Adapting to changes

During the economic crisis we faced additional challenges, including a greater workload for employees, lack of free time, stress and sometimes "presenteeism" (the non-utilisation of sick leave in the event of illness). Fast technological changes such as automation, robotisation and digitalisation, which have a great impact on work organisation, working time, skills needed for work, working conditions and social dialogue, are also bringing radical changes to the working environment. Changed and often stricter working conditions require a new reflection and different approaches to ensuring health and safety at work. One of the tasks in this context is therefore to evaluate the current practice of occupational, traffic and sports medicine and its financing and position in the healthcare system, and to adopt appropriate adjustments on the basis of this evaluation.

The priorities defined in the Resolution on the National Programme of Health and Safety at Work 2018–2027 are to reduce the number of accidents at work, ensure the safe use of hazardous chemical substances in work processes, replace hazardous chemicals with less hazardous ones and ensure the quality performance of tasks related to health at work.

Due to the exceptional complexity and interdisciplinarity of health and safety at work, it is necessary to constantly provide for the highest possible level of professional knowledge and skills of expert workers.  The aim is for them to become ambassadors and promoters of the culture of prevention in the working environment.

Regulation

The definition of health and safety at work covers the rights and duties of employers and employees to ensure, in accordance with the relevant act and other regulations and by defining and implementing protection measures, a level of health and safety at work appropriate to the nature of the work that provides workers with the highest possible level of health and psychophysical safety. The legislation regulating this field is included in the European acquis and is in line with the ILO conventions. It defines the measures that ensure the health and safety of workers, including the prevention, elimination and management of occupational risks and injuries, provision of information and training of workers, and provision of the necessary organisation and material means. The legislation also includes programmes of workplace health promotion, with the identification of occupational diseases set as an important priority. Ensuring health and safety at work must not incur financial liabilities for workers.

Inspection

Inspecting the implementation of legislation on health and safety at work is within the competence of the Labour Inspectorate.