Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985

The first four articles define the term occupational health services and workers’ representatives, how it has to be established and provided.

The first article defines the term occupational health services as actions with preventive focus to protect all workers and employers. Workers’ representatives in the undertaking are people recognized as such under law or practice.

Each member of the convention shall organize and create their own national policy on occupational health services in cooperation with representative organizations of employers and workers and check on the implementation.

Every member has to develop ongoing occupational health services for all workers in all branches and arrangements must be adapted to the working conditions and risks. If occupational health services cannot be established immediately, each member has to plan such services in cooperation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers. Every member is required to provide information in reports on the implementation and progress of the plans submitted to the International Labour Organization.

The competent authority shall cooperate with the most representative organizations of employers and workers for implementation of the agreements.

The main functions and participations of occupational health services are resumed in the fifth article of the conventions. Occupational health services must detect and assess risks from health hazard at the workplace, check on possible risks to health in the working environment and all facilities provided by the employer, take part in planning and organization of work, workplaces and in maintenance of working equipment. In addition, occupational health services shall participate in the development of programmes, advice on occupational health, safety and hygiene, observe the health of workers in relation to work, support the improvement of working conditions, organize first aid and emergency treatment and analyze occupational accidents and diseases.

The articles six to eight determine the legal conditions for occupational health services. They also refer to competent authorities and the organization of services within and between companies.

The provision of occupational health services shall be made by law, collective agreements and contracts or another way approved by the competent authority. [2]

Occupational health services can be organized for a single company or a number of companies. The services shall be organized by public authorities, social security institutions, authorized bodies or companies themselves.

Employers and workers shall cooperate and participate equally in the implementation of occupational health services.

Articles 9 to 15 describe the responsibilities of personnel and employers regarding occupational health services and the implementation of health protective measures.

Occupational health services shall cooperate with other services in the company and the personnel is determined by the nature of the tasks.

The personnel for occupational health services acts independent from employers and workers.

The competent authority determines the required qualifications for the personnel of occupational health services.

The surveillance of the workers’ health shall not involve earning loss, be free of charge and should take place in working time.

Every worker has to be informed about health hazards in their work.

Occupational health services are informed about known health hazards by employers and workers.

Occupational health services must be informed about occurring illnesses and workers’ absence due to health reasons in order to identify possible health risks at work. The personnel must not be instructed by the employer to verify the reasons for absence from work.

Articles 16 to 24 govern the ratification of this convention and the adoption of a new convention. They also contain the responsibilities of the Director-General of the ILO and the validity of the English and French versions.

National laws name the authorities responsible for the supervision of and advising on occupational health services.

The formal ratifications of the convention must be transmitted to the Director-General of the ILO.

The convention is binding for all members of the International Labour Organization, whose ratification is registered with the Director-General. It should enter into force twelve month after the registration with the Director-General.

A member can resign this convention after ten years from the date on which the convention first entered into force by writing to the Director-General of the ILO. One year after the act of resignation it comes into effect. Each member can resign within one year following the expiration of the ten years period. After that the convention can only be resigned after a next period of ten years.

The Director-General of the ILO shall notify all members transmitted to him or her by the members of the organization. When notifying the second ratification, the Director-General shall point out the date of entry into force of the convention.

The Director-General of the ILO shall provide the Secretary-General of the United Nations all registered ratifications and denunciations according to Article 102 of the Charter of the UN.

The Governing Body presents a report on the implementation of this convention to the General Conference as it may deem necessary. It also shall question its revision.

Adopts the conference a new convention, that revises this convention, the ratification of the new convention shall imply the immediate denunciation of this convention. With the entry into force of the new convention, this convention is no longer ratifiable. This convention remains in force in its present form for those members who ratified it but not the new convention.

The English and French versions of this convention are equally authoritative.