Minerals dusts and prevention of silicosis, vol 4; No.2, September 1997ILO News
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News on occupational safety and health
Indonesia
A national tripartite workshop on occupational safety and health in the food, drink and tobacco industries was held from 11 to 14 March 1997, in Jakarta Indonesia. The objective of the workshop was to exchange and share information on occupational safety and health issues in the food, drink and tobacco industries, as well as to promote better understanding and awareness of occupational safety and health problems in those industries.
The workshop was attended by 29 participants from different government agencies, employers' and workers' organizations, and academia. During the workshop, the tripartite constituents identified the problems related to occupational safety and health issues in the food, drink, and tobacco industries, and also proposed practical actions to be implemented.
Korea
The Korea Industrial Safety Corporation (KISCO), the National ILO/CIS Centre, has recently launched a national three-year plan on occupational safety and health. The plan includes several methods targeted to reduce the occupational accident rate to less than 0.5% by the year 2000. An on-line database of chemical safety datasheets for 33,000 chemicals will be made available soon.
Viet Nam
A subnetwork for the prevention of silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis will be
established in Vietnam. The new subnetwork will utilize the existing structures of the
National Occupational Safety and Health Information Network in Vietnam.
New occupational safety and health legislations in the region
China
The Regulation on Safety in the Use of Chemicals at Work came into force in January 1997. The regulation was prepared to supplement the existing legislation with a view to fully implement the ILO Chemicals Convention No. 170, (1990). The regulation identifies the responsibilities of suppliers of chemicals to furnish labels and chemical safety data sheets; the duties of employers to ensure that chemicals are labelled and data sheets provided, and that necessary protective measures are implemented. The regulation also addresses the rights and duties of workers.
India
The Building and Other Construction Workers (regulation of employment and conditions of service) Bill was enacted in 1996. The regulation calls for establishment of the State Advisory and Expert Committees to protect workers' welfare and safety at the national level, registration of establishments and building workers, establishment of welfare boards of building and other construction workers at the state level. It also states provisions of working hours and general welfare measures for building workers, requirements to establish a safety committee in every establishment of 500 or more workers, and also the duties of employers to take necessary safety measures.
Malaysia
The regulation on control of industrial major accident hazards was enacted in 1996. The regulation states the duties of manufacturers to identify, notify, and report an industrial activity within their control; to demonstrate safe operation of a non-major hazard installation, as well as to prepare an emergency plan for a major hazard installation and notification procedures in case of major accidents.
The regulation on classification, packaging and labelling of hazardous chemicals was issued in April 1997. It states the duties of suppliers to properly classify, pack, and label chemical substances, including furnishing of chemical safety data sheets.
The regulation on safety and health committees states the requirements for composition, function, and meetings of safety and health committees. It also identifies the duties of employers to provide adequate training as well as to make available relevant documents and information for members of safety and health committees.
Thailand
New notification of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare on safety at work for employees, enacted in June 1997, states the requirements of occupational safety training for employees, supervisors, and managers. The Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare provides safety training of different levels, of which the major part is assigned as a responsibility of the National Institute for Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment (NICE), the National ILO/CIS Centre.
Workplaces less than 50 employees are expected to send at least one employee representative to attend 30 hours of safety training. The workplaces more than 50 employees are expected to send at least one employee representative to attend 180 hours of safety training, and also at least one employee representative to attend 30 hours of safety officer training. Managers and supervisors at any workplace are expected to undergo 12 hours of safety training.