Proper control of working conditions as a stimulator for reducing the incidence of pneumoconiosis in the coal mining industry

Statistical data on occupational diseases recorded by the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz, Poland, indicate a renewed increase in the number of cases of pneumoconiosis in Poland in recent years, especially in the PKD section of mining and quarrying industries. At the same time, in 2018 as a result of the implementation of directives of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, the changes were introduced to the Polish legislation in the area of protection of workers from the risk of exposure to carcinogenic or mutagenic agents related to the respirable fraction of crystalline silica found, among others, in mine dust. As a result of these solutions, since 2020 we have seen a spike in the number of miners employed in conditions of risk of carcinogenic dust. These facts indicate that despite the wide measurement of harmful factors in coal mines, the effectiveness of preventive measures taken does not bring tangible benefits, and OSH services have problems with the proper assessment of industrial dust hazards at workplaces. In the article, based on surveys, diagnostic (health) tests of workers and verification of the risk assessment methods used, the authors try to point out the most common mistakes made in estimating the level of risk associated with exposure to industrial dust.