Document number: PC-XIII/B/WP.2
Document date: 1 February 1996
Original: ENGLISH
Corrigenda () have been inserted at the relevant places!
Thirteenth Session (18 - 22 March 1996)
EIGHTH REPORT
1. Introduction
1.1 In accordance with the Plan of Activities and Schedule of Meetings annexed to the Report of the Twelfth Session of the Commission (PC-XII/17), the Expert Group on Safety Procedures met on 1 February 1996 in The Hague.
1.2 As Mr. Ray Fatz of the United States of America was unable to be present for this meeting, the Group agreed that Mr. William Spalding of the United States of America would continue to serve as Acting Chairman of the Expert Group.
2. Tasks of the Group
The Group considered the following priority task identified by the Commission:
3. Draft OPCW Health and Safety Regulations
3.1 The Group approved the Draft OPCW Health and Safety Regulations annexed to this Report and recommended that Working Group B consider and forward them to the Commission for consideration and adoption at its Thirteenth Session.
3.2 The Group understood that subparagraph 4.2 of the Draft OPCW Health and Safety Regulations does not prejudice the obligation of inspected States Parties to provide available data based on detection and monitoring, to an agreed extent necessary to satisfy concerns that may exist regarding the health and safety of the inspection team. In cases where detection and monitoring, as referred to in subparagraph 5.2.2 of the Draft OPCW Health and Safety Policy (PC-IX/B/WP.5) cannot be carried out, alternative risk assessment data or information will be provided by the inspected State Party, as provided for in subparagraph 5.1.1 of the Draft OPCW Health and Safety Policy.
4. Recommendation
The Group recommended that Working Group B consider the Draft OPCW Health and Safety Regulations annexed to this Report and forward them to the Commission for consideration and adoption at its Thirteenth Session, and that these Regulations be adopted, mutatis mutandis, as the Health and Safety Regulations of the Preparatory Commission.
1. Introduction
2. Risk Assessment and Risk Management
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Risk Assessment
2.3 Risk Management
3. Health and Safety within the OPCW Premises
3.1 Health and Safety Plan
3.2 Emergency Provisions
3.3 OPCW Premises
3.4 Health and Safety Audits
4. Health and Safety Principles during Inspections
4.1 Basic Principles
4.2 Detection and Monitoring
4.3 Modification of Inspection Activities for Health and/or Safety Reasons
5.1 Fitness for Work
5.2 Medical Treatment
5.3 Medical Treatment during Official Travel
5.4 Medical Records and Accident/Injury Reporting
5.5 Clean Air Policy
5.6 Medical Aspects of Staff Regulations
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Responsibilities
6.3 New Employees
6.4 Health and Safety Training Content
7.1 Requests for Waivers
7.2 Granting of Waivers
7.3 Exemptions
(b) Risk Assessment and Risk Management principles will contribute to ensure the health and safety of OPCW personnel in their activities.
2. Risk Assessment and Risk Management
A risk is characterised by the probability of an occurrence of an event and the level of expected damage associated with this event should it occur. 2.1 Introduction
(b) The general principles of risk assessment and risk management are based on the following methodological process:
(ii) assessment of the risks associated with such significant hazards (level of damage, probability of occurrence) and a decision on the acceptability of such risks;
(iii) management of the risks by using technical and organisational measures of prevention and protection;
(iv) recording the assessment and deciding upon the frequency of review.
(b) In cases where, by the nature of the operation, occurrence of a hazard is expected (such as in emergency destruction, training, or certain preventive maintenance operations), its consequences are to be determined and hence the measures defined, in order to ensure that personnel, objects, and the environment are either protected or not subject to exposure.
(c) Risk assessment will be based upon available data on hazards. If the probability of occurrence of a hazard or its associated level of damage cannot be appropriately assessed, the risk assessment may have to consider the most credible worst-case scenario.
(b) If the risk involved with a specific activity is considered to be unacceptable, the activity shall be modified until the risk falls within acceptable limits or, if that is not possible, the activity shall not be performed,
(c) Risk management measures to be taken as a result of the risk assessment can be divided into two different categories:
(ii) protective measures.
(e) Action should continuously be undertaken to ensure that the residual risks are contained within acceptable limits. If, for any reason, the risk exceeds acceptable limits, corrective measures must be undertaken to bring the risk back within its acceptable limits.
(f) Preventive and/or protective measures shall be adjusted according to the evolution of the risk.
3.1 Health and Safety Plan
(ii) Requirements for compliance with host state, national and/or local regulations, rules and guidelines. To this purpose workplace standards are important and must include as a minimum:
(bb) manual handling of loads (lifting practices);
(cc) environmental comfort;
(dd) lighting standards;
(ee) electricity supplies, fittings and cables; and
(ff) maintenance of the building and equipment.
(iv) Provisions for fire prevention, first aid and emergency procedures;
(v) Safety of visitors and contractors; and
(vi) Consideration of special hazards.
(c) The Health and Safety Office will carry out a full health and safety inspection at least annually, sending a report to the Director General.
(d) The Health and Safety Plan must be regularly updated according to results of inspections and changing requirements.
(b) The requirements of local and national fire regulations must be met.
(b) The Occupational Hygienist will be responsible for overseeing the cleaning, daily maintenance and periodical upkeep of the equipment to be used for office detection and monitoring purposes.
(c) If inspection equipment brought back to OPCW premises from inspection sites is contaminated, contamination control procedures are essential. Detailed procedures regarding decontamination of equipment, and safe disposal of toxic chemicals, contaminated clothing and equipment are described in the OPCW Guidelines.
(d) Laboratory activities will be in accordance with ISO Guide 25 and will also be based on Good Laboratory Practices, if applicable.
(e) The application of the Dutch Law and OPCW Regulations to health and safety within the OPCW Premises shall be in accordance with the provisions of the OPCW Headquarters Agreement.
(f) Safety regarding laboratory activities not covered by the provisions of ISO Guide 25, Good Laboratory Practices or applicable Dutch Law are detailed in the OPCW Guidelines.
(b) Audits must assess the organisational and the technical elements of the health and safety plan and its application by OPCW personnel.
4.1 Basic Principles
Inspectors shall comply with the ISP national and site-specific health and safety policy and regulations, and OPCW Policy and Regulations.
(b) Some variation from the strict implementation of the OPCW Regulations may be necessary to comply with specific requirements under provision of para. 43 of Part II of the Verification Annex or of the Confidentiality Annex.
(c) Such variations do not constitute a waiver situation since they are consistent with the OPCW Policy. Any such variations shall be reported in writing.
(d) In accordance with the OPCW Policy, the inspection team should aim to maintain the health and safety procedures to be applied as close as possible to the procedures as detailed in the OPCW Guidelines.
(e) No activity should involve a health and safety risk unacceptable to the inspection team or the ISP.
(f) In the context of the implementation at an inspection site of the Risk Assessment and Risk Management principles described in section 2, the specific measures taken subject to the consent of and in close co-ordination with the ISP, shall not prejudice the relevant provisions of the Convention. However, Risk Management provides for flexibility for accommodating all relevant requirements.
Should the inspection team consider detection and monitoring a necessity for health and safety purposes, it will consult with the ISP on that necessity. If the ISP gives its consent to such detection and monitoring, it will generally perform these activities. The ISP may also suggest that these activities are carried out by the inspection team. If agreement is reached, the following may be involved, singly or in combination, to satisfy the concerns of the inspection team.
(b) Detection and monitoring performed by the State Party, using its own equipment.
(c) Detection and monitoring performed by the inspection team in the least intrusive manner, e.g. using equipment on alarm mode.
(b) The causes of an accident must be determined, and, where necessary, the risk assessment, health and safety procedures and inspection activities must be reviewed before the affected inspection activities resume. Such review, and possible changes to inspection procedures, should be agreed with the ISP.
5.1 Fitness for Work
(b) All personnel must undergo a medical examination prior to commencing employment with the OPCW. Criteria for establishing the fitness of all inspectors and the OPCW requirements for initial and periodic medical examinations are contained in the OPCW Guidelines. The examination will normally be performed in a candidate's country of recruitment by an OPCW approved Physician. The results of the examination will be reviewed by the Senior Medical Officer of the OPCW, or a delegated medical officer, to determine a candidate's fitness to work with the OPCW.
(c) Withholding of medical information required for the pre-employment medical examination could result in an employee's subsequent dismissal from the OPCW.
(d) Staff members will have periodic medical examinations in order to ensure that their fitness to work is maintained, and as a preventative health measure. The frequency of such medical examinations depends on the staff member’s job and his age. Inspectors, particularly those with the potential to be exposed to hazardous chemicals, will undergo additional specific periodical examinations. Details appear in the OPCW Guidelines.
(e) Where a staff member becomes permanently unfit to perform his duties as a result of injury or illness, it will be attempted to further employ him/her in an alternative post. If this is not possible, the Head of the Health and Safety Office may recommend to the Director General that the staff member's contract be terminated on medical grounds.
(f) If in accordance with paragraph 43 of Part II of the Verification Annex, the ISP requests specific medical information in regard to the health and safety regulations on-site related to the fitness of an inspector, the inspection team leader will consult with ISP representatives on the ways to obtain such information. In case of divergences between the ISP and the inspection team, this shall be resolved in accordance with paragraph 3.3.3 (c) of the OPCW Policy.
(b) Wherever possible, religious and cultural considerations will be taken into account in the provision of medical treatment.
(b) Provisions for medical treatment during inspector training will be negotiated and recorded in an agreement to be concluded between the OPCW and the involved parties.
(c) During travel with inspection teams:
(ii) Where inspection teams include medical personnel medical treatment should only be provided by qualified personnel. In other circumstances treatment will be sought from local medical officers.
(iii) In cases requiring hospitalisation, the OPCW Senior Medical Officer or his delegate must be promptly notified.
(iv) Assistance may be requested from the inspected State Party. When appropriate, such assistance will be provided in accordance with the facility agreement.
(v) Where medical evacuation of a patient is required, the inspected State Party will assist, to the extent possible, at all stages, including transportation of the patient to a departure point. Maximum effort shall be made to transport a patient to a suitable medical facility as soon as possible.
(vi) While it is not normally the policy of the OPCW that its health and safety personnel should provide treatment for non-OPCW personnel, in an emergency situation where no local health personnel are present, or when non-OPCW personnel are injured by an inspection related activity, emergency first aid will be rendered.
(b) All incidents causing, or nearly causing, injuries or death during duty in all places will be reported to the Senior Safety Officer. An investigation will be carried out by the Senior Safety Officer and supervisor of the personnel concerned. Reporting and investigating details can be found in the OPCW Guidelines.
All employees have the right to a smoke-free workplace. The OPCW recognises the hazard to health of active and passive smoking and discourages staff members from smoking. The OPCW will establish a clean air policy to be developed in co-operation with staff.
5.6 Medical Aspects of Staff Regulations
(b) The OPCW shall provide medical insurance for inspectors for the period of their training, and shall agree with a State Party providing training and an insurance company of that country or an international insurance company on the procedures for medical assistance in cases of serious illness or injury.
(c) Negligence or misconduct of Health and Safety Office staff in implementing the provisions of the OPCW Policy and Regulations shall be deemed as professional inadequacy and could result in termination of employment.
6.1 Introduction
Adequate attention to the training and education of individuals in Risk Assessment/Management in relation to their work enables them to take personal responsibility for their safety.
6.2 Responsibilities
In addition to the responsibilities for health and safety training set out in paragraph 6.2 of the OPCW Policy, the following apply.
(b) The appropriate training authority will be responsible for arranging and recording all necessary safety training.
All new staff will receive basic safety instruction by the Health and Safety Office
6.4 Health and Safety Training Content
Syllabuses of all Health and Safety training courses will be developed, evaluated, and updated by the appropriate training authority in conjunction with the Health and Safety Office, and are detailed in the OPCW Guidelines.
(b) Variations from standard OPCW Regulations and Guidelines made in order to comply with paragraph 43 of Part II of the Verification Annex, do not constitute waiver situations since they are consistent with the OPCW Policy.
(c) On the rare occasion that a waiver may be required, the procedure is contained in the OPCW Guidelines.
When compliance with the OPCW Policy and Regulations cannot be achieved, a request for waiver should be submitted through the Head of the Health and Safety Office to the Director General or an Authorised Official.
7.2 Granting of Waivers
(b) A request for amendment will be initiated when factors or circumstances requiring a change to the original waiver are identified and must also be granted by the Director General or an Authorised Official.
Requests for exemptions will be submitted to the Director General.