The management of chemical substances throughout their life cycle is in need of further improvement in Chile, a country with a highly active international trade of chemicals.  En 2007 this trade represented 5% of all national exports and around 20% of total imports.  In recent years there has been a significant growth in the use of certain chemical substances and the security of the population as well as the environment are highly dependent on their management, above all in the country´s highly exporting sectors such as  copper mining, the cellulose-paper industry and in agricultural production.

With the objective of achieving greater awareness-raising and sensitization when it comes to the risks associated with the poor management of chemical substances, a seminar on “Trade Union Action on Chemical Risk” was held in Santiago, Chile from July 14 – 15 hosting over 30 CUT Chile trade union representatives from all the regions in the country. 

The overall objective of this Seminar was to promote trade union action for better chemical substance management in the workplace and for the reduction of the environmental impacts resulting from related activities, as well as to define the challenges and necessities, and propose strategies for action for the distinct sectors: petroleum industry and mining, agricultural and forestry sector, salmon farming, public health.

In addition to local union delegates, representatives for PIT-CNT Uruguay, CTA Argentina, Sustainlabour, the NGO Terram, and the National Environment Commission (CONAMA) also participated in the seminar.  In addition to presentations and debates among participants, sectoral working group sessions were carried out for the identification of necessities and the discussion of trade union action proposals toward diminishing the conditions of chemical risk to which workers, the community and the environment are exposed.

Presentations and seminar conclusions coming soon. For more information click here.