Preface

• Pages: V-VI

Preface

In accordance with the decisions taken by the Governing Body of the ILO at its

219th (February-March 1982) Session, a meeting of experts was convened in Geneva

from 11 to 20 October 1983 to draw up a code of practice on safety in the use of

asbestos. The meeting was composed of five experts appointed following consultations

with governments, five experts appointed following consultations with the Employers'

group and five experts appointed following consultations with the Workers' group of the

Governing Body.1

The Code is based on principles established by the following Conventions and

Recommendations adopted by the International Labour Conference: the Occupational

Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139), and Recommendation, 1974 (No. 147), the

Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No.

148), and Recommendation, 1977 (No. 156), and the Occupational Safety and Health

Convention, 1981 (No. 155), and Recommendation, 1981 (No. 164).

1 The following experts took part in the meeting:

Dr. G. Atherley, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Center for Occupational Safety and

Health, Hamilton (Canada).

Mr. R. S. Baloyi, Director, Occupational Health, Safety and Compensation, Harare (Zimbabwe).

M. D. Bouige, Directeur, Association française de 1'amiante, Paris (France).

Dr. E. Buringh, Safety and Health Department, Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV),

Amsterdam (Netherlands).

Mr. E. Costa, Centro Nazionale Amianto, Genoa (Italy).

Dr. S. G. Domnin, Director, Institute of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Diseases, Sverdlovsk

(USSR).

Dr. A. Fischbein, Environmental Sciences Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, The Mount

Sinai Medical Center, New York (United States).

Mr. J. Hamilton, Assistant Secretary, Social Insurance and Industrial Welfare Department, Trades Union

Congress, London (United Kingdom).

Dr. Y. Hosoda, Chief, Department of Occupational Health, Central Health Institute, Japanese National

Railways, Tokyo (Japan).

Dr. M. Kohn, Doctor en Medicina Laboral, Eternit Uruguaya SA, Montevideo (Uruguay). (footnote

continued overleaf)

Dr. M. Lesage, Medical Adviser, Quebec Asbestos Mining Association, Montreal (Canada).

Dr. S. S. K. Mundia, member of the Medical Council and of the Association of Medical Practitioners of

Zambia, Lusaka (Zambia).

Mr. J. S. Oliver, Deputy Superintending Inspector of Factories, HMFI, HQ., Health and Safety Executive,

London (United Kingdom).

Mr. R. K. Sharma, General Secretary, Asbestos Cement Mazdoor Sangh, Kymore (India).

Mr. A. Zverev, Chief, Department of Occupational Hygiene, Federation of Construction Workers of the

USSR, Moscow (USSR).

The following international governmental and non-governmental organisations were represented:

World Health Organisation.

United Nations Environment Programme.

Commission of the European Communities.

International Organisation of Employers.

Confederation of Free Trade Unions.

World Confederation of Labour.

V