COMISSÃO DAS COMUNIDADES EUROPEIAS 
C0M(92) 473 final 
Bruxelas, 17 de Novembro de 1992 
Proposta alterada de 
RECOMENDAÇÃO DO CONSELHO 
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UM »«cn—ndacio — aaUri» mm ^rêvancio úm 
Çonf»r»pç»i inttrniçlQnil d» Trifcaiho 
(apresentada pela Comissão em conformidade com o n° 3 
do artigo 149* do tratado CEE) 

— A — 
Proposta alterada de 
RECOMENDAÇÃO DO CONSELHO 
relativa a negociações sobre uma convenção e 
uma Recomendação em matéria de Prevenção de 
Acidentes Industriais Graves^*) 
na 
Conferência Internacional do Trabalho 
1) Em 12 de Maio de 1992, a Comissão apresentou ao Conselho uma 
Recomendação respeitante a uma Decisão do Conselho relativa a 
negociações sobre uma Convenção e uma Recomendação em matéria de 
Prevenção de Acidentes Industriais Graves na Conferência 
Internacional do Trabalho (SEC (92) 709). Até á data, o Conselho 
não tomou ainda uma decisão sobre esta questão. 
2) Em Junho de 1992, o relatório do Secretariado internacional do 
Trabalho relativo à prevenção de acidentes industriais foi debatido 
durante a 79a. Sessão da Conferência Internacional do Trabalho. A 
Comunidade participou activamente nos debates. 
Em 22 de Junho de 1992, a Conferência Internacional do Trabalho 
adoptou uma resolução que aprovava, como conclusão geral, propostas 
para uma Convenção e uma Recomendação respeitantes à prevenção de 
acidentes industriais. 
Com base nas conclusões adoptadas, o Secretariado Internacional do 
Trabalho elaborou o Relatório IV (1) "Prevenção de Acidentes 
Industriais Graves", que deverá ser analisado o mais tardar até 30 
de Novembro de 1992. 
Este relatório será debatido e concluído em Genebra, em Junho de 
1993. 
3) Compete â Comunidade responder ao Relatório. A resposta da 
Comunidade será transmitida ao Secretariado Internacional do 
Trabalho pela Comissão. É evidente que a resposta terá em conta os 
resultados das consultas aos parceiros sociais, em conformidade com 
a Convenção no 144 relativa às consultas tripartidas respeitantes 
às normas internacionais do trabalho. As consultas serão realizadas 
pelos Estados-membros e os resultados apresentados á Comissão. Os 
resultados podem ser incluídos na resposta enviada ao Secretariado 
Internacional do Trabalho. 
(*) anteriormente intitulada "Prevenção de acidentes industriais" 
-* -
4) Tratando-se de uma questão urgente, solicita-se ao Conselho que 
tome rapidamente uma decisão sobre a Recomendação de 12 de Maio de 
1992, tendo em conta que o Anexo I das directivas de negociação 
deve ser substituído por um novo Anexo I, apenso ao presente 
documento. 
ANEXO I 
PROPOSTA DE ALTERAÇÕES 
à 
proposta de texto de uma Convenção e de uma Recomendação da 
Organização Internacional do Trabalho sobre a 
"Prevenção de Acidentes Industriais Graves" 
Relatório IV(1), 1992 
0 texto proposto reflecte com exactidão os resultados dos debates que 
tiveram lugar em Genebra em Junho de 1992 durante a 79a. Sessão da 
Conferência Internacional do Trabalho. 
Observações gerais sobre o texto: 
1. 0 titulo da Convenção e Recomendação propostas, "Prevenção de 
Acidentes Industriais" foi substituído por "Prevenção de Acidentes 
Industriais Graves". Não há objecções a esta alteração. 
2. Como instrumento da Organização Internacional do Trabalho, os 
textos propostos deveriam referir-se de forma substancial aos 
aspectos relacionados com o local de trabalho e com a saúde e 
segurança dos trabalhadores. 0 preâmbulo da Convenção deveria 
incluir uma referência clara ao grupo alvo e deveria aditar-se a 
expressão "principalmente para proteger os trabalhadores" no final 
das alíneas b) e c) do quinto parágrafo. 
Para evitar a impressão de que a Organização Internacional do 
Trabalho estaria a ultrapassar os limites das suas competências, as 
referências pormenorizadas à saúde pública ou ao ambiente só 
deveriam ser incluídas na Recomendação. Deveriam ser feitas 
propostas especificas durante a Conferência, após consulta dos 
Estados-membros em Genebra. 
3. As referências aos "quase acidentes" como um evento definido 
deveriam ser suprimidas da Convenção e substituídas por uma 
referência mais geral aos ensinamentos obtidos com o funcionamento, 
na medida em que digam respeito à prevenção de acidentes graves. 
A inclusão de um sistema de notificação obrigatório para eventos 
que não chegaram a ocorrer seria dificilmente aplicável pelos 
Estados-membros na legislação. 
- I/-
Todavia, uma vez que é importante poder aprender com estes 
acidentes, a inclusão dos princípios na Recomendação conduziria a 
uma maior cooperação e intercâmbio de informações. 
Não há, pois, qualquer objecção de principio à inclusão de um ponto 
sobre os quase acidentes na Recomendação, a fim de reforçar a 
importância desta questão no âmbito da adopção de medidas práticas. 
0 Secretariado Internacional do Trabalho poderia elaborar uma 
proposta de redacção deste novo ponto (ver np_ 4), que poderia 
igualmente incluir uma definição de "quase acidente". É, no 
entanto, preferível adoptar para a definição um texto já acordado a 
nível internacional (por exemplo, a definição da OCDE). 
Em conclusão, a Convenção deveria ser alterada da seguinte forma: 
Eliminação da alínea f) do artigo 1, que contém a definição do 
termo "quase acidente". 
0 artigo 13o, relativo á notificação dos acidentes, passaria a ter 
a seguinte redacção: 
"1. Os empregadores devem informar imediatamente as autoridades 
competentes, e outros organismos para este efeito designados, 
da ocorrência de um acidente grave. 
"2. Os empregadores devem manter registos, que devem ser postos à 
disposição da autoridade competente quando solicitados, sobre 
os ensinamento obtidos com o funcionamento da instalação, na 
medida em que se relacionam com incidentes que poderiam ter 
conduzido a acidentes graves. Estes registos devem ser 
previamente debatidos com os trabalhadores e so seus 
representantes". 
A proposta do Secretariado Internacional do Trabalho relativa à 
elaboração de um texto alternativo para a Recomendação, que 
extrairia do Código as disposições adequadas e substituiria o 
presente texto, é apoiada. 
Desta forma, seria possível ultrapassar as dificuldades 
relacionadas com a actualização do Código e as suas implicações 
Jur idicas. 
Este texto alternativo teria, no entanto, de ser aprovado pela 
Conferência. 
O texto actual do artigo 6o da Convenção prevê unicamenbte uma 
situação na qual a informação pode permanecer confidencial. Trata-
se da informação "cuja revelação a um concorrente seria susceptível 
de prejudicar as actividades comerciais do empregador". 
Podem, no entanto, surgir outras situações em que a informação deva 
permanecer confidencial. 
Propõe-se, pois, que o artigo 6o da Convenção proposta seja 
alterado da seguinte forma: 
—1> -
"A autoridade competente, após consulta das organizações 
representativas dos empregadores e dos trabalhadores interessados, 
tomará medidas especiais para proteger as informações confidenciais 
que lhe são transmitidas ou postas à disposição nos termos dos 
artigos 8o, 11o, 13o ou 14o_, desde que essas medidas não impliquem 
um risco grave para os trabalhadores, o público ou o ambiente. No 
presente artigo, entende-se por informação confidencial 
informações que tenham confidencialidade comercial e industrial, 
incluindo a propriedade intelectual, bem como outros tipos de 
informações que devem ser definidos de forma clara pela autoridade 
competente." 
Propõe-se que seja incluída na Recomendação uma lista das situações 
em que certas informações poderão ser confidenciais. 
O texto adicional cuja inclusão na Recomendação se propõe é o 
seguinte: 
"A autoridade competente pode considerar que as situações 
seguidamente definidas Justificam que certas informações são 
confidenciais, sempre que esteja em causa: 
a confidencialidade das diligências das autoridades públicas, 
das relações internacionais e da defesa nacional; 
a segurança pública; 
matérias que estejam ou que tenham estado em julgamento ou em 
fase de instrução (incluindo processos disciplinares) ou de 
investigação preliminar; 
a confidencialidade dos dados e/ou registos pessoais; 
material relativo ao ambiente cuja divulgação possa causar 
danos do ambiente." 
A exportação de substâncias perigosas é abrangida de forma adequada 
pela Convenção no 170 relativa à "Utilização Segura de Produtos 
Químicos" e não necessita de ser repetida nesta Convenção. O 
princípio de transmitir aos países importadores informações sobre 
tecnologia e processos proibidos por razões de segurança é aceite. 
Todavia, a sua inclusão de forma vinculativa na presente Convenção, 
particularmente como um dever do país exportador, não é viável, 
dado que os países não têm mecanismos que permitam saber qual a 
tecnologia ou processo que é exportado, nem como estes serão 
utilizados em todas as circunstâncias. Se este conceito for 
incluído na Recomendação, terão de ser encontrados outros meios 
para a sua aplicação. 
Chama-se a atenção para as dificuldades que surgiram durante os 
debates relativos a este tema na Conferência da Organização 
Internacional do Trabalho de 1990 respeitante à elaboração da 
Convenção no 170 relativa à "Utilização Segura de Produtos 
Químicos", bem como para a interpretação dada pela Organização 
Internacional do Trabalho nos nos 287 a 292 do "Relatório 
Provisório da 77a. sessão da Conferência Internacional do Trabalho, 
Genebra, 1990". 
-G 
International Labour Conference 
80th Session 1993 
Report rV(l) 
Prevention of major 
industrial accidents 
Fourth item on the agenda. 
International Labour Office Geneva 
-*-
ISBN 92-2-108502-3 
ISSN 0074-6681 
first published 1992 
# 
The designations employed in HO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations prae-
rice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever 
on the part of the International Labour Office concerning the legal status of any country, area or 
territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. 
Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorse­
ment by the International Labour Office, and any failure to mention a particular arm, commercial 
product or process is not a sign of disapproval, 
ILO publications cas be obtained through major booksellers or ILO local offices in many countries, 
or direct from ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22. Switzerland. A 
catalogue or list of new publications will be sent free of charge from the above address. 
Pnnted m Switzerland PCL 
.-^ 
CONTENTS 
INTRODUCTION 1 
PROPOSED TEXTS 2 
Proposed Convention concerning the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents 5 
Proposed Recommendation concerning the Prevention of Major Industrial 
Accidents II 
f -~o>_ 
INTRODUCTION 
On 22 June 1992 the International Labour Conference, meeting in Geneva 
at its 79th Session, adopted the following resolution: 
The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation, 
Having adopted the report of the Committee appointed to consider the fifth item on 
the agenda, 
Having in particular approved as general conclusions, with a view to the consultation 
of" governments, proposals for a Convention and a Recommendation concerning preven­
tion of industrial disasters. 
Decides that an item entitled "Prevention of major industrial accidents" shall be 
included m the agenda of its next ordinary session for second discussion with a view to the 
adoption of a Convention and a Recommendation. 
By virtue of this resolution and in accordance with article 39, paragraph 6, 
of the Standing Orders of the Conference, the Office is required to prepare, on 
!he basis of the first discussion by the Conference, the texts of a proposed Con­
vention and Recommendation and to communicate them to governments so as 
to reach them not later than two months from the closing of the 79th Session of 
the Conference, asking them to state within three months, after consulting the 
most representative organisations of employers and workers, whether they have 
any amendments to suggest or comments to make. 
The purpose of the present report is to transmit to governments the texts of 
the proposed Convention and Recommendation based on the Conclusions 
adopted by the Conference at its 79th Session. 
In accordance with the Standing Orders of the Conference, any amendments 
or comments with regard to the proposed texts should be submitted as soon as 
possible and in any case so ns lo reach ihc OJlîce in (îenevn not inter than 3() 
November 1992. Governments which have no amendments or comments to put 
forward are asked to inform the Office by the same date whether they consider 
that the proposed texts are a satisfactory basis for discussion by the Conference 
at its 80th Session. 
In accordance with article 39, paragraph 6, of the Standing Orders, govern­
ments are requested to consult the most representative organisations of em­
ployers and workers before they finalise their replies and to indicate which 
organisations they have consulted. This is also required by Article 5 ( 1) (a) of the 
Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 
(No. 144), for countries which have ratified this Convention. The results of the 
consultation should be reflected in the governments1 replies. 
- Av 
PROPOSED TEXTS 
The texts of a proposed Convention and Recommendation concerning the 
prevention of major industrial accidents are given below. These texts are based 
on the Conclusions adopted by the International Labour Conference following 
the first discussion at its 79th Session. 
In accordance with the practice established in 1988, the report of the Com­
mittee appointed by the Conference to consider this item is being communi­
cated to member States in its entirely, together with the record of the discussion 
m plenary session (see Provisional Record Nos. 24 and 30. attached). 
Some drafting changes have been made to the Conclusions adopted by the 
Conference in the interest of greater clarity, to bring the various official lan­
guages into line with one another or to harmonise certain provisions. The major 
changes are commented on below. 
The Office also wishes to draw the attention of member States to several 
legal problems that might arise in applying some of the provisions adopted dur­
ing the discussion at the 79th Session of the Conference. The Drafting Commit­
tee of the Committee on the Prevention of Industrial Disasters decided to limit 
changes to these provisions to bringing the English and French versions of the 
instruments into line with each other as it felt that its mandate did not empower 
it to change the substantive provisions which had been agreed upon by the Con­
ference Committee. The Office therefore considers it particularly important to 
mention these points so that Members can reflect on them as soon as possible 
and submit their comments for inclusion in Report IV (2), which the Office is 
required to prepare in accordance with article 39, paragraph 7, of the Standing 
Orders of the Conference. The Members' replies will also be very useful for the 
second discussion of the item by the Conference. 
The legal problems concern Articles 1, 19 and 20 of the proposed Conven­
tion and Paragraphs 3 and 4 of the proposed Recommendation. 
Proposed Convention 
Article 1 
Subparagraphs (c) and (d) (of Point 6 of the Conclusions adopted by the 
Conference): the terms "major hazard installation" and "threshold quantity" 
are defined without reference to a specific limited physical area where the said 
quantity of the hazardous substance is retained. This could create a legal prob­
lem since an entire country might be construed as a major hazard installation. 
The Office would suggest the following formulation for the definition of 
"threshold auantitv" : 
- AA-
Propcsed texts 
the term "threshold quantity' means for a given hazardous substance or category of sub­
stances that quantity, prescribed in national laws or regulations by reference to specific 
conditions, which if exceeded identifies a major hazard insiallation 
The Office would also suggest inverting the order of subparagraphs (c) and (d). 
This would resolve the definition problem for "major hazard installation" as the 
ï wo definitions are interrelated. 
$ Subparagraph (f) : the definition of the term "near-miss" was taken from a 
document published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Devel­
opment (OECD). It differs in wording from the corresponding parts of the defin­
ition of "major accident". The definition of "near-miss" is intended to refer to 
the same sort of event, which was* however, stopped in time. To achieve the 
alignment of these two definitions, the Office suggests the following formula­
tion: 
the term "near-miss" means an unexpected, sudden occurrence involving one or more 
hazardous substances, which but for the mitigating effects of safety systems or procedures 
would have constituted a major accident. 
Article 5 
Article 5, paragraph 1 (based on Point 10 (1) of the Conclusions), has been 
restructured for a better and simpler formulation without changing the sub­
stance of the text. 
Article 8 
The order of Articles 8 and 9 (corresponding to Points 14 and 13 respect-
£ ively) has been changed as notification is an action to be taken after identifica­
tion. The words "in the case of new installations" have been inserted after the 
word "operation" to make the requirement clear and the formulation has been 
harmonised with that of Article 10. 
Article 19 
Subparagraph (b) (of Point 24) has been reworded to bring the English text 
into line with the French. Subparagraph (e) has ueen incorporated into subpara­
graph (d) since the two provisions are closely related. 
The term "control" has been used in conjunction with the words "major 
accident prevention" in subparagraph (c) as well as in Article 20 and Pa/agraph 
4 of the proposed Recommendation. What was intended by the introduction of 
this term was to cover all the steps of procedures designed to keep under control 
any development likely to lead to a major accident. The current use of the term 
"control", however, does not convey this intention clearly but rather overlaps 
with emergency procedures. 
The Office would therefore suggest introducing the phrase "the prevention 
of major accidents and the control of developments likely to lead to a major 
accident". Subparagraph (c) would consequently read: "be regularly instructed 
and trained in the practices and procedures for the prevention of major acci­
dents and the control of developments likely to lead to a major accident and in 
the emergency procedures to be followed in the event of a major accident". 
- A^l -
Prevention of major industrial accidents 
Article 20 
See the comment on Article 19 above. 
Proposed Recommendation 
Paragraph 3 
In response to the question in Report V (1) as to whether the Recommenda­
tion should, provide that the national laws or regulations to give effect to the 
policy for the prevention of industrial disasters, provided for in the Convention, 
"be based, as far as possible"., on the TLO Code of practice on the prevention of 
major industrial accidents, the publication of which was approved by the Gov­
erning Body of the ILO in November 1990, all replies but one were in the affir­
mative. Paragraph 3 of the proposed Recommendation (which corresponds to 
Point 29 of the Conclusions) retains this provision with the words "be based" 
replaced by the words "be guided" in response to the replies received, and as 
amended by the Committee. The amendments introduced replace the words "as 
far as possible" by the words "as appropriate" and add further wording to make 
reference to versions of the Code of Practice "reviewed, revised and updated in 
accordance with ILO practice". This reference to "reviewed, revised and up­
dated" versions of the Code of Practice raises serious problems of principle as it 
would mean, in effect, that the guidance to be followed in accordance with the 
Recommendation can be revised without involving the Conference, since the 
procedure for revising such a code would be through a meeting of experts. The 
Employers' Vice-Chairman of the Committee, speaking in the plenary of the 
Conference (Provisional Record No. 30, 1992, p. 30/10), observed that "Refer­
ence to a revised or updated code, the text of which is not yet known, is imprac­
tical". The Workers' Vice-Chairman of the Committee, likewise addressing the 
plenary of the Conference, believed that it would be wise to expand the reference 
to the Code and to enumerate some of its pertinent points that could be incor­
porated in the Recommendation (Provisional Record, idem). It is also recalled 
that the Chairman of the Employers' group of the Conference made a statement 
(Provisional Record No. 30, pp. 30/12 and 13) wherein he stressed the impor­
tance that should be given to ILO Recommendations. 
As this matter will certainly need clarification at the next Conference dis­
cussion, the Office intends to prepare an alternative text which would extract 
appropriate provisions from the Code. Members are requested to indicate if they 
agree to this alternative approach. If so, Members may wish to propose sever.:! 
provisions for inclusion. Members may also wish to consider whether, within 
the framework of this alternative, a reference to the Code of Practice in the 
preamble to the Recommendation is acceptable. However, should such an alter­
native approach be considered inappropriate, it would be necessary at least to 
eliminate the reference to subsequent revisions so as to avoid the legal problems 
raised. 
Paragraph 4 
See the comment on page 3 under Article 19 of the proposed Convention. tj 
Proposed texts 
Proposed Convention concerning the Prevention of Major Industrial 
Accidents 
The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation, 
Having been convened at Geneva by the Governing Body of the Inter­
national Labour Office, and having met in its 80th Session on 2 June 
1993, and 
Noting the relevant international labour Conventions and Recommenda­
tions and. in particular, the Occupational Safety and Health Convention 
and Recommendation, 1981. and the Chemicals Convention and Re­
commendation, 1990, and stressing the need for a comprehensive and 
coherent approach, and 
Noting also the ILO Code of practice on the prevention of major indwulal 
accidents, published in 1991, and 
Having regard to the need to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken 
to: 
(a) prevent major accidents; 
(à) niinimise the risks of major accidents; 
(c) minimise the effects of such major accidents, and 
Considering the causes of such accidents including organisational errors, the 
human factor, component failures, deviation from normal operational 
conditions, outside interference and natural forces, and 
Having regard to the need for cooperation within the International Pro­
gramme on Chemical Safety between the International Labour Organisa­
tion, the United Nations Environmental Programme and the World 
Health Organization, as well as with other relevant intergovernmental 
organisations, and 
Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals with regard to the 
prevention of major industrial accidents, which is the fourth item on the 
agenda of the session, and 
Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of an inter­
national Convention; 
adopts this day of June of the year one thousand nine hundred and 
ninety-three the following Convention, which may be cited as the Prevention of 
Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993. 
PART I. DEFINITIONS AND SCOPE 
Article 1 
1. For the purpose of this Convention — 
(a) the term "hazardous substance" means a substance or mixture which by 
virtue of chemical, physical or toxicological properties, either singly or in 
combination, constitutes a hazard; 
- * 
Prevention oj major ihuusm^i u^^.-, 
(b) the term "major accident" means an unexpected, sudden occurrence — such 
as a major emission, fire or explosion — in the course of an activity within a 
major hazard installation, involving one or more'hazardous substances and 
leading to a serious danger to workers, the public or the environment, wheth­
er immediate or delayed; 
(cj the term "major hazard installation" means one which processes, produces, 
disposes of, handles, uses or stores, either permanently or temporarily, one 
or more hazardous substances or categories of substances in quantities 
which exceed the threshold quantity; l 
(à) the term "threshold quantity" means that quantity, prescribed in national 
laws or regulations, of a hazardous substance or categories of substances, 
which if exceeded identifies a major hazard installation;! 
(ej the term "safety report" means a written presentation of the technical, man­
agement and operational information covering the hazards of a major 
hazard installation and their control and providing justification for the 
measures taken for the safety of the installation: 
fj) the term "near-miss" means any unplanned, sudden event involving one or 
more hazardous substances, which but for the mitigating effects of safety 
systems or procedures could have caused serious injury to workers or the 
public, or serious damage to plant equipment or the environment, or could 
have involved a loss of containment possibly giving rise to significant 
adverse effects. 
Article 2 
1. The Convention does not apply to — 
(a) nuclear installations and plants processing radioactive substances except for 
facilities handling non-radioactive substances at these installations; 
(b) military installations; 
(c) transport outside the site of an installation other than by pipeline. 
2. A Member ratifying this Convention may, after consulting the representa­
tive organisations of employers and workers concerned and other interested 
parties who may be affected, exclude from the application of the Convention 
installations or branches of economic activity for which equivalent protection is 
provided. 
Article 3 
Where special problems of a substantial nature arise so that it is not imme­
diately possible to implement all the preventive and protective measures pro­
vided for in the Convention, a Member shall draw up plans, in consultation with 
the most representative organisations of employers and workers, for the prog­
ressive implementation of the said measures within a fixed time-frame. 
See Office comment cut pp. 1 and 3. 
**nmniiHff*'t'yv''-'"** * " 
traposea texts. 
PART II. GENERAL PRINCIPLES 
Article 4 
1. in the light of national laws and regulations, conditions and practices, and 
in consultation with the most representative organisations of employers and 
£ workers and with other interested parties who may be affected, each Member 
shall formulate, implement and periodically review a coherent national policy 
concerning the protection of workers against the risk of major accidents, taking 
account of their effects on the public and the environment. 
2. This policy shall be implemented through preventive and protective meas-
^ ures for major hazard installations and, where practicable, shall promote the use 
of the best available safety technologies. 
Article 5 
/ 1. The competent authority, or a body approved or recognised by the com­
petent authority, shall, after consulting the most representative organisations of 
employers and workers, draw up a system for the identification of major hazard 
installations as defined in Article 1(c), based on a list of hazardous substances or 
categories of hazardous substances or both, together with their respective 
threshold Quantities, in accordance with national laws and regulations or 
international standards.1 
2. The system mentioned in paragraph 1 above shall be regularly reviewed 
-. and updated. 
Article 6 
The competent authority, after.consulting the representative organisations 
of employers and workers concerned, shall make special provision to protect 
confidential information transmitted or made available to it in accordance with 
Articles 8, 11, 13 or 14, whose disclosure to a competitor would be liable to 
cause harm to an employer's business, so long as this provision does not lead to 
senous risk to the workers, the public or the environment. 
PART III. RESPONSIBILITIES or EMPLOYERS 
IDENTIFICATION 
Article 7 
fcmployers shall identify any major hazard installation within their control 
on the basis of the system referred to in Article 5. 
1 See Qftee comment oo p. 3. 
- A <b _ 
r revent tan aj major i naustrim accidents 
NOTIFICATION 
Article 8 
Employers shall notify the competent authority of any major hazard installa­
tion which they have identified either within a fixed time-frame for existing 
installations or before it is put into operation in the case of new installations.1 
1 
ARRANGEMENTS AT THE LEVEL OF THE INSTALLATION 
Article 9 
in respect of each major hazard installation employers shall establish and 
maintain a documented system of major hazard control which includes provi­
sion for — 
fa) the identification and analysis of hazards and the assessment of risks includ­
ing consideration of possible interactions between substances: 
(b) technical measures, including design, construction, choice of chemicals, 
operation, maintenance and systematic inspection of the installation; 
(c) organisational measures, including training and instruction of personnel, the 
provision of equipment in order to ensure their safety, staffing levels, hours 
of work, definition of responsibilities, and controls on independent contrac­
tors and temporary workers on the site; 
(d) emergency plans and procedures, including — 
(i) the preparation of effective site emergency plans and procedures to be 
applied in the case of major accidents or threat thereof, with periodic 
testing and evaluation of the effectiveness of such site emergency plans ç 
and procedures and revision as necessary; 
(ii) the provision of information on potential accidents and site emergency 
plans to authorities and bodies responsible for the preparation of emer­
gency plans and procedures for the protection of the public and the 
environment outside the site of the installation; 
(iii) any necessary consultation with such authorities and bodies; 
(e) measures to limit the consequences of a major accident; 
(f) consultation with workers and their representatives. 
SAFETY REPORT 
Article 10 
1. Employers shall prepare a safety report based on the requirements of 
Article 9. 
2. The report shall be prepared — 
(a) in the case of existing major hazard installations, within such a period after 
notification as is prescribed by national laws or regulations; 
(b) in the case of any new major hazard installation, before it is put into 
operation. 
See Office comment on p 3. 
Proposed texts 
C Article 11 
Employers shall transmit or make available to the competent authority the 
safety report refered to in Article 10. 
k Article 12 
Employers shall review, update and amend a safety report — 
(a) in the event of a modification, which has a significant influence on the levei 
of safety, in the installation or its processes or in the quantities of hazardous 
substances present; 
(b) when developments in technical knowledge or the assessment of hazards 
make this appropriate; 
(c) at such intervals as are prescribed by national laws or regulations; 
(d) at the request of the competent authority. 
ACCIDENT REPORTING 
Article 13 
Employers shall inform the competent authority and other bodies designated 
for this purpose as soon as a major accident occurs and make available to the 
competent authority the lessons, previously discussed with workers and their 
representatives, which have been drawn from near-misses. 
Article 14 
1. Employers shall, within a fixed time-frame after a major accident, present 
a detailed report to the competent authority containing an analysis of the causes 
of the accident and describing any steps taken to mitigate its effects. 
2. The report shall include recommendations detailing steps to be taken to 
prevent a recurrence. 
PART IV. RasFONsnmmES OF COMPETENT AUTHORITIES 
OFF-SITE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 
Article 15 
Taking into account the information provided by the employer, the eompe* 
tent authority shall ensure that emergency plans and procedures containing pro­
visions for the protection of the public and the environment outside the site of 
each major hazard installation are established, updated at appropriate intervals 
and coordinated with the relevant authorities and bodies. 
Article 16 
The competent authority shall ensure that — 
(a) information on safety measures and the correct behaviour to adopt in the 
case of a major accident is disseminated to members of the public liable to 
ï íf>fr:r'iri ,,; rr.ijr.r ">cits;r:~: ZCC'.CSKIS 
be affected by a major accident without their having to request it and that 
such information is updated and redissexninated at appropriate intervals: 
(b) warning is given as soon as possible in the case of a major accident; 
fc) cooperation and coordination arrangements are instituted among the States 
concerned where a major accident could have transboundary effects. 
SITING OF MAJOR HAZARD INSTALLATIONS 
Article 17 
The competent authority shall establish a comprehensive siting policy 
arranging for the appropriate separation of existing or proposed major hazard 
installations from working and residential areas and public facilities. Such a pol­
icy shall reflect the General Principles set out in Part II of the Convention. 
LNSPECnON 
Article 18 
The competent authority shall have properly qualified and trained staff with 
the appropriate skills, and sufficient technical and professional support to 
inspect, investigate, assess, or advise on the matters dealt with in this Conven­
tion and to ensure compliance with national laws and regulations. 
PART V. RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF WORKERS AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES 
Article 19 
The workers and their representatives at a major hazard installation shall be 
consulted through cooperative mechanisms in order to ensure a safe system of 
work. In particular, the workers and their representatives shall — 
(a) be adequately and suitably informed of the hazards associated with the 
major hazard installation and their likely consequences; 
(b) be consulted in the preparation of, and have access to, the following docu­
ments — 
(i) the safety report; 
(ii) emergency plans and procedures; 
(iii) accident reports; 
fc) be regularly instructed and trained in the practices and control procedures 
for major accident prevention and in the emergency procedures to be fol­
lowed in the event of a major acddent ; 
fd) within the scope of their job, and without being placed at any disadvantage, 
take corrective action and if necessary interrupt the activity where they have 
reasonable justification, based on their training and experience, to believe 
that there is an imminent danger of a major accident, and notify their super­
visor or raise the alarm, as appropriate, before or as soon as possible after 
taking such action.1 í 
\ 
See Office comment on p. 3. 
! A<\ 
Article 20 
Workers employed at the site of a major hazard installation shall — 
(a) comply with all practices and procedures relating to the prevention and con­
trol of major accidents within the major hazard installation; 
(b) comply with all emergency procedures should a major accident occur.1 
PART VI. RESPONSIBILITY OF EXPORTING STATES 
Article 21 
When, m an exporting member State, all or some uses of hazardous sub­
stances, technologies or processes are prohibited for reasons of safety, this fact 
and the reasons for it shall be communicated by the exporting member State to 
any importing country. 
Proposed Recommendation concerning the Prevention of Major Industrial 
Accidents 
The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation, 
Having convened at Geneva by the Governing Body of the International 
Labour Office, and having met in its 80th Session on 2 June 1993, and 
Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals with regard to the 
prevention of major industrial accidents, which is the fourth item on the 
agenda of the session, and 
Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of a Recommen­
dation supplementing the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents 
Convention, 1993; 
adopts this day of Jm*v of the year one thousand nine hundred and 
ninety-three the following Recommendation, which may be cited as the Preven­
tion of Major Industrial Accidents Recommendation, 1993. 
1, The provisions of this Recommendation should be applied in conjunction 
with those of the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 
(hereafter referred to as 'the Convention"). 
2. (1) The International Labour Organisation, in cooperation with the other 
relevant international intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, 
should arrange for an international exchange of information on — 
(a) major accidents; 
(b) lessons drawn from near-misses; 
(cj good safety practices in major hazard installations including safety manage­
ment and process safety; 
See Office comment on p. 4. 
- ? 
i O -r 
(d) technologies and processes that are prohibited for reasons of safety and 
health. 
] (2) Members should, as far as possible, communicate information on the 
Í matters listed in subparagraph (1) above to the International Labour Office. 
1 3. The national policy provided for in the Convention and the national laws 
•• and regulations or other measures to implement it should, as appropriate, be 
guided by the LLO Code of practice on the prevention of major industrial acci-
' dents, published in 1991 or as reviewed, revised and updated m accordance with 
j LLO practice.1 
4. In accordance with the Tripartite Declaration of Principles concerning 
Multinational Enterprises and Social Policy, adopted by the Governing Body of 
the LLO. a national or multinational enterprise with more than one establish­
ment should provide safety measures relating to the prevention and control of, 
and protection against major accidents, without discrimination, to the workers 
in all its establishments, regardless of the place or country in which they are 
situated.1 
: See Office comment on p. 4. 

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