CELEX: 51992PC0473
Language: da
Date: 1992-11-17
Title: Ændret forslag til RÅDETS HENSTILLING med henblik på Rådets afgørelse om forhandlingsdirektiver med henblik på mødet i Den Internationale Arbejdskonference om en konvention og en henstilling vedrørende forebyggelse af større uheld i industrie

UoMVII SS IONEN FOR DE EUROPÆISKE FÆLLESSKABER
                                                      K0M(92) 473 endelig udg.
                                                      Bruxelles, den 17. november 1992
                                 Ændret forsi ag t i I
                                 RÅDETS HENSTILLING
                                         Md haahlik p i
               R å d f f afq«r«l— o« forkandHngsdirttJctiTag —d hanblik på
                         —d«t i Dma Int«ra*tlon«lf lflfcajdakonf«rcno«
                             am ma k o a v n t i o a — *a h t i a t i l l l n g
                •ftdrrtmda forabygq«!«« af i t t t r a uhald 1 i n d u s t r i «
            (forelagt af Kommissionen i henhold til EØF-Traktatens
                                artikel 149, stk. 3)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                            Ændret fors I ag til
                           RÅDETS HENSTILLING
                               med henblik på
        Rådets afgørelse om forhandlingsdirektiver med henblik på
               mødet i Den Internationale Arbejdskonference
                    om en konvention og en henstilling
         vedrørende forebyggelse af større uheld i industrien(*)
1}   Den 12. naj 1992 fremsendte Kommis8ionen en henstilling med henblik
     på Rådets afgørelse om forhandlingedirektiver med henblik på madet
     i Den Internationale Arbejdskonference om en konvention og en
     henstilling vedrørende forebyggelse af større uheld i industrien
     (SEK (92) 709). Rådet har endnu ikke truffet en afgørelse i denne
    sag.
2)   I    juni    1992   blev     ILO-rapporten    om    forebyggelse    af
     industrikatastrofer drøftet på den 79. samling i Den Internationale
    Arbejdskonference. Fællesskabet deltog aktivt i disse drøftelser.
    Den 22. juni 1992 vedtog Den Internationale Arbejdskonference en
    resolution, der i de generelle konklusioner godkendte forslag til
    en konvention og en- henstilling vedrørende forebyggelse af
    industrikatastrofer.
    ILO udarbejdede på grundlag af "de vedtagne konklusioner rapporten
    IV (1) "Forebyggelse af større uheld i industrien", som der skal
    reageres på senest den 30. november 1992.
    Denne rapport skal drøftes og afsluttes i Geneve i juni 1993.
J)  Det er op til Fællesskabet at svare pi rapporten. Fællesskabets
    svar vil blive fremsendt til ILO af Kommissionen. Der vil i svaret
    selvfølgelig blive taget hensyn til høringer af arbejdsmarkedets
    parter i overensstemmelse med Konvention nr. 144 vedrerende
    trepartshøringer    om    internationale    arbejdsstandarder.    Disse
    høringer vil blive foretaget af medlemsstaterne, og resultaterne
    vil blive meddelt Kommissionen. Resultaterne kan evt. fremsendes
    til ILO sammen med svaret.
{*) tidligere: "forebyggelse af industrikatastrofer"
                                                                            >-
 ---pagebreak--- 4) Da sagen haster, anmodes Rådet om hurtigt at træffe en beslutning
   vedrørende henstillingen af 12. maj 1992, idet det tager hensyn
   til, at bilag 1 til forhandlingsdirektiverne erstattes af et nyt
   bilag 1, som herved vedlægges.
                                                                     0
 ---pagebreak---                                                 B£LAG  I
                                    JKNDRINGSFORSIAG
                                           tu
                     forslag til ILO-konvention og henstilling
                                       vedrørende
                    'forebyggelse af større uheld i industrien"
                               ILO-rapport IV(l) r 1992
Forslaget gengiver på udmærket vis resultaterne af de drøftelser, der
fandt sted i Geneve i juni 1992 på den 79. samling i Den Internationale
Arbej dskonference.
Generelle kommentarer til forslaget:
1.   Titlen pi den foreslåede konvention og henstilling er blevet ændret
     fra      "Prevention     of    Industrial   Disasters"       [Forebyggelse    af
    iiidustrUcatastrofer]       til "Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents"
     [forebyggelse af større uheld             i   Industrien).       Der er ingen
     indvendinger mod denne ændring.
2.  Da der er tale om et ILO-instrument, bør forslaget i væsentlig grad
    hensvise til aspekter vedrørende arbejdspladsen og arbejdstagernes
    sikkerhed og sundhed. Der bør klart henvises til målgruppen i
    konventionens præambel, og ordlyden "in particular to protect
    workers" [især        for at beskytte    arbejdstagerne] bør tilføjes i 5-
    afsnit, punkt b) og c ) .
    For ikke at give indtryk af at ILO går ud over organisationens
    kompetenceområde, bør kun henstillingen indeholde detaljerede
    henvisninger til folkesundhed og miljø. Der bør fremsættes
    specifikke         forslag     under    konferencen,        efter     høring  af
    medlemsstaterne i Geneve.
i.  Henvisninger       til "near misses" (hændelser, der VAT lige ved at         fere
    til     scerre    uheld)   som en defineret begivenhed bør slettes i
    konventionen        og erstattes af en mere generel henvisning til de
    erfaringer,       man kan drage af sådanne hændelser med henblik på
    forebyggelse       af større uheld.
    Det ville være vanskeligt for medlemsstaterne via deres lovgivning
    at gennemtvinge et obligatorisk system til rapportering af uheld,
    der var lige ved at finde sted.
 ---pagebreak---      På grund af betydningen af de erfaringer, man kan drage af sådanne
     hændelser, ville indarbejdelsen af princippet i henstillingen dog
     kunne fore til en højere grad af samarbejde og udveksling af
     oplysninger.
     Der er derfor i princippet ingen indvendinger mod at medtage et
     afsnit om "near misses" i henstillingen, for at give sådanne
     hændelser større vægt, når der skal gennemføres praktiske
     foranstaltninger. ILO kunne udarbejde et forslag til dette afsnit,
     (se punkt 4 nedenfor). Afsnittet kunne også indeholde en definition
    at "near misses". Det vil dog være at foretrække, hvis definitionen
    allerede er en internationalt anerkendt definition (f.eks. OECD's
    definition).
    Konvention bør altså ændres som følger:
    Artikel 1, f ) , som er en definition af udtrykket "near miss",
    slettes, og 'artikel 13 om indrapportering af uheld fomuleres
    således:
    "1   Employer shall inform the competent authority and other bodies
         designated for this purpose as soon as a major accident occurs.
      2   Employers shall keep records, which must be made available to
         the competent authority on request, of lessons learned from the
         operation of the installation as it relates to incidents which
         could have led to major accidents, such reports should have
         been      previously        discussed      with       workers     and     their
         representatives."
    [1   Arbejdsgiveren      skal straks     informere      den kompetente     myndighed
         og andre organer,        der er    udvalgt     med henblik    herpå, når der
         sker et større       uheld.
     2   Arbejdsgiverne     skal fere optegnelser         over de erfÅringer,     der er
         gjort    i forbindelse      mød hdndelser,        der kunne have fort-         til
         større uheld, og disse optegnelser            skal efter anmodning         stilles
         til   rådighed   for den kompetente myndighed* sådanne                 rapporter
         bør først drøftes      med arbejdstagerne        og disses      repræsentanter.]
4. ILO's forslag om at udarbejde en alternativ henstilling, som skulle
   omfatte relevante bestemmelser fra kodeksen, støttes.
   På denne måde ville man undgå vanskelighederne med ajourføring af
   kodeksen og dens juridiske implikationer.
   Den      alternative      henstilling       skal      imidlertid     godkendes      af
   konferencen.
5. I den nuværende artikel 6 i konventionen tages der kun højde for én
   situation,       hvor oplysninger          skal holdes         fortrolige,    nemlig
   oplysninger "whose disclosure to a competitor would be liable to
   cause harm to an employer's business" [oplysninger,                   som, hvis      d?
   kommer til      en konkurrents      kendskab,    vil kunne være til       skade     for
   arbejdsgiverens        virksomhed).
                                                                                            ^
 ---pagebreak--- Der kan imidlertid opstå andre situationer, hvor oplysninger bør
 holdes fortrolige.
Det foreslås derfor, at artikel 6 i forslaget- til konventionen
ændres som følger:
 "The competent authortiy, 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, so long as this provision does not lead to serious risk to the
workers, the public or the environment. Confidential information in
this Article refers to information having commercial and industrial
confidentiality, including intellectual property, as well as the
other types of information which must be clearly defined by the
competent authority."
 [Den kompetente             myndig       skal      efter     høring    af      de       berørte
arbejdstageres          og arbejdsgiveres             repræsentative           organisationer,
træffe       særlige        forholdsregler           for . at beskytte                fortrolige
oplysninger,        som den har modtaget i henhold til artikel                     8, 11, 13
eller      14, forudsat            ae sådanne forholdsregler               ikke       medfører
alvorlige      risici     for arbejdstagerne,           offentligheden     eller        miljøet.
Ved fortrolige           oplysninger         forstås      i denne artikel             fortrolige
torretning sop lysninger                og       industrihemmeligheder,               herunder
oplysninger       omfattet      af intellektuel         ejendomsret,    samt andre          typer
oplysninger,       som skal defineres           klart af den kompetente myndighed].
•en foreslåede          yderligere        tilføjelse       i henstillingen         lyder     som
folger:
"The competent authority may consider taht the following defined
sitatuions justify that certain information is confidential where
it affects:
      the confidentiality of the proceedings of public authorities,
      international relations and national defence,
      public security,
      matters which are, or have been, sub judiae,                      or under enquiry
       (including disciplinary enquiries), or which are the subject of
      preliminary investigation proceedings,
      the confidentiality of personal data and/or files,
      material, the disclosure of which would make it more likely
      that the environment to which such material related would be
      damaged."
[Den kompetente            myndighed kan           skønne,     at følgende           definerede
situationer         gør     det      berettiget        at holde      visse          oplysninger
tortrolige,       når disse         vedrører:
      fortrolighed          i     forbindelse         med offentlige             myndigheders
      sagsbehandlinger,          internationale        relationer    og      forsvaret,
      den offentlige           sikkerhed,
      suger som er, eller har været, genstand for en retssag,                          eller    i
      rorbindelse      med hvilke der foretages               en undersøgelse        (herunder
      disciplinære             undersøgelser)              eller            forundersøgelser,
 ---pagebreak---          personlige   data og/eller         personkartoteker,
        materiale,       hvis    offentliggørelse        ville  gøre  det     mere
        sandsynligt,      at det miljø,         som det pågældende        materiale
         vedrører,   ville blive       beskadiget,)
6. fiksport af skadelige stoffer dækkes i tilstrækkeligt omfang af
    konvention 170 om kemiske stoffer og behøves ikke gentages i denne
    konvention. Princippet om at importlandene skal have oplysninger om
    teknologi og processer, der er forbudt af sikkerhedsgrunde, kan
    accepteres. Dets medtagelse i bindende form i denne konvention -
    specielt som en pligt, der skal opfyldes af eksportlandet - er ikke
    praktisk gennemførligt, fordi medlemsstaterne ikke ridder over
    mekanismer, der giver dem kendskab til hvilken teknologi eller
    hvilke processer, der eksporteres, eller til hvordan teknologien
    eller processerne vil blive anvendt under alle mulige forskellige
   omstændigheder. Hvis dette begreb flyttes over i henstillingen, bør
   der findes andre midler til dets gennemførelse.
   Der skal gøres opmærksom på de vanskeligheder, der blev konstateret
   under drøftelserne af dette spørgsmål pi ILO-konferencen i 1990 i
    forbindelse med udarbejdelsen af konvention 170 om kemiske stoffer,
   samt pi ILO* s fortolkning i afsnit 287 til og med 292 i
    "Provisional     Record og the Seventy-Seventh             Session of the
   international Labour Conference, Geneva, 1990M.
                                                                                    *
 ---pagebreak---         International Labour Conference
                      80th Session 1993
                             Report rV(l)
         Prevention of major
           industrial accidents
                  Fourth item on the agenda
C
  International Labour Office Geneva
                                            £
 ---pagebreak---      ISBN 92-2-108502-3
    ISSN 0074-S681
   first published 1992
                                                                                                      9
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fruited in Switzerland                                                                           PCL
                                                                                                        <s
 ---pagebreak---                                    CONTENTS
                                                                                Paf«
INTRODUCTION                                                                      1
PROPOSED TEXTS                                                                     2
    Proposed Convention concerning the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents   5
    Proposed Recommendation concerning the Prévention of Major Industrial
        Accidents                                                                II
                                                                                     AM
 ---pagebreak--- f
                                        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,
           Havtng adopted the report of the Committee appointed to consider thefifthitem 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 Convection and a Reeommendadon.
           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
    ihe 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 as lo reach the Oilier in (ienrvn not Intor than M)
   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 governments* replies.
                                                                                                 W
 ---pagebreak---                                         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
          thefirstdiscussion 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 coramuni-
   *      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-
    j    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
  j     it to change the substantive provisions which had been agreed upon by the Con-       $
 j      ference Committee. The Office therefore considers it particularly important to
J       mention these points so that Members can reflect on them as soon as possible
-.j     and submit their comments for inclusion in Report TV (2), which the Office is
Â"      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 I
            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 thi definition of
      "threshold Quantity":
                                                                                               ^
 ---pagebreak---                                            Proposed 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 xo specific
    conditions, which if exceeded identifies a major Lazard installation
    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
    two definitions are interrelated.
         Subparagraph (fj: 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:
    Lhe 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 1Û (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-
c  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
  aeddent prevention" in subparagraph (c) as well as in Article 20 and Paragraph
  4 of the proposed Recommendation. What was intended by the introduction of
  this term was to coverall 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".
                                                                                                Ab
 ---pagebreak---                          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 ILO 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 up&ited 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.:l
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.
                                                                                    Avi
 ---pagebreak---                                            Proposed texts
            Proposed Convention concerning the Prevention of Maj'or Industrial
                                              Accidents
         The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation,
         Having been convened at Geneva by the Governing Body of the Lnter-
             national Labour Office, and having met in its 80th Session on 2 June
  #           1993, and
         Noting the relevant international labour Conventions and Recommenda-
i            lions and. in particular, the Occupational Safety and Health Convention
i            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 indusi; ial
             accidents, published in 199L and
         Having regard to the need to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken
             to:
             (a) prevent major accidents;
             (b) minimise 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-
  V         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.
                               P A R T I. D É F I N I T I O N S A N D 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 toxicologies! properties, either singly or in
        combination, constitutes a hazard:
                                                                                       •.•••VZQZ,
 ---pagebreak---                              Prevention oj major uiu.
  fbj 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 m quantities
      which exceed the threshold quantity;l
 fdj 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; '
(e) 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;
(j) 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 spectal 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.
        Sc« Office comment on pp 7 and 3.
                                                                                      Ab
 ---pagebreak---                                               rraposea texts.
                                    P A R T IL G E N E R A L PRINCIPLES
                                                Article 4
         L In thefightof national laws and regulations, conditions and practices, and
    m 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 theriskof 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 beregularlyreviewed
 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, II, 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.
                          P A R T III. RESPONSIBILITIES Of EMPLOYERS
                                           IDENTIFICATION
                                              Article 7
     Employers shall identify any major hazard installation within their control
on the basis of the system referred to ia Article 5.
     1
       See Office comment on p. 3.
                                                                                        Af
 ---pagebreak---                               rreventian a; major inausinii acciaenis
                                           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
                                                                                        0
                        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 —
   (a) the identification and analysis of hazards and the assessment ofrisksinclud-
         ing consideration of possible interactions between substances;
  (b) technical measures, including design, construction, choice of chemicals,
        operation, maintenance and systematic inspection of the installa non;
  (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) m the case of existing major hazard installations, within such a period after
      notification as is prescribed by national laws or regulations;
(b) m the case of any new major hazard installation, before it is put into
      operation.
       S#e Office comment oa p 3.
                                                                                          M
 ---pagebreak---                                              Proposed texts
                                              Article 11
            Employers shall transmit or make available to the competent authority the
       safety report refered to in Article 10.
                                              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 leva
          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
C        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.
                    P A R T TV. RjsMNsnnLrnES O F COMPETENT AUTHORITÎIS
                                OFF-SITE EMEROENCY PREPAREDNESS
                                            Article 15
        Taking into account the information provided by the employer, the compe-
  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
                                                                                            A\
 ---pagebreak---                                                    •i'.IAi./
          be affected by a major accident without their having to request it and that
          such information is updated and redisseminated at appropriate intervals:
    <bi warning is given as soon as possible in the case of a major accident;
    (c) 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.
                                          LNSPECTÏON
                                          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 —
fa) 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;
f
  c) be regularly instructed and trained in the practices and control procedures
       for major accident prevention and in the emergency procedures to be fol-
      lowed m the event of a major accident:
(d) 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
      1
        See Office comment on p. 3.
                                                                                         10
 ---pagebreak--- r                                          Article 20
            Workers employed at the site of a major hazard installation shall —
      (a) comply with ail 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. RISPONSUMUTY OF EXPORTING STATES
                                          Article 21
          When, in 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 JiUv 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 an p 4
                                                                                        \
 ---pagebreak---       (d) technologies and processes that are prohibited for reasons of safety and
 i
 K         health.
i          (2) Members should, as far as possible, communicate information on the
s    matters listed in subparagraph (1) above to the International Labour Office.
           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 FLO Code of practice on the prevention of major industrial acci-
'    dents, published in 19 91 or as reviewed, revised and updated m accordance with
;    ILO 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.
                                                                                       1*1
 ---pagebreak---                                                                          ISSN 0254-1459
                                                      KOM(92) 473 endelig udg.
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