World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Psychosocial working conditions is a topic that has recently been increasingly addressed in the context of worker protection — albeit a relatively new one. We are used to seeing OSH as a boring area of training “to be unlocked”, only to forget about the basic principles of first aid, not to mention the protection of mental health. Fortunately, for several years now, the approach to security has been changing — in the world and in Poland. More and more people are talking about a holistic approach to health and safety that includes not only aspects of physical health, but also our well-being and the environment in which we work. From this emerges the image of interconnected vessels that affect how we work and how work affects our daily lives.

The theme for this year's World Day for Safety and Health at Work is “How is work?” — simple? Yes. Thoughtful? Also, because despite its simplicity, this question reflects well the general state in which we function as working people. After all, thanks to research, we know that mental overload affects physical condition - and vice versa. Faced with such challenges, it is worth focusing on the fact that it is the human being, the employee, who is the recipient of all technological and market changes, which we often measure only by indicators.

Therefore, it is worth paying attention to how work affects our mental health and how we can protect employees from harmful factors. As mentioned in today's post Agnieszka Szczygielska — Director of the Central Institute of Labor Protection — National Research Institute:

The data of the International Labor Organization (ILO) leaves no doubt - their consequences are more than 840 thousand deaths a year and economic losses of around 1.34% of the world's GDP. Mental health at work is no longer a “soft topic” — it is becoming a key area of occupational safety.

It is worth mentioning yesterday the session of the Labour Protection Council in the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, which was devoted to labor market threats such as dehumanization of work as a result of technological development, new employment models and increasing pressure on worker efficiency.

On April 28, another holiday is also celebrated, in parallel, under the name: International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Accidents at Work and Occupational Diseases. The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) coordinates trade union celebrations on the occasion of this day.

What are psychosocial working conditions and what data do we have to face?

The psychosocial work environment includes both the conditions for the performance of duties and the relationship between employees. It covers the way workplaces are designed, organised and managed, as well as the broader principles, practices and procedures governing the functioning of work. It also includes how all of these elements are interrelated and interact with each other.

In the global report Psychosocial work environment developed by International Labour Organization (2026) the current picture of occupational safety and the directions of action are presented. Among the key conclusions, it is indicated that:

• Psychosocial factors account for more than 840,000 deaths per year, mainly as a result of cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders,
• The result is nearly 45 million years of life lost. Disability-Adjusted (DALYs) per year, and economic losses of about 1.37% of world GDP,
• long working hours remain common - 35% of the world's workforce works more than 48 hours a week, which increases the risk of serious diseases,
• A significant problem is also Violence and harassment at work — 23% of employees experience it, most often in the form of psychological violence,
• despite growing awareness, data gaps are still visible - though 37% of institutions plan to strengthen monitoring of psychosocial risks in the coming years,
• Mental health issues still rarely appear in international agreements - only 18% of the initiatives analysed take them into account.

All this clearly shows that psychosocial working conditions are becoming one of the key challenges of the modern labor market.

OPZZ Appeal on the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work

This year's Occupational Safety and Health Day was also an opportunity to appeal Nationwide Agreement of Trade Unions, which emphasizes that the safety of workers should be treated as one of the fundamental rights and not just a formal obligation. Trade unionists point out that despite progress, working conditions still need to be improved, and psychosocial risks need special attention today; such as stress, pressure or lack of job stability.

The appeal also stresses the need for a broader approach to OSH — encompassing not only physical safety, but also the mental health and dignity of the worker. In this context, the OPZZ points to the need to strengthen social dialogue and systemic actions that will realistically improve working conditions and reduce new, “invisible” threats to the modern labour market.

The content of the appeal brings to mind andThe idea of a holistic approach to security, which does not end only with regulations governing physical working conditions, but also includes the values that organizations employing people should be guided by. This is about trust, respect for safety rules, regardless of the level in the company, as well as dialogue and effective communication between management and employees.

Recommendations for working people and employers

On the CIOP-PIB website today you can use the recommendations prepared for both employees and employers. The materials contain up-to-date information on, among others, comprehensive prevention of mental health problems of employees, the impact of new forms of work on well-being, as well as practical tips for employees — such as mindfulness training or ways to cope with stress.

Using the materials provided by CIOP-PIB, we can see what influences the need for intensive regeneration after work. These are primarily: the pace of work, the number of tasks, time pressure, task variability and the scope of responsibility.

In order to reduce the need for excessive regeneration, often resulting from improper adjustment of working conditions, it is worth focusing on the resources available to the employee in his work environment. One of the key roles is played by social support, that is, the team that does not undermine, but motivates. It is equally important to maintain autonomy of operation - both of these aspects are extremely important. The employee is not the “mass”, but he should not function in isolation from the organization A sense of community plays an important role in building support and a sense of meaning.

More practical recommendations also include: predictability of tasks (chaos reduction), the possibility of taking breaks and real impact on the way work is done. It is these elements that build a sense of meaning, responsibility and independence.

summary Psychosocial working conditions today become one of the key areas of safety and health protection of workers. It is increasingly clear that mental well-being, work organization and relationships in the workplace have a direct impact on both people's health and the effectiveness of organizations. A holistic approach to OSH that takes these aspects into account is no longer an option — it becomes a necessity.

Sources:

1. https://www.ciop.pl/CIOPPortalWAR/file/101906/Raport_MOP-2026.pdf
2. https://www.opzz.org.pl/aktualnosci/kraj/2026/iv/apel-opzz-z-okazji-swiatowego-dnia-bezpieczenstwa-i-ochrony-zdrowia-w-pracy
3. https://www.ciop.pl/CIOPPortalWAR/appmanager/ciop/pl?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=P55800141711616058046228&html_tresc_root_id=300012266&html_tresc_id=300017506&html_klucz=123456&html_klucz_spis =