NATIONAL LEGISLATION ON HAZARDOUS WORK Contents Table 1. General prohibition of hazardous work by children Table 2. General prohibitions relating to the physical environment Table 3. Prohibition of specific agents or products Table 4. Prohibited hazardous industries, occupations or activities Table 1. General prohibition of hazardous work by children General prohibitions Minimum age Country Dangerous to safety 18 Argentina, Barbados, Belarus, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, Norway, Panama, Romania, Sudan, Swaziland, Tajikistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Ukraine, Viet Nam   17 Canada (federal)   16-18 Madagascar   16 Lebanon, Morocco Likely to endanger safety 18 Norway   17 Canada (federal) Dangerous to health 21 Uruguay   18 Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Greece, Haiti, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Republic of Korea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Latvia, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Mozambique, Nigeria, Romania, Slovakia, Sudan, Swaziland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine   16-18 Equatorial Guinea   16 Algeria, France, Papua New Guinea, Singapore Particularly dangerous (dangerous to life) 18 Gabon, Venezuela   16 France Dangerous to morals 18 Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lesotho, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritania, Panama, Swaziland   16-18 Madagascar   16 Algeria, France, Morocco, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal Likely to be harmful to morals 18 Congo, Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan Seriously dangerous to morals 18 Ecuador Dangerous to the development (physical, intellectual or moral) of a child 18 Angola,1 Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland,1 Venezuela   Physically arduous 18 Afghanistan, Argentina, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Mozambique, Romania, Slovenia, Sudan, Ukraine, Viet Nam Too arduous 18 Albania, Cameroon, Chile, China, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritania, Panama, Poland,1 Venezuela   16-18 Madagascar   Particularly hazardous or detrimental to health or well-being 18   1 Except for apprenticeships. Source: ILO: Conditions of work digest on child labour: Law and practice, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Geneva, 1991), pp. 48-54.   Table 2. General prohibitions relating to the physical environment General hazards Minimum age Country Thermal stress (heat and/or cold) 20 Uruguay   18 Austria, Bolivia, China, Colombia,1 Denmark,1 Germany,1 Japan, Luxembourg, Poland,1 Switzerland, Thailand   16 Bahrain   15 Egypt Vibration and noise 18 Austria,1 Bolivia, China, Colombia,1 Denmark,1 Germany,1 Japan, Poland,1 Thailand Ventilation (inadequate) 18 Colombia,1 Denmark 1 Light (lack of, or at abnormal level) 18 Poland,1 Thailand Air pressure (increased or decreased) 18 Belarus, China, Denmark,1 Poland,1 Portugal Ergonomic hazards 18 China, Poland 1   16 France Accident hazards 18 Netherlands, Slovakia 1 Except for apprenticeships. Source: ILO: Conditions of work digest on child labour: Law and practice, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Geneva, 1991), pp. 48-54.   Table 3. Prohibition of specific agents or products Agent or product Minimum age Country Alcohol production and/or sale 21 Chile   18 Argentina, Australia (Victoria), Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Spain,1 Swaziland, Venezuela, Zaire   17 Egypt   16 Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico   15 Jamaica, Thailand Asbestos 18 Cyprus, Luxembourg, Portugal, Singapore, United Kingdom   16 Australia (Victoria), Bahrain   14 India Benzene 21 Uruguay   18 Iraq, Netherlands, Portugal   14 India Bleaching and chlorine   18 Cameroon, Portugal Cadmium 18 Portugal   14 India Cement 18 Angola,2 Cameroon, Colombia 2   14 India   15 Egypt   12 Bangladesh Chemicals, general provisions for exposure to 18 Angola,2 Austria, Bolivia,6 Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia,2 Congo, Cyprus, Denmark,2 France, Germany, Guinea, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Philippines, Poland,2 Portugal, Spain,1 Sudan, Thailand, Togo, United Kingdom   16 Bahrain, Honduras, Mexico   15 Egypt Chromium 18 Portugal, United Kingdom     14 India Compressed air/gas 18 Cameroon, Denmark,1 Sweden   16 Bahrain   15 Egypt Electricity 18 Angola,2 Cameroon, Colombia,2 Denmark,1 France, Panama, Poland,2 Portugal, Sweden, Uruguay, Zaire   16 Bahrain, Mexico   15 Dominica, Jamaica   14 Belize Explosives 18 Angola,2 Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, China, Colombia,2 Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark,2 Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Finland, France, Japan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Netherlands, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Spain,1 Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire   17 Canada (federal), Egypt   16 Bahrain, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, Morocco   14 India, Pakistan Fumes, dust, gas and other noxious substances 18 Angola,2 Austria,2 Bolivia, China, Chad, Colombia,2 Congo, Denmark,2 Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany,2 Japan, Lao Peoples' Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, Poland,2 Portugal, Spain,1 Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo   17 Cuba   16 Bahrain,3 Honduras, Mexico, Morocco, United Kingdom   14 India Infra-red and ultraviolet rays, laser, radio-frequency emissions 18 Austria, Colombia,2 Poland Lead/zinc metallurgy, white lead, lead in paint 21 Uruguay   18 Australia (Queensland, Victoria), Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Cameroon, Colombia,2 Cyprus, Denmark,2 Djibouti, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Germany, Ireland, Madagascar, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Sudan, Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, United Kingdom,7 Zaire   17 Egypt   16 Bahrain, Cyprus, Greece, Honduras, Mexico, United Kingdom   15 Syrian Arab Republic   14 India Manganese 18 Portugal   14 India Marble, stone and gypsum 18 Angola,2 Cameroon, Spain 1   16 Bahrain Mercury 18 Portugal, Sudan   17 Egypt   15 Syrian Arab Republic   14 India Paints, solvents, shellac varnish, glue, enamel 18 Angola,2 Bolivia, Cameroon, Colombia,2 Ecuador   16 Cyprus, Mexico   14 India, Pakistan Pathogenic agents, exposure to (hospital work, city cleaning, work related to sewers, handling corpses, etc.) 18 Austria, Bangladesh, Colombia, Ethiopia, Finland, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Netherlands, Panama, Poland,2, 4 Portugal, Spain,1 Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Uruguay   17 Israel 5 Potassium and sodium 18 Cyprus Radioactive substances or ionizing radiation 18 Argentina, Austria,2 Belgium, Colombia,2 China, Denmark,2 Finland, France, Germany, India, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Panama, Philippines, Poland,2 Portugal, Slovenia, Sudan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States   17 Canada (federal)   16 Bahrain, Guyana, Honduras, Switzerland, United Kingdom Rubber 18 Angola 2   17 Egypt   16 Cyprus, Mexico Tar, asphalt, bitumen 18 Angola,2 Luxembourg   17 Egypt   15 Syrian Arab Republic Tobacco (inc. bidi and cigarette making) 16 Cameroon   15 Syrian Arab Republic   14 India, Pakistan 1 Minimum age of 18 for men, 21 for women. 2 Except for apprenticeships. 3 Work connected with materials or components provided for in schedule for occupational diseases attached to Social Insurance Law. 4 Risk of contagious diseases generally. 5 Applies only to work involving contact with tuberculosis, leprosy or mental patients. 6 Exceptions possible under specified conditions for 15-year-olds. 7 Specific tasks. Source: ILO: Conditions of work digest on child labour: Law and practice, Vol. 10, No. 2 (Geneva, 1991), pp. 48-54.   Table 4. Prohibited hazardous industries, occupations or activities Industry, occupation or activity Minimum age Country Abattoirs and meat rendering 18 Central African Republic, Congo, Denmark,1 Finland, Gabon, Guinea, Luxembourg,1 Thailand, Togo, United States, Zaire 17 Egypt 16 Bahrain, Lebanon 2 Aluminium industry 16 Bahrain, Cyprus Agriculture 21 Uruguay 18 Colombia,1, 3 Costa Rica,3 France,3 Spain,3, 4 17 Australia (Queensland),5 Ukraine 16 or 18 France 3, 6 16 Denmark,3 United Kingdom,3 United States 3, 5 15 Syrian Arab Republic 5 14 India,3 Pakistan 3 Airport runways 18 Portugal Animals, work with dangerous or wild 18 Denmark,1 Netherlands Archaeological excavations 18 Iraq 16 Mexico Bakery 21 Uruguay 18 United States Brick manufacture 18 Austria,1 Colombia,1 United States 16 Bahrain, Cameroon Cable laying 18 Turkey Care for mentally disturbed persons 18 Finland Carpet weaving 14 India 12 Bangladesh Catering at railway stations 14 India Cinderpicking, clearing an ashpit 14 India Circular saws and other dangerous machines 18 Argentina, Australia (Victoria), Austria, Bolivia, Cameroon,1 China, Colombia,1 Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark,1 Djibouti, Ecuador, France, Gabon, India, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali,35 Mauritius, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom,1 United States, Zaire 17 Pakistan 16 Burkina Faso, Chad, Central African Republic, Guinea, Malaysia,1 Senegal Construction and/or demolition 18 Austria, Bolivia, Burundi, Colombia,1, 7 El Salvador, France, Gabon,8 Luxembourg,7 Madagascar,7 Netherlands, Peru,7 Spain,7 Turkey,10 United States 16 Bahrain, Barbados, Burkina Faso,7 Cameroon,7 Central African Republic,9 Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire,7 Djibouti,7 France, Guinea,8 Kenya, Mali, Morocco, Senegal,7 Somalia, United States,7 United Kingdom 15 Dominica, Jamaica 14 Belize, Cyprus, India Cranes/hoists/lifting machinery 18 Argentina, Austria, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia,1 Congo, Cyprus, Denmark,1 Gabon, Guinea, Japan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mauritius, Netherlands, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Zaire 16 Bahrain, Denmark, France, Israel 11 Crystal and/or glass manufacture 18 Angola,1 Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Cameroon, Colombia,1 Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus,12 Denmark,1 Djibouti, Ecuador, Ireland, Madagascar, Mali,35 Portugal, Senegal 17 Austria,3 Egypt 16 to 18 France 3, 6 16 Bahrain 15 Syrian Arab Republic 14 Pakistan Domestic service 16 Denmark Entertainment (night clubs, bars, casinos, circuses, gambling halls) 21 Chile, Seychelles, Uruguay 18 Angola,1 Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Costa Rica,13 Ecuador, El Salvador, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Seychelles, Switzerland,14 Thailand 17 Egypt 16 Djibouti, France, Honduras, Mali 15 Thailand 14 to 18 Dominican Republic 15 14 Nicaragua, Republic of Korea Excavation 18 Central African Republic, United States Fire brigades and gas rescue services 18 Austria 1 Forestry 18 China, Netherlands, Philippines, United States 16 to 18 Spain Machinery in motion (operation, cleaning, repairs, etc.) 21 Uruguay 18 Argentina, Austria,1 Bolivia, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Colombia,1 Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark,1 Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, France,16 Gabon, Greece, Guinea, India, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Myanmar, Netherlands, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Zaire, Zambia 17 Egypt, Pakistan 16 Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, France,16 Guyana, Jamaica, Malaysia,1 Morocco, Nigeria, Saint Lucia, Senegal, Singapore, United Kingdom 15 Italy,17 Syrian Arab Republic Matches, manufacture of 16 Cameroon 14 India, Pakistan Maritime work (trimmers and stokers, stevedoring) 21 Brazil 18 19 Denmark 1 (stokers), Iceland 18 Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas,19 Bangladesh,20 Bel gium, Belize,21 Burundi, Cameroon, China, Colombia,1 Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark 1 Djibouti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Iraq, Ireland,1 Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malta, Myanmar, Nigeria,21 Pakistan,21 Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Sierra Leone,21 Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, United Kingdom,22 Yugoslavia, Zaire 17 Canada (federal), Cuba 18 16 Denmark,23 Finland,23 Singapore 24 15 Kenya 25 14 India, Pakistan 26 Mining, quarries, underground work 21 Brazil 18 Afghanistan, Albania, Angola,1 Argentina, Australia (South and Western), Austria,1 Belarus, Belgium, Belize,1 Bolivia, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia,1 Cameroon,1 Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia,1 Congo, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus,27 Czech Republic, Denmark,1 Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, France, Gabon, Germany,1 Ghana,28 Greece, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho,1 Luxembourg, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland,1 Portugal, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, United Republic of Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey,10 United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela, Zaire, Zambia 17 Australia (Victoria), Bangladesh, Canada (federal), Jamaica, Myanmar,29 Pakistan 16 Bahrain, Barbados, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Hungary, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Sierra Leone,2 Singapore, Solomon Islands,2 Uganda 15 Dominica, Syrian Arab Republic 14 Belize, Cyprus 27 Oil prospecting/work with petroleum 18 China, Sudan 16 Bahrain, Mexico 15 Egypt Oxyacetylene blowpipes 16 Australia (all States), Bahrain Paper/printing 18 Spain,4 United States 14 Pakistan Pedal/crank operated equipment 16 Cameroon,12 Congo, Djibouti,12 Mali Pornographic material, production of or work at premises handling 18 Bolivia, Brazil, Cameroon, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Ecuador, Honduras,30 Uruguay, Zaire Salt and brine processes 18 Cyprus 12   Shipbuilding 16 Cyprus Soap manufacture 14 Bangladesh, India, Pakistan Steam engines or equipment (work with) 18 Côte d'Ivoire, France, Sudan 16 Cameroon, Djibouti, Mali Street trades 18 Austria, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru 4 16 Burkina Faso, Cyprus, Djibouti,12 Dominican Republic, Italy, United Kingdom 15 Costa Rica 17 14 to 18 Ecuador 31 14 Sri Lanka Sugar mill 16 Jamaica Tanneries 18 Chad, France, Gabon, Guinea, Zaire 17 Austria, Egypt 16 Dominican Republic, Mexico 15 Syrian Arab Republic 14 India, Pakistan 12 Bangladesh Textile industry (specific tasks) 21 Uruguay 18 Spain 4 16 Bahrain 15 Egypt 12 Bangladesh Transportation, operating vehicles 18 Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Denmark,1 Ecuador,32 Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Pakistan,33 Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Spain,4 United States, Zaire 17 Egypt 16 Barbados, Dominican Republic, Israel, Kenya, Senegal,34 United Kingdom 15 Dominica, Jamaica 14 Belize, Cyprus, India Underwater work 18 Austria, China, Colombia,1 Croatia, El Salvador, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Poland,1 Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey 10 16 Dominican Republic, Mexico Water and gas industry 18 Spain 4 Weights and loads 14 to 18 Afghanistan, Australia (Victoria), Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia,1 Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark,1 Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Gabon, Guinea, India, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Mali, Netherlands, Niger, Poland,1 Saint Lucia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, Uruguay, Zaire Welding and smelting of metals, metal working 18 Argentina, Australia (all States), Austria,1 Bolivia,  Cameroon, Colombia,1 Cyprus,12 Denmark,1 Ecuador, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain,4 Sudan, Sweden, Thailand, United States, Venezuela 17 Egypt 16 Bahrain, Mexico 15 Syrian Arab Republic Work alone if it involves a risk of accidents or criminal acts 18 Finland Work at courts, prisons or as probation officers 18 Seychelles 1 Except for apprenticeships. 2 Medical certificate required. 3 For specified tasks only. 4 Minimum age of 18 for men, 21 for women. 5 Application or manufacture of agricultural chemicals. 6 Different minimum age depending on the type of work. 7 Applies only to work on scaffolding. 8 Except finishing work that does not include scaffolding. 9 Not requiring scaffolding. 10 Applies only to men, women generally prohibited. 11 Including signalling for these operations. 12 Women only. 13 Work during daytime (a general limit of 18 is imposed for all night work). 14 16 is minimum age for work in hotels, restaurants and cafes, and 18 for work in other types of entertainment.15 Prior authorization required. 16 Depending on the type of machinery. 17 Minimum age of 15 for men, 18 for women (applies to street trades in Costa Rica for unmarried women only). 18 Applies only to stevedoring. 19 16 if medically fit according to certificate presented. 20 Exceptionally 16. 21 Where a person over 18 is unavailable for a trimmer and stoker position, this position may be filled by two 16-year-olds. 22 Offshore mining. 23 Except in family undertakings not using dangerous equipment. 24 Except on family vessels. 25 Concerns employment on any vessel unless it is a training ship. a family vessel or unless a medical certificate has been obtained. 26 Concerns only fishing. 27 Minimum age of 18 for underground work; 14 for other work in mines, quarries, etc. 28 «Apparently» 18. 29 Minimum age of 17 for underground work; 15 for other work in mines, quarries, etc. 30 Minimum age 16 for men and 18 for women. 31 Authorization for men between 14 and 18 and for women between 14 and 21 only if necessary for the subsistence of the minor. 32 Only transportation of substances in a state of incandescence. 33 Minimum age of 21 in road transport services requiring the driving of a vehicle. 34 Piloting ships. 35 The competent authority may grant certain exceptions. 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