Polish occupational health and safety (OHS) professionals are increasingly expected to combine traditional safety duties with environmental protection skills, according to a new study published in Nature.
The research analysed the evolving requirements of the labour market for OHS service employees in Poland, with a particular focus on competencies in environmental protection and sustainable development.
The study used a combination of literature review, job offer analysis, and an anonymous survey of 428 OHS employees across 18 industries, including mining, construction, and manufacturing.
Researchers found a clear disconnect between employer expectations and the tasks actually performed by OHS professionals. While strategic EU frameworks, such as the 2021–2027 OSH Strategic Framework and the European Green Deal, emphasise integrating health and safety with environmental and sustainability goals, Polish OHS employees reported only occasional engagement with environmental tasks.
Survey results revealed that over 71% of respondents did not handle waste management duties, and more than 73% considered their positions too responsible to combine with environmental protection work. Even in mining, where safety risks are particularly high, fewer than 27% of employees reported involvement in environmental reporting or compliance. Responses indicated that additional responsibilities, including fire protection, administration, and occupational medicine, were often assigned without adjusting workloads.
The research highlights a generational and organisational gap: employees with less than a year of experience were more open to combining OHS and environmental duties, while acceptance declined with seniority. Smaller workplaces also showed slightly higher willingness to integrate these responsibilities.
Based on these findings, the authors recommend expanding environmental education and training for OHS professionals, raising awareness of sustainable development across all employees, and introducing clearer legal frameworks defining the scope of combined OHS and environmental duties. They argue that aligning occupational safety with environmental protection is crucial not only for regulatory compliance but also for improving worker well-being and organisational sustainability.
The study represents the first empirical analysis of OHS and environmental competency integration in Poland, filling a research gap and providing a foundation for future legislative and policy developments. Researchers suggest extending comparative studies across EU countries to better understand the international scope of these challenges and to inform strategies for combining occupational safety and environmental responsibilities effectively.
