• OSH management system - learn about ISO 45001: 2018
    The implementation of an OSH management system in an enterprise facilitates meeting the requirements of the applicable law, but also creates conditions for achieving measurable benefits related to the improvement of the level of occupational health and safety in a given unit. Effective health and safety management system, after it reduced the risk of accidents at work and occupational diseases and related losses, then after less sick leave employees, larger powerf Æand improving the quality of work. Although the guidelines and requirements contained in the new ISO 45001 standard do not differ significantly from those formulated in other standards and documents relating to occupational health and safety management systems, full adaptation of these systems to the requirements of the new standard will certainly require a thorough analysis of the processes. already implemented and previously used practices in the field of occupational safety. For more details, see the article below.
  • Amendments to the regulation on harmful biological agents - what they mean in practice
    From December 29, 2020, the regulation of the Minister of Health, amending the regulation on harmful biological agents for health in the work environment and the protection of the health of workers exposed to these factors, applies. It introduced a new biological factor, which is the SARS-CoV-2 acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. The amendment to the regulation introduced changes that will have an impact on employers who employ workers in conditions of exposure to biological agents. What exactly has changed and what do the changes mean in practice?
  • The provisions of the special
    act and the accident of an employee while working remotely.Art.3 of the Act of March 2, 2020 on special solutions related to the prevention, counteracting and combating COVID-19, other infectious diseases and the crisis situations caused by them, regulates the rules of remote work, i.e. work performed outside the employer's seat. Unfortunately, this provision omits such important issues related to health and safety at work and accidents at work in the home office mode. Meanwhile, employees suffer accidents when working remotely. Which rules should then be applied?
  • Control of employee sobriety - the ministry plans changes
    The procedure of preventive sobriety control of employees has not been regulated in the current regulations. Therefore, the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman), in December 2020, asked the Minister of Development, Labor and Technology to accelerate work on the introduction of regulations enabling such self-control of employees for the presence of alcohol, as well as other psychoactive and intoxicants. In the opinion of the Commissioner for Human Rights, employers should be able to independently control employees for the presence of alcohol or psychotropic substances - while respecting their right to privacy. It is particularly important - as indicated by the Commissioner for Human Rights - in the case of bus drivers, doctors or air traffic services. What solutions is the Ministry of Labor planning to introduce in this regard? What about the compliance of the proposed solutions with the provisions on the protection of personal data?
  • Is the employer responsible for the infection when he releases employees from the obligation to cover his mouth and nose?
    If there is more than 1 person in the room, the current regulations require that the mouth and nose be covered. The employer may, however, release employees from this obligation. But what about the employer's liability when an employee is infected with coronavirus in the workplace?
  • COVI D -19 as an occupational disease
    Unfortunately, employees become ill, despite the measures taken to protect themselves against threats, still very frequent. Imagine a situation where an employee working in a customer service office fell ill with COVID-19. He was on sick leave from December 2020 to January 2021. After returning to work, the employee asked the employer to recognize COVID-19 as an occupational disease, claiming that the infection had certainly occurred at work. The employer has implemented a number of measures to protect against threats, incl. After arriving at the court, each employee and client is obliged to undergo a body temperature measurement, disinfect hands and cover the nose and mouth with a mask or helmet, collective protection measures in the form of transparent plastic screens separating employees from clients were used. The customer service office works to a limited extent and in a reduced number of hours, the employee's contact with the customer does not last longer than 15 minutes. What actions should the employer take in response to the employee's request?
  • Gross violations of health and safety regulations as the basis for referring an application to the Social Insurance Institution for an increase in the accident insurance contribution
    An employer who commits gross violations of regulations in the field of technical safety at work should expect orders from the inspector - including those that are subject to immediate execution. However, in the event that the second subsequent inspection reveals gross deficiencies in the scope of health and safety at work, the labor inspector may apply an additional legal measure - an application to the Social Insurance Institution for a 100% increase in the accident insurance premium rate set for the next contribution year. Unfortunately, the provision granting labor inspectors such a power is formulated in a very general manner and does not answer numerous doubts important for practice.
  • Rollers as work shoes - are they allowed
    An entrepreneur running a hypermarket equipped sales hall employees, employed in auxiliary works, with roller skates. However, as a result of the inspection, by the order of the PIP inspector, the employer was obliged to equip employees with footwear meeting the requirements of Polish standards, in place of the existing sports equipment. The employer, disagreeing with this decision, appealed to a higher authority. The case ended in court. How did it end? Can workers use roller skates or other similar fast moving equipment at work?
  • Occasional use of a company car and additional examinations
    An office worker who has a category B driving license, occasionally uses a private car during work. The car is used for the purposes related to the performed duties. Should such an employee be referred for additional specialized tests for drivers? Should an employee use a private car contract for business purposes?  
  • "Acute respiratory distress syndrome 2 coronavirus" on referral for medical examinations of an employee
    Does the change of the regulation on harmful biological agents, which employs over 600 employees, should mark a biological agent in referring an employee for medical examinations - acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus), belongs to the 3rd group of the threat of harmful biological agents?
  • When is the obligation to comply with medical recommendations issued on the basis of preventive examinations?
    Do the regulations specify a time limit by which the employer must issue a decision on a medical recommendation reported by an employee? Does the employer always have to comply with the medical recommendations issued on the basis of the employee's preventive examinations?
  • The use of slings - practical doubts
    Is it permissible to use two slings for lifting by means of an overhead crane controlled from the working level, i.e. one larger sling is usually permanently on the crane hook and a smaller sling is attached to this sling, which is just needed or the larger sling should be always remove and fasten the sling currently needed for the work.
  • The use of wooden ladders on the construction site by their manufacturer - is it allowed
    Can you use CIOP certified ladders for electrical work on the construction site and are made in accordance with PN-EN 131 part 1,2,3? In which regulations can we find ladder regulations?
  • Permissible load weight being moved with a manual transport trolley
    Employees report that they are moving loads with a "pallet truck" type hand truck, which exceed the permissible weight. If the load is transported by two people, is the sum of the permissible load doubled, i.e. from 450 kg with a trolley to 900 kg with a trolley?
  • Remote work during an epidemic - what about glasses correcting eyesight
    In the current situation, learning at school takes place remotely. Teachers report to the principal the need to buy glasses correcting eyesight because, as they claim, they work with the screen monitor for more than 4 hours. In no regulations are teachers recommended to buy such glasses, so there is no basis to buy them. What should I do in this case?
  • An exemplary occupational risk assessment in a baker's workplace
    Work as a baker involves many different activities. It is not only the formation of bread, but also the operation of devices such as ovens and slicers. It also means transporting finished products to the warehouse, stacking them on shelves or packing. Due to this diversity, there are many potential sources of danger in the position of a baker. To ensure the safety of your employees, you need to identify them and then assess the risk of their occurrence, as well as check that the position has taken all necessary countermeasures. The following article will help you correctly assess the occupational risk in this workplace. 

 BHP w firmie (Work safety in the company) - the whole list