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

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Chile (Ratification: 1994)

Article 6(2) of the Convention. Establishment of limits for occupational exposure to benzene. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to take the necessary measures to update the limit that is currently in force for occupational exposure to benzene in light of current scientific knowledge and, in particular, the limit recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and to provide information on this subject. The Committee recalls that the ACGIH recommended that the concentration limit for occupational exposure to benzene should not be over 0.5 ppm (time-weighted) and 2.5 ppm (short-term). In this regard, the Committee notes with regret that, according to the information provided by the Government in its report, by Supreme Decree No. 594 of 1999, as amended in 2015, of the Ministry of Health, the limits for occupational exposure to benzene are clearly higher than the above exposure limits. The Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to establish threshold limit values in accordance with the ACGIH’s recommendation, and to provide information on this subject.

Article 7. Processes involving the use of benzene to be carried out in an enclosed system. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the manner in which it is ensured that work processes involving the use of benzene or products containing benzene shall, as far as practicable, be carried out in an enclosed system. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to section 9 of Decree No. 144 of 1985 of the Ministry of Health and Supreme Decree No. 90 of 1996 of the Ministry of Economy. The Committee notes that, although these texts contain protective provisions, it is not clear whether or not they give full effect to this Article of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which it is ensured that work processes involving the use of benzene or of products containing benzene shall, as far as practicable, be carried out in an enclosed system, and requests it to provide practical information on this subject.

Article 14(c). Requirement to provide appropriate inspection services for the purpose of supervising the application of the provisions of this Convention, or to satisfy itself that appropriate inspection is carried out. Application in practice. In relation to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Social Security Supervisory Authority requested the social security administrative bodies covered by Act No. 16744 to report on the monitoring programmes carried out in 2014 in accordance with the implementing regulations of the Act. The Government indicates that the required information was sent by the administrative bodies to the Social Security Supervisory Authority, but that it is currently in the process of being revised. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that, without prejudice to the above, it is known that at least 28 workers are following programmes as a result of exposure to benzene. The Committee trusts that the information provided to the Social Security Supervisory Authority will be communicated, together with any updated information, in the Government’s next report.