BANGKOK (ILO News) – Existing international and national regulations do not specifically address shipbreaking, widely regarded as one of the world’s most hazardous occupations. Sites where shipbreaking takes place are often referred to as ‘time bombs’ with long-term effects for public and environmental health.

"Although working conditions vary from country to country, workers in shipbreaking are exposed to extremely hazardous working conditions with high accident rates leading to injuries and fatalities," said Dr Jukka Takala, director of the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s InFocus Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment.

"Inadequate safety controls, badly monitored operations, exposure to highly toxic substances, a high risk of explosions and a lack of adequate training exacerbate the situation."

The ILO, concerned by the lack of protection for workers in this area, is holding a Tripartite Meeting of Experts on Safety and Health in Shipbreaking from 7-14 October in Bangkok. During the meeting, guidelines for responsible ship dismantling and the provision of support for improved safety and health in shipbreaking will be revised and adopted.

In addition to factors regarding Occupational, Safety and Health (OSH), the ILO is also disturbed by decent work deficits in terms of limits on freedom of association, collective bargaining, social protection, welfare provisions, basic living conditions and training.

"Our long-term objective is to improve the health and safety conditions for workers in shipbreaking operations by transforming it from the informal sector into a sustainable industry in the formal sector, thus contributing to poverty alleviation," Takala explained.

The programme aims at the establishment of sound national frameworks for responsible ship dismantling and the provision of support for improved safety and health in shipbreaking by:

• Applying relevant ILO international instruments and codes of practice
• Enhancing social dialogue in OSH
• Strengthening national legislation and enforcing OSH standards; and
• Assisting governments, employers and workers through the execution of comprehensive technical cooperation projects aimed at national and enterprise levels.

Effective shipbreaking largely depends on how the vessel is prepared for dismantling. Although the maritime industry is very well regulated, the end of a vessel’s life and its dismantling are not comprehensively covered.

The activities of the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Basel Convention (United Nations’ Environmental Programme [UNEP]) on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal are both highly relevant. In light of this situation, senior representatives of these international organizations are actively participating in the meeting.

For further information on the guidelines under consideration, please visit:

Paul J. Bailey, Senior Industrial Specialist, Sectoral Activities Department, ILO
Dr Igor Fedotov M.D., SAFEWORK, ILO
Captain Moin Ahmed, Chairman of the Meeting
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Dachang Du, Senior Deputy Director, Marine Environment Division
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
Ibrahim Shafii, Secretariat of the Basel Convention/ United Nations’ Environment Programme (UNEP)

For further information on the meeting, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

or,

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¹ Representatives of government, employers’ and workers’ groups from Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan and Turkey are participating in the meeting, supported by resource persons from Canada, Republic of Korea and the United States