Health, Safety and Environment - International Labour Organization

Manual 4:HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT FACT SHEETS Trade union actionCollectivebargainingAlternativesto toxicchemicalsYour union can use collective bargaining to overcome some of thelimitations in your country’s health and safety legislation. Encourage yourunion to develop agreements on the use of chemicals, using as a basis theprovisions in the ILO Convention No. 184 on Safety and Health inAgriculture and Convention No. 170 concerning Safety in the Use ofChemicals at Work.Your union can actively pursue alternatives to the use of toxic chemicals,such as Integrated Production and Pest Management methods (see FactSheet 14 below) or organic farming where chemicals are not used.Trade union action checklist Are unions consulted and informed prior to new substances being introduced? Is management already passing on information about substances? Is this information kept up-to-date? Are all containers properly labelled? Are there reliable chemical safety data sheets on all hazardous substances usedat work? Is there a central register, which worker HS&E representatives and workers cansee, of all substances used at work? Are worker HS&E representatives checking independently on the hazards ofsubstances? Has the employer agreed to keep worker HS&E representatives informed abouttheir strategy for chemicals and pesticides and reduction in chemicals usage? Is there a procedure for handling disagreements about risk assessments? Have dates, priorities, and targets been agreed? Is the chemicals policy monitored through a joint safety committee? Are the workforce kept informed of progress?138 Health, Safety and EnvironmentA Series of Trade Union EducationManuals for Agricultural Workers