Health and safety inspection on the offensive

02/24/2021

Between July 1 and November 30, 2020, the State Labor Inspectorate conducted nearly 15 percent more inspections than for the same time period in 2019. The most common check was on companies' compliance with health and safety regulations. Legal labor protection and the legality of employment were checked next. During the reported period, inspectors issued more than 5,000 fines with a total value of more than PLN 5.9 million.

The period from July 1 to the end of November 2020 was the period of PIP inspections in Poland. During this period, 36,062 establishments were inspected. This is 4,604 more than in the same period of 2019, when there were 31,458. Spokeswoman for the Chief Labor Inspector, Ms. Danuta Rutkowska, draws attention to the last analyzed month. That was when the epidemiological situation in Poland worsened, and as a result, restrictions were imposed on the activities of companies. This in turn translated into a decrease in the number of inspections. The same situation occurred last spring.

Improving working conditions is the kind of action that can never be too much. Therefore, the increase in the number of inspections can be seen as a good trend, especially considering the full scope of the PIP's responsibilities. This is because the number of obligations imposed on it is growing every year. Thus, the realization of the inspectorate's most important missions of caring for safety and health at work are limited.

Here is a summary of the analyses carried out in 2020 in the country:

  • compliance with occupational health and safety regulations - 26,599 (previously - 20,535
  • legal labor protection issues - 21,005 (21,827)
  • legality of employment - 9,097 (11,562)

Each time an inspection is carried out, the purpose is to examine whether issues related to compliance with regulations for maintaining a sanitary regime are being observed. All issues of health and hygiene have taken on special importance. This is, of course, related to the currently prevailing pandemic situation.