According to the current law, every employee newly hired or already working for 12 months must undergo training in the field of occupational health and safety. Disregarding this obligation may result in a penalty of PLN 1,000 to 30,000, and if the case goes to court – up to PLN 50,000. However, the consequences of the lack of training may be much more severe – only in the first half of 2021, 27,200* people injured in accidents at work were reported, of which 95 were fatal.

The aim of OHS training is to build employees’ awareness of preventive measures to reduce the risk of exposure to factors occurring at their workplaces. Due to the scope of the framework training programs defined by the legislators, part of the training is devoted to the responsibility and rights of the parties to the employment relationship, fire protection and first aid.

– I am sorry to say that as a long-term auditor of the generally understood occupational safety system, I meet with the approach of OHS services to training, as to the greatest evil and necessity. Presentations and training programs, which I analyze based on the identified threats in the audited workplace, are often not reflected in the identified threats and methods of counteracting the risks of loss of health and life. Perhaps this approach is the reason for the 13.1%* increase in the number of people reported in accidents at work in the first half of 2021, compared to the same period of the previous year. The reasons can also be seen in the irresponsibility of OHS services, manifested in the lack of preparation of any training materials and conducting only the so-called talks. The question is whether the employee was able to get anything out of such training except boredom and lack of trust in a person who occupies a very important position in the organization – because they are responsible for ensuring the safety of employees – says Łukasz Wawrzyniak, OHS Director of the consulting company W&W Consulting.

A properly outlined training program, covering the issues of hazards occurring at the workplace and the presentation of work processes, machines, devices and personal protective equipment used by the employee – this is the absolute basis. – Thanks to the materials prepared in this way, our OHS experts provide the necessary knowledge to each employee, depending on their working environment. Photos of processes, machines and devices identify the trained employee with the workplace and embed in the reality of the plant the requirements of occupational health and safety set by law. Such an educated employee later becomes a „safety ambassador” in the company, and often a leader of security teams, which, being on the front line in processes, provide the necessary knowledge about newly created threats, noticed inconsistencies or employee needs – adds the expert of the consulting company W&W Consulting.

Such a work environment based on well-tailored OHS training material is the foundation for a well-functioning workplace, where accidents do not happen and knowledge is cascaded down regardless of the complexity of the production or transport process. And what is important – it will protect the company from the consequences of incurring severe financial penalties. So every person managing a company should ask themselves one simple question – what do my employees know about safety? Do they know what risks are associated with the duties they perform, or can they list measures to prevent injuries? If the answer is no, it’s time to think about changes in the organization, if we care about its market stability and, above all, about the safety of employees.

Source: https://kadry.infor.pl/bhp/szkolenia-bhp/5413168,Jakie-kary-groza-za-brak-szkolen-BHP.html

Source: W&W Consulting

Projekt otrzymał dofinansowanie z Norwegii poprzez Fundusze Norweskie 2014-2021, w ramach programu „Dialog społeczny – godna praca”.