Improving safety at construction sites “Zero accidents” – this is the motto of the Alliance for Safety in Construction. It epitomises a strive for minimisation, reduction and, consequently, elimination not only of accidents, but also the so called incidents, i.e. “near accidents”. Partners to the Alliance are innovative training and advisory firms, which share their knowledge and experience in creating a safety culture, in this case - a culture of safety in construction. - The training organisation network we created is perfectly in line with the objectives and mission of the Alliance. Everyday competitors, here – partners pursuing common goals - says Małgorzata Kochańska, Advisor to President of SEKA S.A., at SEKA Branch in Gdańsk. - Sharing knowledge and experience actually means multiplying that knowledge, verification of hitherto actions and continuous improvement. As a result, a training product is created, tailored to meet the industry needs and cater for its specifics. An unusual product, free from copying existing patterns. – she sums up. The actions taken by businesses creating for themselves, but also for external stakeholders, a safety culture have shown a reduction in the number of accidents and a decline in injury-related absence. In other words, the awareness is increasing of the benefits of being safe and having impact on others.
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Third-party HR and Payroll Expert When is one helpful? Frequent changes to the law require businesses to spend considerable amount of time keeping up with the law, analysing regulations and their application. Insufficient knowledge and/or experience in the area of Labour Law may result in imposition of penalties of up to PLN 30,000. It is, therefore, worthwhile to consider solutions that will be both beneficial and cost-effective for the buisness. - The issue that poses greatest problems for employers is proper calculation of working hours - says Joanna WÄ…sowska, HR Specialist at SEKA S.A., in an interview for the SEKA Magazine. - Given the number and level of complexity of remuneration components, settlements with employees are becoming much more complicated. By cooperating with third-party experts, clients can be assured that they will be properly advised on how to plan working time so as to eliminate the risk of error and its implications - she adds. Many doubts, according to Joanna WÄ…sowska, are related, regardless of the industry, with redundancies, restructuring and acquiring other companies and reorganisations made by new owners. These are complex and costly processes, causing negative emotions on either side of the employment relationship, often leading to conflict. At such moments professional external service provides an ideal solution - by helping to carry out the process and implement new solutions. A third-party expert is helpful at each stage of development of a business. Given the ever-changing regulations, specialists keep up with their knowledge and take part in regular trainings.
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Preventive measures against hazards in the work of a lorry driver A lorry driver should: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
apply safe methods of lifting and carrying heavy or cumbersome loads; apply mechanical solutions facilitating lifting and carrying; interrupt driving at regular intervals for rest and exercise; wear good quality UV filter sunglasses when driving in direct sunglight; avoid smoking while driving or ventilate the driver's cabin; undergo periodical medical examinations; wear protective gloves for chemical agents; observe the weight-carrying norms and basic rules for lifting and carrying loads (an employee can only operate a forklift if he has proper qualifications); 9. wear a high-visibility vest, a helmet and protective glasses on leaving the cabin; 10. wear protective footwear; 11. hold adequate qualifications when transporting and/or loading unloading ADR loads.
An employer should: 1. 2. 3. 4.
ensure ergonomic work conditions for the driver; direct the driver to periodical medical examinations; carry out OHS instruction; provide the employee with adequate protective equipment and measures.
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Does the new plastic bag recycling fee entail new reporting obligations? The amendment does not impose on businesses any reporting obligations in respect of their charging the recycling fee. It will also not be necessary to keep records of the bags sold. Poland will comply with its reporting obligation towards the European Commission on the basis of budgetary income from the recycling fee – the Ministry of Environment informs. On 1 January 2018, the amended law on packaging and packaging waste will come into force introducing a new recycling fee on light plastic shopping bags. Therefore, a retail or wholesale outlet offering light plastic shopping bags for packaging goods sold at such outlet will be required, as of the beginning of next year, to charge its customers a recycling fee. The fee will be charged on light plastic shopping bags under 50-micrometre thick. Released from the recycling fee will be very light plastic shopping bags under 15micrometre thick required form hygienic reasons or offered as basic loose grocery packaging, where this helps prevent food from being wasted (bags on a roll offered e.g. for fruit packaging).
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Ergonomic protective gloves The very complex and subtle anatomy of the hand attests to its great kinematic and dynamic capabilities. Improper, even if relatively little so, construction of hand protection could lead to a limited quality and strength of the grip and hence reduced manipulation capabilities. The ergonomic solutions in the construction of gloves are very important on account of their impact on the efficiency of protection against hazards and work efficiency. The current requirements set out in the standards for protective gloves, related to the assessment of conformity with Directive 89/686/EEC, contain a basic reference to the ergonomics assessment. The requirements refer to: measuring base, simple finger dexterity test with the glove on, permeability and vapour absorption tests. A proposal of a new approach is the protective glove assessment criteria developed by CIOP-PIB taking into account the factors important from the individual protection point of view, and having bearing on the protection efficiency and user's comfort:
biomechanical – the impact of the glove on the upper limb muscle strain (EMG), sensory - impact of the glove on the sense of feeling; anthropometric – adjustment of the glove to the anatomic measurements of the hand, thermal – exchange of heat and vapour between the hand and environment, psychological - impact of the glove on the subjective experience of the user.
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Changes in periodical OHS training The Ministry of Development has drafted a bill amending the Labour Code aiming at simplifying procedures in tax and commercial law. The proposed changes are to concern inter alia: periodical OHS training for clerical and administrative staff. Late September a draft law to amend several statutes was submitted for public consultation aiming at simplifying procedures for businesses in tax and commercial law. The amendments are to reduce the requirements regarding mandatory OHS training by limiting the obligation as regards administrative and clerical workers in industries that are the least accident prone. Those in charge of occupational health and safety should pay special attention to two of the intended changes: 1. Reduced requirements of periodical OHS training for employees employed at positions with the lowest accident rates and work environment with the least harmful factors. 2. Increasing the upper limit of the number of employees to 50, compared to the current 20, where the employer, assigned to a risk category three or lower, can fulfil the OHS service tasks.
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Swimming pool manager’s obligations Recreational sites, such as: swimming pools must meet the criteria set out in the law, and in particular be free of biological and chemical contamination. The regulation of the Minster of Health on the requirements to be met by water in swimming pools of 9 November 2015 (Dz. U. z 2015 r., item 2016) specifies the obligation of a swimming pool manager. Such manager must: 1. Carry out water assessment on the basis of:
ongoing water observation (documenting any observations and actions taken); regular and documented monitoring of the equipment and keeping records of the results of water quality measurements; regular water quality examinations for microbiological and physico-chemical requirements, and each time where an event occurs that could have adversely affect water quality – submitting the results of examinations to the State Sanitary Inspectorate within 3 business days.
2. Keep records of the requirements for at least 3 years. 3. Post information on water quality on the notice board and the site's website. 4. Update the information as soon as the water quality has changed.
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Assessment of psychological strain in the workplace Psychological strain is directly related to ergonomics, i.e. the physical organisation of a workstation and the organisation of work in view of impact on the human psyche. The aim of research into the phenomenon is to improve the work conditions and reduce work accident rate. Psychological strain is contributed to by the psychological effort related to work and the monotony related to it. In order to determine the level of psychological strain, each work process is divided into three phases: 1. obtaining information, 2. decision making, 3. task performance. At each stage, the essential parameters of psychological strain in relation to information, decision and performance include: frequency, variability, complexity, repetitiveness, accuracy, importance and speed of a given phenomenon. Psychological strain is assessed for all three stages of the work process. Work monotony contributes to mental weariness and results from: unchangeable work process and the environment, necessity of constant vigilance, ease of work. A three-degree scale is use in the assessment: high (all 4 elements), average (3 elements), low (fewer than 3). The overall psychological strain is determined taking into account the verbal summary assessment of the psychological strain together with work monotony assessment.
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Can new machines produced in 2017 without the CE mark be used in Poland? A machine must have relevant technical documentation, declarations of conformity and a CE mark. The legal document imposing such obligations on the manufacturer is the Machine Directive 2006/42/EC transposed in the Polish law into the regulation of the Minister of Economy on the essential requirements for machines of 21 October 2008. The most important document in admitting a new machine to operation is a Declaration of Conformity, and the CE mark is its graphical indication. Under Polish law new machines cannot be operated in Poland without a CE mark. The third necessary document is operating manual at the site. Under section 6 of the above Regulation, prior to marketing a machine or handing it over for use the manufacturer or its authorised representative must: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
ensure that the machine meets the relevant necessary requirements for health and safety set out in the regulation; ensure the availability of the technical documentation mentioned in Appendix 2 to the regulation; provide necessary information, in particular operating manuals; carry out proper conformity assessment procedures referred to in section 127; draw up an EC declaration of conformity referred to in section 1 of Appendix 3 to the regulation and ensure that it is attached to the machine;
6. place the CE mark in accordance with the rules specified in Appendix 4 to the above regulation.
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The number of fatal accidents at work has dropped by 20% In 2016, 87, 886 persons injured in accidents at work were registered, including 243 fatal accidents and 467 persons with heavy injuries – according to the Main Statistical Office. Compared to 2015, the overall number increased of those injured (by 0.3%) and those with light injuries (by 0.4%). However, the number of fatal accidents decreased significantly (by 20.1%), and so did the number of heavily injured (by 7%). The greatest number of injuries in accidents at work in 2016 were suffered by industrial workers and craftsmen, mainly metal processing and machine and equipment mechanics – accounting for 25.4% of all injured. Fatal accidents involved mostly (32.5%) machinery and equipment operators and installers. Drivers and vehicle operators account for 23.9% of this group of all fatal accidents in the country (compared to 23.7% in 2015). The GUS has calculated that the number of women injured in accidents at work increased from 37.3% in 2015 to 37.7% in 2016. The number of minors injured in accidents at work accounted for 0.1% of the total number, thus not changing in comparison with the previous year.
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