SECO successfully concludes enforcement focus "Health protection and chemicals at work"

The core of this enforcement focus was the development of practical principles and digital tools that enable the cantonal labor inspectorates to support companies more effectively in implementing their due diligence obligations in accordance with the Ordinance on Employee Protection (ArGV 3, Article 24a). In addition to brochures, checklists and work instructions, the digital tool SICHEM was developed to provide companies with a user-friendly way to create and manage their chemical inventories. SICHEM helps companies to derive the necessary steps to protect employees and to fulfill their legal obligations based on risk. Further information and assistance is available at www.chematwork.ch available.

Thanks to these and other measures, the cantonal labor inspectorates have been strengthened specifically in the area of chemicals management. A uniform understanding of the careful handling of hazardous chemical products has been created and the basis for the sustainable implementation of statutory duties of care has been laid. Cooperation with professional associations and other stakeholders has laid the foundation for further projects on the responsible handling of chemicals.

Measurable success of the enforcement focus

The success of the enforcement focus is reflected in concrete figures: Cantonal labor inspectors took part in various training courses 242 times, with specialists from all cantons represented. The publications produced were in high demand - the brochure on health protection was ordered almost 8,000 times in printed form and downloaded over 3,000 times. The flyer for the SICHEM online tool was downloaded and ordered over 10,000 times. The central information platform has recorded more than 12,300 unique page views since its launch in January 2020.

The principles of careful handling of chemicals in the workplace were successfully communicated in over forty presentations to various industry solutions, authorities and professional associations. In view of the fact that, according to SUVA, 90% of the companies it supports work with potentially hazardous CMR substances (carcinogenic (C), mutagenic (M) or reprotoxic (R)), this broad sensitization is of particular importance for the long-term health protection of employees.

"These impressive figures prove the success of the project - every franc invested and every working hour was worth it," sums up Kaspar Schmid, Head of the Labor and Chemicals Division at SECO.

SECO's support remains even after the conclusion

SECO will continue to provide support by:

• publications such as work instructions, leaflets and brochures are kept up to date,
• the SICHEM IT tool is continuously adapted to practical requirements and operated in order to relieve companies of the burden of implementing their due diligence obligations,
• Training courses for labor inspectors on handling chemicals and also on handling SICHEM will be continued as part of SECO's regular course offerings.

Source: seco.admin.ch