6/5/2017 ConventionC155OccupationalSafetyandHealthConvention,1981(No.

155)

NORMLEX InformationSystemonInternationalLabourStandards Search Userguide Glossary

C155OccupationalSafetyandHealthConvention,1981(No.155)
ConventionconcerningOccupationalSafetyandHealthandtheWorkingEnvironment(Entryinto
force:11Aug1983)
Adoption:Geneva,67thILCsession(22Jun1981)Status:Uptodateinstrument(TechnicalConvention).
Conventionmaybedenounced:11Aug202311Aug2024

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Preamble

TheGeneralConferenceoftheInternationalLabourOrganisation,

HavingbeenconvenedatGenevabytheGoverningBodyoftheInternationalLabourOffice,andhavingmetinitsSixtyseventh
Sessionon3June1981,and

Havingdecidedupontheadoptionofcertainproposalswithregardtosafetyandhealthandtheworkingenvironment,whichisthe
sixthitemontheagendaofthesession,and

HavingdeterminedthattheseproposalsshalltaketheformofaninternationalConvention,

adoptsthistwentyseconddayofJuneoftheyearonethousandninehundredandeightyonethefollowingConvention,whichmay
becitedastheOccupationalSafetyandHealthConvention,1981:

PARTI.SCOPEANDDEFINITIONS

Article1
1.ThisConventionappliestoallbranchesofeconomicactivity.

2.AMemberratifyingthisConventionmay,afterconsultationattheearliestpossiblestagewiththerepresentativeorganisationsof
employersandworkersconcerned,excludefromitsapplication,inpartorinwhole,particularbranchesofeconomicactivity,suchas
maritimeshippingorfishing,inrespectofwhichspecialproblemsofasubstantialnaturearise.

3.EachMemberwhichratifiesthisConventionshalllist,inthefirstreportontheapplicationoftheConventionsubmittedunder
Article22oftheConstitutionoftheInternationalLabourOrganisation,anybrancheswhichmayhavebeenexcludedinpursuanceof
paragraph2ofthisArticle,givingthereasonsforsuchexclusionanddescribingthemeasurestakentogiveadequateprotectionto
workersinexcludedbranches,andshallindicateinsubsequentreportsanyprogresstowardswiderapplication.

Article2
1.ThisConventionappliestoallworkersinthebranchesofeconomicactivitycovered.

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2.AMemberratifyingthisConventionmay,afterconsultationattheearliestpossiblestagewiththerepresentativeorganisationsof
employersandworkersconcerned,excludefromitsapplication,inpartorinwhole,limitedcategoriesofworkersinrespectofwhich
thereareparticulardifficulties.

3.EachMemberwhichratifiesthisConventionshalllist,inthefirstreportontheapplicationoftheConventionsubmittedunder
Article22oftheConstitutionoftheInternationalLabourOrganisation,anylimitedcategoriesofworkerswhichmayhavebeen
excludedinpursuanceofparagraph2ofthisArticle,givingthereasonsforsuchexclusion,andshallindicateinsubsequentreportsany
progresstowardswiderapplication.

Article3
ForthepurposeofthisConvention

(a)thetermbranchesofeconomicactivitycoversallbranchesinwhichworkersareemployed,includingthepublicservice

(b)thetermworkerscoversallemployedpersons,includingpublicemployees

(c)thetermworkplacecoversallplaceswhereworkersneedtobeortogobyreasonoftheirworkandwhichareunderthedirect
orindirectcontroloftheemployer

(d)thetermregulationscoversallprovisionsgivenforceoflawbythecompetentauthorityorauthorities

(e)thetermhealth,inrelationtowork,indicatesnotmerelytheabsenceofdiseaseorinfirmityitalsoincludesthephysicaland
mentalelementsaffectinghealthwhicharedirectlyrelatedtosafetyandhygieneatwork.

PARTII.PRINCIPLESOFNATIONALPOLICY

Article4
1.EachMembershall,inthelightofnationalconditionsandpractice,andinconsultationwiththemostrepresentativeorganisationsof
employersandworkers,formulate,implementandperiodicallyreviewacoherentnationalpolicyonoccupationalsafety,occupational
healthandtheworkingenvironment.

2.Theaimofthepolicyshallbetopreventaccidentsandinjurytohealtharisingoutof,linkedwithoroccurringinthecourseofwork,
byminimising,sofarasisreasonablypracticable,thecausesofhazardsinherentintheworkingenvironment.

Article5
ThepolicyreferredtoinArticle4ofthisConventionshalltakeaccountofthefollowingmainspheresofactioninsofarastheyaffect
occupationalsafetyandhealthandtheworkingenvironment:

(a)design,testing,choice,substitution,installation,arrangement,useandmaintenanceofthematerialelementsofwork
(workplaces,workingenvironment,tools,machineryandequipment,chemical,physicalandbiologicalsubstancesandagents,work
processes)

(b)relationshipsbetweenthematerialelementsofworkandthepersonswhocarryoutorsupervisethework,andadaptationof
machinery,equipment,workingtime,organisationofworkandworkprocessestothephysicalandmentalcapacitiesofthe
workers

(c)training,includingnecessaryfurthertraining,qualificationsandmotivationsofpersonsinvolved,inonecapacityoranother,in
theachievementofadequatelevelsofsafetyandhealth

(d)communicationandcooperationatthelevelsoftheworkinggroupandtheundertakingandatallotherappropriatelevelsupto
andincludingthenationallevel

(e)theprotectionofworkersandtheirrepresentativesfromdisciplinarymeasuresasaresultofactionsproperlytakenbythemin
conformitywiththepolicyreferredtoinArticle4ofthisConvention.

Article6

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TheformulationofthepolicyreferredtoinArticle4ofthisConventionshallindicatetherespectivefunctionsandresponsibilitiesin
respectofoccupationalsafetyandhealthandtheworkingenvironmentofpublicauthorities,employers,workersandothers,taking
accountbothofthecomplementarycharacterofsuchresponsibilitiesandofnationalconditionsandpractice.

Article7
Thesituationregardingoccupationalsafetyandhealthandtheworkingenvironmentshallbereviewedatappropriateintervals,either
overallorinrespectofparticularareas,withaviewtoidentifyingmajorproblems,evolvingeffectivemethodsfordealingwiththem
andprioritiesofaction,andevaluatingresults.

PARTIII.ACTIONATTHENATIONALLEVEL

Article8
EachMembershall,bylawsorregulationsoranyothermethodconsistentwithnationalconditionsandpracticeandinconsultation
withtherepresentativeorganisationsofemployersandworkersconcerned,takesuchstepsasmaybenecessarytogiveeffecttoArticle
4ofthisConvention.

Article9
1.Theenforcementoflawsandregulationsconcerningoccupationalsafetyandhealthandtheworkingenvironmentshallbesecuredby
anadequateandappropriatesystemofinspection.

2.Theenforcementsystemshallprovideforadequatepenaltiesforviolationsofthelawsandregulations.

Article10
Measuresshallbetakentoprovideguidancetoemployersandworkerssoastohelpthemtocomplywithlegalobligations.

Article11
TogiveeffecttothepolicyreferredtoinArticle4ofthisConvention,thecompetentauthorityorauthoritiesshallensurethatthe
followingfunctionsareprogressivelycarriedout:

(a)thedetermination,wherethenatureanddegreeofhazardssorequire,ofconditionsgoverningthedesign,constructionand
layoutofundertakings,thecommencementoftheiroperations,majoralterationsaffectingthemandchangesintheirpurposes,the
safetyoftechnicalequipmentusedatwork,aswellastheapplicationofproceduresdefinedbythecompetentauthorities

(b)thedeterminationofworkprocessesandofsubstancesandagentstheexposuretowhichistobeprohibited,limitedormade
subjecttoauthorisationorcontrolbythecompetentauthorityorauthoritieshealthhazardsduetothesimultaneousexposureto
severalsubstancesoragentsshallbetakenintoconsideration

(c)theestablishmentandapplicationofproceduresforthenotificationofoccupationalaccidentsanddiseases,byemployersand,
whenappropriate,insuranceinstitutionsandothersdirectlyconcerned,andtheproductionofannualstatisticsonoccupational
accidentsanddiseases

(d)theholdingofinquiries,wherecasesofoccupationalaccidents,occupationaldiseasesoranyotherinjuriestohealthwhicharise
inthecourseoforinconnectionwithworkappeartoreflectsituationswhichareserious

(e)thepublication,annually,ofinformationonmeasurestakeninpursuanceofthepolicyreferredtoinArticle4ofthis
Conventionandonoccupationalaccidents,occupationaldiseasesandotherinjuriestohealthwhichariseinthecourseoforin
connectionwithwork

(f)theintroductionorextensionofsystems,takingintoaccountnationalconditionsandpossibilities,toexaminechemical,physical
andbiologicalagentsinrespectoftherisktothehealthofworkers.

Article12
Measuresshallbetaken,inaccordancewithnationallawandpractice,withaviewtoensuringthatthosewhodesign,manufacture,
import,provideortransfermachinery,equipmentorsubstancesforoccupationaluse

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(a)satisfythemselvesthat,sofarasisreasonablypracticable,themachinery,equipmentorsubstancedoesnotentaildangersfor
thesafetyandhealthofthoseusingitcorrectly

(b)makeavailableinformationconcerningthecorrectinstallationanduseofmachineryandequipmentandthecorrectuseof
substances,andinformationonhazardsofmachineryandequipmentanddangerouspropertiesofchemicalsubstancesand
physicalandbiologicalagentsorproducts,aswellasinstructionsonhowknownhazardsaretobeavoided

(c)undertakestudiesandresearchorotherwisekeepabreastofthescientificandtechnicalknowledgenecessarytocomplywith
subparagraphs(a)and(b)ofthisArticle.

Article13
Aworkerwhohasremovedhimselffromaworksituationwhichhehasreasonablejustificationtobelievepresentsanimminentand
seriousdangertohislifeorhealthshallbeprotectedfromundueconsequencesinaccordancewithnationalconditionsandpractice.

Article14
Measuresshallbetakenwithaviewtopromotinginamannerappropriatetonationalconditionsandpractice,theinclusionof
questionsofoccupationalsafetyandhealthandtheworkingenvironmentatalllevelsofeducationandtraining,includinghigher
technical,medicalandprofessionaleducation,inamannermeetingthetrainingneedsofallworkers.

Article15
1.WithaviewtoensuringthecoherenceofthepolicyreferredtoinArticle4ofthisConventionandofmeasuresforitsapplication,each
Membershall,afterconsultationattheearliestpossiblestagewiththemostrepresentativeorganisationsofemployersandworkers,and
withotherbodiesasappropriate,makearrangementsappropriatetonationalconditionsandpracticetoensurethenecessaryco
ordinationbetweenvariousauthoritiesandbodiescalledupontogiveeffecttoPartsIIandIIIofthisConvention.

2.Whenevercircumstancessorequireandnationalconditionsandpracticepermit,thesearrangementsshallincludetheestablishment
ofacentralbody.

PARTIV.ACTIONATTHELEVELOFTHEUNDERTAKING

Article16
1.Employersshallberequiredtoensurethat,sofarasisreasonablypracticable,theworkplaces,machinery,equipmentandprocesses
undertheircontrolaresafeandwithoutrisktohealth.

2.Employersshallberequiredtoensurethat,sofarasisreasonablypracticable,thechemical,physicalandbiologicalsubstancesand
agentsundertheircontrolarewithoutrisktohealthwhentheappropriatemeasuresofprotectionaretaken.

3.Employersshallberequiredtoprovide,wherenecessary,adequateprotectiveclothingandprotectiveequipmenttoprevent,sofaras
isreasonablypracticable,riskofaccidentsorofadverseeffectsonhealth.

Article17
Whenevertwoormoreundertakingsengageinactivitiessimultaneouslyatoneworkplace,theyshallcollaborateinapplyingthe
requirementsofthisConvention.

Article18
Employersshallberequiredtoprovide,wherenecessary,formeasurestodealwithemergenciesandaccidents,includingadequate
firstaidarrangements.

Article19
Thereshallbearrangementsattheleveloftheundertakingunderwhich

(a)workers,inthecourseofperformingtheirwork,cooperateinthefulfilmentbytheiremployeroftheobligationsplacedupon
him

(b)representativesofworkersintheundertakingcooperatewiththeemployerinthefieldofoccupationalsafetyandhealth

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(c)representativesofworkersinanundertakingaregivenadequateinformationonmeasurestakenbytheemployertosecure
occupationalsafetyandhealthandmayconsulttheirrepresentativeorganisationsaboutsuchinformationprovidedtheydonot
disclosecommercialsecrets

(d)workersandtheirrepresentativesintheundertakingaregivenappropriatetraininginoccupationalsafetyandhealth

(e)workersortheirrepresentativesand,asthecasemaybe,theirrepresentativeorganisationsinanundertaking,inaccordance
withnationallawandpractice,areenabledtoenquireinto,andareconsultedbytheemployeron,allaspectsofoccupationalsafety
andhealthassociatedwiththeirworkforthispurposetechnicaladvisersmay,bymutualagreement,bebroughtinfromoutside
theundertaking

(f)aworkerreportsforthwithtohisimmediatesupervisoranysituationwhichhehasreasonablejustificationtobelievepresents
animminentandseriousdangertohislifeorhealthuntiltheemployerhastakenremedialaction,ifnecessary,theemployer
cannotrequireworkerstoreturntoaworksituationwherethereiscontinuingimminentandseriousdangertolifeorhealth.

Article20
Cooperationbetweenmanagementandworkersand/ortheirrepresentativeswithintheundertakingshallbeanessentialelementof
organisationalandothermeasurestakeninpursuanceofArticles16to19ofthisConvention.

Article21
Occupationalsafetyandhealthmeasuresshallnotinvolveanyexpenditurefortheworkers.

PARTV.FINALPROVISIONS

Article22
ThisConventiondoesnotreviseanyinternationallabourConventionsorRecommendations.

Article23
TheformalratificationsofthisConventionshallbecommunicatedtotheDirectorGeneraloftheInternationalLabourOfficefor
registration.

Article24
1.ThisConventionshallbebindingonlyuponthoseMembersoftheInternationalLabourOrganisationwhoseratificationshavebeen
registeredwiththeDirectorGeneral.

2.ItshallcomeintoforcetwelvemonthsafterthedateonwhichtheratificationsoftwoMembershavebeenregisteredwiththe
DirectorGeneral.

3.Thereafter,thisConventionshallcomeintoforceforanyMembertwelvemonthsafterthedateonwhichitsratificationhasbeen
registered.

Article25
1.AMemberwhichhasratifiedthisConventionmaydenounceitaftertheexpirationoftenyearsfromthedateonwhichthe
Conventionfirstcomesintoforce,byanactcommunicatedtotheDirectorGeneraloftheInternationalLabourOfficeforregistration.
Suchdenunciationshallnottakeeffectuntiloneyearafterthedateonwhichitisregistered.

2.EachMemberwhichhasratifiedthisConventionandwhichdoesnot,withintheyearfollowingtheexpirationoftheperiodoften
yearsmentionedintheprecedingparagraph,exercisetherightofdenunciationprovidedforinthisArticle,willbeboundforanother
periodoftenyearsand,thereafter,maydenouncethisConventionattheexpirationofeachperiodoftenyearsundertheterms
providedforinthisArticle.

Article26
1.TheDirectorGeneraloftheInternationalLabourOfficeshallnotifyallMembersoftheInternationalLabourOrganisationofthe
registrationofallratificationsanddenunciationscommunicatedtohimbytheMembersoftheOrganisation.

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2.WhennotifyingtheMembersoftheOrganisationoftheregistrationofthesecondratificationcommunicatedtohim,theDirector
GeneralshalldrawtheattentionoftheMembersoftheOrganisationtothedateuponwhichtheConventionwillcomeintoforce.

Article27
TheDirectorGeneraloftheInternationalLabourOfficeshallcommunicatetotheSecretaryGeneraloftheUnitedNationsfor
registrationinaccordancewithArticle102oftheCharteroftheUnitedNationsfullparticularsofallratificationsandactsof
denunciationregisteredbyhiminaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheprecedingArticles.

Article28
AtsuchtimesasitmayconsidernecessarytheGoverningBodyoftheInternationalLabourOfficeshallpresenttotheGeneral
ConferenceareportontheworkingofthisConventionandshallexaminethedesirabilityofplacingontheagendaoftheConferencethe
questionofitsrevisioninwholeorinpart.

Article29
1.ShouldtheConferenceadoptanewConventionrevisingthisConventioninwholeorinpart,then,unlessthenewConvention
otherwiseprovides:

(a)theratificationbyaMemberofthenewrevisingConventionshallipsojureinvolvetheimmediatedenunciationofthis
Convention,notwithstandingtheprovisionsofArticle25above,ifandwhenthenewrevisingConventionshallhavecomeinto
force

(b)asfromthedatewhenthenewrevisingConventioncomesintoforcethisConventionshallceasetobeopentoratificationby
theMembers.

2.ThisConventionshallinanycaseremaininforceinitsactualformandcontentforthoseMemberswhichhaveratifieditbuthave
notratifiedtherevisingConvention.

Article30
TheEnglishandFrenchversionsofthetextofthisConventionareequallyauthoritative.

Seerelated
Constitution
ConstitutionArticle22

Seealso

Ratificationsbycountry
Submissionstocompetentauthoritiesbycountry

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