[The state of working conditions in light of control recommendations issued by the State Labor Inspectorate--selected...

In enterprises covered by the scheme of the intensified supervision of the State Labor Inspectorate (SLI), working conditions are analyzed every year, and the measures to reduce or eliminate existing hazards are evaluated. The enterprises with high rates of accidents at work and employees exposed to hazardous chemical and physical factors present in the work environment are classified in this category. The list of such enterprises is subjected to annual verification. Enterprises with potential high or increased risk for serious industrial accidents involving noxious chemicals or dangerous for the local environment are also taken into account. The supervision of the State Labor Inspectorate, lasting already for a number of years, greatly contributed--this is confirmed by numerous inspections--to the sustained improvement of working conditions in enterprises of this category. In accord with the suggestions made by parliamentarians, the issue of intensified supervision of enterprises, representing various branches of the national economy, characterized by the highest rates of occupational hazards has been incorporated into the SLI Plan of Action for the years 2001-2003. In January 2001, district inspectorates selected 137 enterprises of various sectors with the highest hazard rates to be covered by the SLI scheme in the nearest future. The systematic control and promotion activities will be aimed at eliminating or substantial reduction of reported hazards. In the previous year, the SLI tried to find out how far the employers fulfill their obligation to check technical conditions in their enterprises, as well as to discuss the possibility of further use of asbestos-containing products. In the opinion of the SLI, the employers do not comply with these requirements, or they are not willing to bear costs of removal or repair of asbestos-containing products. They postpone endlessly all necessary repairs. It is still impossible to evaluate the situation and to explicitly state that after completing works involving asbestos it is removed from premises designed for people. This is of paramount importance for safety of people at schools, kindergartens, high schools, as well as of hospital personnel and patients. In Polish regulations, the maximum admissible concentrations of asbestos for this kind of premises have no as yet been set. The State Labor Inspector has submitted a motion to the Minister of Health on setting permissible concentrations of asbestos dust in premises meant for people. The regulation (still binding) of March 12, 1996 on admissible concentrations and intensities of factors harmful to the human health, emitted by construction materials, devices and equipment in premises intended for people does not take account of asbestos.