Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148) - Slovakia (Ratification: 1993)

Article 5(1) and (2) of the Convention. Consultations of representatives of employers and workers. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Economic and Social Council of the Slovak Republic, a tripartite consultation mechanism established by Act No. 103/2007 Coll. on tripartite consultations at the national level, is involved in the elaboration of all legislative acts and programmes. However, the Government does not provide any information on the discussions of the Economic and Social Council with regard to the effect given to the provisions of the Convention, including on the elaboration of provisions concerning the practical implementation of the measures to be taken for the prevention and control of, and protection against, occupational hazards in the working environment due to air pollution, noise and vibration. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the discussions of the Economic and Social Council relating to the effect given to the Convention in the country and the actions taken as a result of these discussions.

Article 8(2) and (3). Consultation of technically competent persons designated by employers’ and workers’ organizations and regular revision of exposure limits. The Committee notes that the Economic and Social Council, in accordance with section 10 of Act No. 103/2007 Coll. and article 8 of its Standing Orders, establishes advisory bodies for the individual fields of its activities, comprised of experts appointed by representatives of the Government and the social partners. The Government also indicates that the criteria and the determination of the exposure limits are prepared by the Ministry of Economy, in accordance with the relevant legislation of the European Union. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the activities of the advisory bodies of the Economic and Social Council in the field of occupational safety and health, and to indicate if the experts of these bodies are consulted in the elaboration of the criteria and the determination of the exposure limits (Article 8(2)). The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the European Union legislation taken into account for the preparation of the criteria and the determination of the exposure limits, and to indicate the measures taken, in law and in practice, to ensure that they are regularly established, supplemented and revised (Article 8(3)).

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government indicating that, in 2013, 316 occupational diseases were recorded and that the second highest cause of disease was working with vibrating work equipment. The Committee also notes that 0.1 per cent of occupational injuries recorded in 2013 resulted from the negative influence of noise, vibration, insufficient lighting and from the negative impact of environment. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, including information on the number of workers covered by the legislation, the number, nature and cause of accidents and diseases reported, and the number and nature of the contraventions reported.