Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170) - Cyprus (Ratification: 2016)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report.

Article 12(d) of the Convention. Responsibilities of employers concerning exposure. Keeping of and access to records of the monitoring of the working environment. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report concerning the requirement for risk assessments on chemicals to be documented and kept up to date, pursuant to Regulation 5 of the Safety and Health at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations of 2001, as amended. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the method and the prescribed period for keeping records of the monitoring of the working environment, and how it ensures that those records are accessible to workers and their representatives, in accordance with Article 12(d) of the Convention.

Article 15(d). Training of workers on a continuing basis. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, in accordance with Regulation 10 of the Safety and Health at Work (Chemical Agents) Regulations, the employer shall ensure that workers have access to information and training. According to the Government, this includes access to: (i) risk assessments for hazardous chemical agents, including major alterations at the workplace leading to a change in the assessment; (ii) information on the hazardous chemical agents, such as their identity, occupational safety and health (OSH) risks, and relevant occupational exposure limit values; (iii) safety data sheets provided by the supplier; and (iv) training and information on appropriate precautions to be taken to safeguard themselves and other workers. The Government further indicates that the manner in which information is provided, including through training, shall be appropriate to the outcome of the risk assessments undertaken. The Committee requests the Government to indicate how it ensures that the training of workers on practices and procedures to be followed for safety in the use of chemicals at work is done on a continuing basis, in accordance with Article 15(d) of the Convention.

Article 18(1) and (2). Workers’ right to remove themselves from danger. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the specific provisions in national legislation or any applicable collective agreements, giving effect to Article 18(1) and (2) of the Convention on the right of workers to: remove themselves from danger resulting from the use of chemicals when they have reasonable justification to believe there is an imminent and serious risk to their safety or health; inform their supervisor immediately; and be protected against undue consequences for exercising their rights under the Convention.

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Department of Labour Inspection (DLI) of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance is the authority responsible for the enforcement of the applicable legislation in Cyprus. The Government indicates that this includes the enforcement of Regulation (EC) No. 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH); and Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures. The Committee also notes that the Government provides statistics on enforcement, including 9,798 inspections carried out by the DLI in workplaces using chemicals, and 43 cases of suspected occupational diseases that may have been caused by exposure to chemical substances. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide statistics relating to the enforcement of the Convention, including, in particular, on any violations of the national legislation on chemicals or of the above-mentioned regulations of the European Union detected, sanctions imposed, and cases of occupational diseases reported as being caused by exposure to chemical substances.