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ILO: Chemicals Convention (No. 170) and Recommendation (No. 177), 1990
Description:
The main ILO instruments dealing with chemicals.
Adopted in 1990 and among the first international instruments dealing with all major chemical hazards in a comprehensive manner.
- Targeted and specific instrument.
- Provides the basis for the sound management of all types of chemicals.
- Convention No.170 served as the basis for the negotiation of the Rotterdam Convention, which was adopted in 1998.
- Convention No.170 has also been a basis for the development of GHS.
- Complimented by the ILO code of practice: Safety in the use of chemicals at work.
Key elements:
- Covers all hazardous chemicals and takes into account new substances.
- Focus on chemical risks in the workplace, but also protects the public and the environment.
- Prescribes the classification and labelling of all chemicals by hazards with appropriate information and symbols.
- Provision of safety data sheets for workers on all hazardous chemicals used in their workplace.
- Obliges ratifying states to implement a general national policy on the prevention of occupational accidents and work-related diseases caused by chemicals.
- Defines detailed responsibilities for employers regarding assessment of hazards and measures to limit exposure.
- Approach of prioritizing prevention over protection.
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