39 Specific mining regulations 186. The mines and quarries regulation1 allocates responsibilities and deals with other, more specific, safety matters. For example, where several contractors are used for the same activity, the employers are responsible for their employees' health and safety but co-ordinating and programming works is the operator's responsibility (section 4§1 f). Under section 4§2 of the regulation, the employer, whether this be the operator or a contractor, must comply with relevant health and safety measures, implement any protective measures concerning the work, employees, the neighbouring population and the environment proposed by the head of team or doctor concerned and, in the case of contractors, reach agreement on the apportionment of responsibilities in accordance with section 4§1 f (see above). 187. Sections 7 to 13 of chapter II of the regulation concern individual safety measures, occupational health, health surveillance and health and safety training for employees. Chapter IV deals with general and specific safety measures. For example, section 22 requires employees to be protected against suspended dust, gases, vapours and smoke. Section 82 lays down general safety measures relating to the land surface, particularly in connection with landslides and fissures. Section 83 imposes special obligations concerning waste sites, which must be specifically covered in all the technical studies required for any mining activity (Article 4). Under sections 92 to 96, accidents at work must be reported to the authorities and the mines inspectorate. Section 96 requires a list of accidents to be submitted to the mines inspectorate every three months to enable the relevant section of the Ministry of Development to assemble data on the frequency, seriousness and origin of accidents. 188. The Ministerial order 14080/732/96 is more specifically concerned with minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers in surface and underground mineral-extracting industries. As well as other general safety provisions, employers are required to prepare and regularly update a health and safety document (section 3), take all appropriate measures to prevent risks, including health risks resulting from air pollution (section 4) and those associated with waste sites (part A, § 15 of the appendix), and so on. Section 8 also requires employers to ensure that every employee receives a health check on recruitment and at regular intervals thereafter. Monitoring health and safety standards 189. A labour inspectorate (SEPE) was set up in 1999 as part of the Ministry of Labour, under section 6 of the Labour Inspection Act, No. 2639/1998 on labour relations and the establishment of a labour inspectorate 2. Presidential decree 136/1999 on the organisation of a labour inspectorate3 establishes the inspectorate's central and regional structure. It is divided into two branches, one concerned with social security and general employment matters, the other with health and safety. It may investigate and take proceedings against any person who infringes the labour legislation. It may also be consulted by employees and employers. Finally, the 1 Mines and quarries regulation, approved under ministerial order II-5H/F/17402/1984, Official Journal B 931 (31/12/1984). 2 Official Journal A 205 (02/09/1998) 3 Official Journal A 134 (30/06/1999)

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