health shall be competent to provide workers with training on the maintenance of lifting appliances. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the provisions according to which the appliances, machinery, plant and equipment listed in Articles 15, 16 and 17 of the Convention must be operated by workers who have received appropriate training.

Article 17, paragraph 3. The Committee notes the Government's reference to section 5(14), of the 1967 Instructions No. 22 on occupational safety and health which relates to steam boilers and various pressure plant and their gear as well as the checking to which they must be submitted annually. The Committee requests the Government to specify whether examination and testing of pressure plant and equipment are part of this annual check.

Article 26. The Committee notes the Government's reference to the provisions of section 5(12) of the 1967 Instructions No. 22 on occupational safety and health which lays down the obligation for the employer to ensure that workers are protected against the dangers of electricity. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the provisions covering the construction and assembly of electrical materials and installations and prescribing the steps taken, before construction is commenced and during the progress thereof, to ascertain the presence of, and to guard against, danger to workers from any live electrical cable or apparatus at the site. It also requests the Government to describe the technical rules and standards applied at the national level in regard to the laying and maintenance of cables.

Article 28, paragraphs 1, 2(a) and (b), and 3. The Committee notes the references to the provisions of the 1967 Instructions No. 22 on occupational safety and health, and particularly to the provisions relating to programmes and plans on occupational safety and health (section 4, paragraph II(e) of the Instructions). The Committee requests the Government to indicate the preventive measures taken or contemplated (in regard to those set out in paragraph 2(a) and (b) of this Article) with a view to avoiding exposure of workers to the hazards set out in paragraph 1. The Committee also requests the Government to describe the measures prescribed with a view to avoiding any danger where workers are required to enter an area in which there may be an oxygen deficiency.

2. The Committee requests the Government to communicate further information on the following points.

Article 5, paragraph 2. Paying due regard to the standards on occupational safety and health adopted by recognized international organizations in the field of standardization.

Article 8. Sharing of responsibility between two or more employers undertaking activities simultaneously at one construction site in regard to the application of prescribed safety and health measures.

Article 9. The need to take into account the safety and health of the construction workers in accordance with national laws, regulations and practice, during the design and planning of a construction project.

Article 11(a), (b) and (d). The duty of workers to cooperate as closely as possible with their employer in the application of the prescribed safety and health measures; to take reasonable care for their own safety and health and that of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work; to report to their supervisor, and to the workers' safety representative, any situation which could present a risk.

Article 12. The right of a worker to remove himself from danger when he has good reason to believe that there is a serious danger; the duty to inform his supervisor; the obligation of the employer to stop the operation and evacuate workers where there is danger.

Article 13, paragraphs 2 and 3. The provision and maintenance of means of access to and egress from all workplaces; precautions to protect persons present at or in the vicinity of a construction site.

Article 16, paragraphs 1(a), (b) and (c), and 2. Design, construction, maintenance and use of vehicles and earth-moving or materials-handling equipment; provision of access-ways and traffic control on constructions sites.

Article 17, paragraphs 1(a), (b) and (c), and 2. Design, construction, maintenance and use of plant, machinery and equipment, including tools.

Article 18. Height or slope of a structure prescribed by competent technical services; preventive measures where workers are required to work on or near roofs or fragile material.

Article 19(b), (c), (d) and (e). Adequate precautions taken in any excavation, shaft, earthworks, underground works or tunnel to guard against dangers arising from the fall of persons, materials or objects; to maintain any fumes, gases, vapours, dust or other impurities at levels which are not dangerous or injurious to health; to enable workers to reach safety in the event of fire, or an inrush of water or materials; to avoid risk to workers arising from possible underground dangers.

Article 20. Quality of the construction, suitability and soundness of cofferdams and caissons; provision of adequate means for workers to reach safety in the event of an inrush of water or materials; provisions regulating the supervision by a competent person during the construction, positioning, modification or dismantling of a cofferdam or caisson and the inspection of all cofferdams and caissons.

Article 21. Provisions regulating work in compressed air, the nature of prescribed medical examinations and supervision of the conduct of operations by a competent person.

Article 22, paragraphs 1 and 3. Provisions prescribing supervision by a competent person during the erection of structural frames and components and stipulating that formwork, false work and shoring shall be so designed, constructed and maintained that it will safely support all loads that may be imposed on it.

Article 23. Provisions regulating work done over or in close proximity to water.

Article 24. Precautions, methods and procedures adopted in accordance with national laws or regulations when demolition work is done; how it is ensured that the work shall be planned and undertaken only under the supervision of a competent person.

Article 27. Provisions governing the transport and handling of explosives and prescribing the necessary measures taken by a competent person to ensure that workers and other persons are not exposed to the risk of injury.

Article 29, paragraph 1(c). Appropriate measures taken by the employer to bring about a quick and safe evacuation of persons in the event of fire.

Article 30, paragraph 3. Standards established by the competent authority for personal protective equipment and protective clothing taking into account as far as possible ergonomic principles.

Article 31. Arrangements to be made for ensuring the removal of workers who have suffered an accident or sudden illness.

Article 32, paragraph 3. Provision of separate sanitary and washing facilities for men and women workers.

Article 34. Provisions for the reporting to the competent authority within a prescribed time of occupational accidents and diseases.