Respiratory protective devices are the most common personal protective equipment in food industry, architecture, chemical industry and, most of all, in mining. Users of full face masks, particle filters and filtering half-masks are especially concerned about their safety parameters under real conditions; however, whether that equipment will be used also depends on its usability and additional functions. This paper presents the role of standardization and amendments (changes) to standards in improving the technical level of products, using respiratory protection equipment as an example. The introduction of new requirements related to safety and functional parameters has a direct influence on the use of novel materials, designs and manufacturing methods in these products to ensure their high quality, and safety and functional properties during their lifetime.         

Nowadays, knowledge is one of main issues ensuring achievement of the organizational goals of modern enterprises, also those within occupational safety and health (OSH). Therefore, attention should be paid to the actions of enterprises aimed at systematizing and using OSH knowledge, which can be defined as OSH knowledge management processes. This article presents selected results of a survey of processes connected with OSH knowledge management in manufacturing enterprises, conducted among 388 workers and 35 safety specialists. Moreover, to improve OSH performance of enterprises on the basis of research outcomes, this article presents the main problems connected with those processes.

The following article describes the problem of an improper training of employees in the woodworking sector, especially those operating heavy machinery used to cut wood. There’s also a mechanism showing the relation of bad training, lack of proper equipment as well as improper preparation of work place and lowering the safety level in consequence leading to an accident. Those problems are discussed using a sample dangerous accident involving a circular saw for woodworking.

The article covers the problem of cooperation of employers in terms of occupational safety and health. This problem occurs when at the same place workers employed by different employers are doing the work. Polish legislator requires employers to work in one place to co-operate and to appoint a coordinator supervising the health and safety of all employees at the same place. However, these obligations are imprecise. The article tries to present the concept of interpretation, as well as indicates the need to change the regulation 208 of the Labour Code by the legislature.