Safety in the working environment is of paramount importance regardless of the industry, the type of work performed or the harmful factors around the employees. It is the employer, in accordance with the law in force in Poland and in many countries around the world, who is obliged to ensure full safety of employees during work, while also taking care of their comfort, proper training and effective use of the safety measures provided.
Each year, the State Labor Inspectorate rewards employers who stand out from the competition with above-average safety at work. Among other things, the PIP inspects the application of general OSH rules, but also the systemic solutions introduced by companies, including the presence of a functioning occupational safety management system, the involvement of managers in OSH, or the participation of employees in the creation of OSH. As part of our search for the best OSH standards on the market, we checked which companies are introducing OSH standards worthy of emulation.
SCHRANER POLAND Sp. z o.o. - category up to 50 employees
The company, which has been in operation since 2006, is a subsidiary of Swiss metals company Schraner Metals AG. As a small plant, Schraner Polska currently has 30 employees, but even with a relatively small staff it has been able to introduce health and safety standards worthy of distinction and emulation in the industry.
The plant works on a daily basis to produce forgings shaped by hot drop forging, using mainly steel, aluminum alloys, copper, and bronze. These products are used downstream in the production of machinery and equipment components, such as door hardware and automotive components. In terms of occupational health and safety, the main measures used here were clear labeling of emitter and EMF-affected areas, graphic instructions depicting the hazards at the workplace, and training that prepared employees to handle each position. Convenient protective clothing has also been introduced - employees have been provided with lighter clothing suitable for welding work, as well as mandatory wearing of hearing protection and goggles to protect against splinters. In addition, the company has an integrated quality, environmental and occupational health and safety management system.
DYCKERHOFF Polska Sp. z o.o. Cementownia Nowiny - category up to 250 employees.
A much larger plant distinguished once again by its above-average approach to occupational safety is Dyckerhoff Polska, a cement plant owned by an international concern headquartered in Germany. The company offers a wide range of high-quality cements and building materials, primarily producing and selling Portland cement, Portland multi-component cement (containing mineral additives) and metallurgical cement. It is one of the most modern production facilities in Poland and a place where occupational safety is taken really seriously.
As part of health and safety measures that have won recognition from the PIP, the cement plant has, among other things, introduced an effective program to dampen noise sources, using soundproofing of blowing fans, installation of soundproofing curtains and replacement of soundproofing louvers. Accident hazards were also reduced, using explosion-proof dampers and carbon dioxide extinguishing systems. In addition, a central circuit vacuum installation was performed here, reducing workers' exposure to industrial dust, and a robust health and safety management system was implemented.
RECARO Aircraft Seating Polska Sp. z o.o.
The company, which has been operating in Poland since 2006, is one of the world's top manufacturers of aviation seating, supplying finished products to top airlines and aircraft manufacturers around the world. With such safety-relevant products, the occupational safety standards put in place here must be of the highest level. As part of the plant's health and safety improvements, manual handling work has been completely eliminated, and carton gluing and stapling processes have been improved, eliminating the risk of burns and injuries to workers. The safety features of the high-bay shelving have also been improved, reducing the risk of stored items falling, and the production and storage hall itself has been equipped with a modern gravity smoke removal system and a gas detection system. Both the management and employees here are committed to creating a safer work environment, offering more and better solutions ready to be implemented into a working health and safety management system.
Corning Optical Communications Polska sp. z o.o. - category: large manufacturing plants
As part of the American corporation Corning Incorporated, a world leader in the production of fiber optic cables and equipment for the telecommunications industry, the Polish production plant located in Strykow near Lodz is currently the largest manufacturer of fiber optic cables and telecommunications equipment in Europe, employing nearly 2,800 people. In such a large group, occupational safety is a priority that is not easily taken care of. To improve occupational health and safety, the main bets here were the installation of special bench lifts over production lines, technical protection of loading docks, replacement of lighting, noise reduction, and special fume extraction. As in previous cases, it was also decided to introduce a systemic health and safety management based on international standards.
MAN TRUCKS SP. Z O.O.
Located in the Kraków Special Economic Zone, the MAN Trucks plant primarily assembles vehicles from parts imported from other MAN plants. The safety of the 513 employees employed here is particularly taken care of - the employer pays attention not only to making the workstations safe, but also fully ergonomic and comfortable. Work here is facilitated, among other things, by special working platforms, the welding stations are protected by special curtains, and the purchase of new transport trailers has made it possible to significantly reduce the noise level throughout the plant. The facility also uses special trusses on the floors to prevent slipping, and has eliminated stepladders, reducing the risk of falling. The company, of course, uses an efficient occupational health and safety management system, allowing risk management and hazard elimination to meet the highest standards.
Both small and large companies are demonstrating that health and safety management and the introduction of effective solutions to minimize risks at work is possible regardless of the number of employees or the specifics of the industry. Good OSH products, including in particular protective clothing, can fulfill their role most effectively in such situations - as they are not used as a preventive measure, but only as additional protection against danger.
