Occupational risk prevention and ergonomics

The department focuses on the following activities:

“Classical” (OSH), for example:

• workplace risk analyses for hazard identification (noise, dust exposure, work at heights, moving machinery, working postures, etc.), risk assessment, design of preventive measures, and preparation of related documentation;
• evaluation of working conditions and the work environment – measurement of environmental factors, assessment of worker workload, determination of compliance with hygiene limits, and consultancy on improving conditions.;
• ergonomic design of workplaces and workstations – analysis of work activities and postures; design of workplace modifications, including appropriate dimensions and layouts; minimization of excessive strain; design of suitable furniture and tools; integration of cognitive and sensory ergonomics; and recommendations regarding work–rest regimes and movement-based prevention;
• assessment of human reliability and error potential in task performance – task analysis, identification of risk-prone points, and recommendations for modifications;
• advisory services in OSH, accident and incident prevention (including environmental aspects), and support for the Safe Enterprise programme;
• modelling of the dispersion of hazardous chemical substances in the atmosphere at injury-inducing concentrations;
• preparation of corporate guidelines to ensure OSH compliance and the functioning of OSH management systems within enterprises;
• consultancy in the development of user manuals for occupational safety assurance, as well as in drafting operational regulations and codes for industrial facilities;
• design and implementation of safety signage in industrial plants;
• comprehensive services in risk prevention, occupational safety and health, and fire protection;
• monitoring of OSH trends and developments, including aspects of employment.

Analyses and forecasts, for example:

• analyses of the causes of occupational accidents;
• forecasting the development of selected indicators of OSH performance and employment in relation to socio-economic changes;
• development of tools supporting the implementation and enforcement of occupational safety policies in small, medium-sized, and large enterprises;
• expert assessments in the field of occupational safety and health.

Nanotechnology safety, for example:

• research and professional activities focused on protecting health from the effects of nanomaterials/nanoparticles in the workplace;
• measurement of nanoparticle concentrations in workplaces, analysis of measurement results, and recommendations for measures to reduce worker exposure;
• evaluation of the physico-chemical behavior of nonwoven textiles used in personal protective equipment (e.g., respirators);
• analyses of the release of nano- and microplastics into the environment, including assessments of their toxicity.