Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2010, publiée 100ème session CIT (2011)

Convention (n° 148) sur le milieu de travail (pollution de l'air, bruit et vibrations), 1977 - Espagne (Ratification: 1980)

Further to its observation, the Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points.

Legislation. The Committee notes the Government’s statement to the effect that during the reporting period the following legislation was adopted: Royal Decree No. 286/2006 of 10 March 2006 on protection of the safety and health of workers against hazards arising from exposure to noise; and Royal Decree No. 1311/2005 of 4 November 2005 on protection of the safety and health of workers against hazards arising from exposure to mechanical vibration, as amended by Royal Decree No. 330/2009 of 13 March 2009, on the same subject. In view of the fact that, at the time of ratification, Spain did not accept the obligations laid down by the Convention with regard to vibration, bearing in mind the major changes in occupational safety and health which have occurred in the country in recent years, and given the information supplied by the Government on legislation with respect to vibration, the Committee requests the Government to clarify whether it is contemplating the possibility of accepting the obligations of the Convention with regard to vibration.

Part IV of the report form and Article 14. Research in the field of prevention and limitation of hazards due to air pollution and noise. Application in practice. The Committee notes the list of research projects undertaken by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the field of prevention and limitation of hazards arising from air pollution and noise. It also notes the European “Stop that Noise” campaign, with the slogan “Noise at work – it can cost you more than your hearing”, and that last year there was a 30.70 per cent increase in noise-related inspections. This increase was connected with campaigns at all levels (trade unions, administrations of autonomous communities, etc.) which echoed the message of the abovementioned European campaign. The Government indicates that the number of casualties involving hearing loss or deafness as a result of noise (369) compared with the figure for physical agents (19,540) is not relevant and that most noise-related illnesses are minor. Indeed, in 2004, as much as 89.36 per cent of all noise-related illnesses were minor, and the corresponding figures for 2005 and 2006 were 98 and 100 per cent, respectively. The Government also indicates that the category of enterprises accounting for the largest proportion of occupational diseases resulting from hearing loss was the manufacturing industry, followed by the commercial and vehicle repair sectors. The Committee requests the Government to supply information in its next report on the practical application of the Convention and to include further information on the application in practice of the provisions relating to air pollution, particularly in the most affected sectors and in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).