English

• International Chemical Secretariats, e.g. ChemSec;
• Intergovernmental Organizations, Agencies and Programmes, e.g. ILO,
UNEP, WHO, IFCS, UNITAR;
• Secretariats of Conventions and Agreements, e.g. Stockholm, Rotterdam,
Basel, Bamako, Cartagena;
• Non–Governmental Organizations, e.g. IPEN, PAN Africa, WWF, PAN AP;
• International Campaigns, e.g. Fair Flowers Fair Plants (FFP) programme;
• Survey of the workplace and interviews/consultations of workers;
• National legislation(s): see “right-to-know”.
The latter two sources are of particular relevance:
• Survey of the workplace and interviews/consultations of workers:
this is an important source of information, which results from a site-visit to
the different workplaces and areas and an exercise of consultation with
workers. This will also provide a reference against which to compare the
information given by the company.
A detailed overview of the places and sites that show a higher level of
absenteeism is usually indicative of higher rates of occupational accidents
and incidents and points out where the major problems may be.
• National legislation(s): Many countries now have some kind of
legislation governing communication of hazard or “right-to-know”.
Under these laws, employers, manufacturers, suppliers and importers of
chemicals must provide clear, detailed information about the particular
chemical substance or product in question: its possible health effects,
including the results of animal tests and surveys of exposed workers, and
means of protecting workers from any harmful effect.
• Right to Information and Management’s responsibility: These laws
make it the employer’s legal responsibility to provide workers with as
much information and training as possible on all chemical substances
used. Some unions have negotiated agreements that require the union
be given full information on all chemicals used in the workplace.
Unfortunately, many employers do not have this information and may
not know where to get it. In this case, the health and safety
representative should insist that the employer obtain information from
the manufacturer or the supplier of the chemical and make it available
to the workers.
• Right to information and Manufacturer and Supplier’s responsibilities:
If the employer cannot obtain the necessary information, a worker or
the union may write directly to the manufacturer of the chemical to
request the information.
In accordance with the objectives and principles of the ILO
Occupational Health and safety Convention, 1981 (n. 155), and
Recommendation, 1981 (n.164), Employers should make chemical
safety data sheets or similar relevant information of the chemicals
used at work available to workers and their representatives.
60