Meeting of Experts develop a Revised Code of Practice on
Safety and Health in the Iron and Steel Industry

Participation

The Meeting of Experts to Develop a Revised Code of Practice on Safety and Health in the Iron and Steel Industry (Geneva, 1-9 February 2005) was composed of 23 experts: seven nominated by governments of ILO member States chosen by the Governing Body of the ILO; eight experts nominated by the Governing Body after consultations with the Employers' group; and eight experts nominated by the Governing Body after consultation with the Workers' group. Observers from a number of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations also attended.

ILO codes of practice

The practical recommendations of ILO codes of practice are intended for the use of all those, both in the public and private sectors, who have responsibility for safety and health management in relation to specific occupational hazards, sectors of activity, or equipment. Codes of practice are not intended to replace national laws or regulations or accepted standards. They are drawn up with the objective of providing guidance to those who may be engaged, through social dialogue, in the framing of provisions of this kind or to elaborate programmes of prevention or protection at the national or enterprise levels. They are addressed in particular to governmental and public authorities, employers and workers and their organizations as well as management and safety and health committees in related enterprises.

Codes of practice are primarily designed as a basis for prevention and protective measures and are considered as ILO technical standards in occupational safety and health. They contain general principles and specific guidance which concern, in particular, the surveillance of the working environment and of workers' health; education and training; record-keeping; the role and duties of the competent authority, employers, workers, manufacturers and suppliers; and consultation and cooperation.

Purpose of the Meeting

The purpose of the Meeting was to consider and review a draft and adopt a code of practice.

Code of practice

The practical recommendations in this publication reflect the changes that have taken place in the iron and steel industry over the last 20 years or so, and changes to the ILO's approach to developing codes of practice. A leaner, flexible, more highly skilled workforce, new technology and a less prescriptive, more systems-oriented approach to addressing safety and health are reflected in the revised Code. It is intended to provide guidance to ILO constituents and all those responsible for addressing safety and health throughout the iron and steel industry. The general provisions of the Code cover: general responsibilities, duties and rights; the legal framework; safety and health management; reporting, recording and notification of work-related injuries and diseases, ill health and incidents and health services. Guidance on industry-specific prevention and protection includes: furnaces and ovens, foundries; handling molten material; rolling mills and coating lines; and recycling. There are also sections on: competence and training; personal protection; emergency preparedness; and welfare. Annexes to the Code include: workers' health surveillance; surveillance of the working environment; occupational exposure limits; and chemicals used in the iron and steel industry.

It is planned that the Code will be widely disseminated by the ILO, and social dialogue activities encouraged and facilitated to have the Code widely implemented to the benefit of workers in large and small iron and steel enterprises. The text of the revised Code of practice is available online (pdf, 512k).

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