The Role of the Polish Interdepartmental Commission for the Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment in the Development of Safe Working Conditions

Review Article

Austin J Public Health Epidemiol. 2021; 8(2): 1098.

The Role of the Polish Interdepartmental Commission for the Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment in the Development of Safe Working Conditions

Skowron J¹*, Zapór L² and Miranowicz-Dzierzawska K²

1Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy-Panstwowy Instytut Badawczy/Central Institute for Labour Protection-National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland

2Central Institute for Labour Protection-National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland

*Corresponding author: Jolanta Skowron, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Laboratory of Toxicology, Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy-Panstwowy Instytut Badawczy/Central Institute for Labour Protection- National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland

Received: April 02, 2021; Accepted: May 13, 2021; Published: May 20, 2021

Abstract

The article discusses the principles of determining the maximum admissible concentration and intensity values for harmful agents present at workplaces as the basic criteria for ensuring safe and hygienic working conditions in Poland and in the European Union. The role of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities of Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment is presented in this process. The attention was drawn to the relationship between the occupational health and safety legislation and the EC regulations on chemicals, which together provide both employers and the Member States with the necessary data and instruments to work safely with chemicals and to be able to take appropriate actions and risk management measures.

Keywords: Occupational exposure level; Interdepartmental commission for MAC and MAI in Poland; Directives for occupational safety and health; Regulations: REACH and CLP

Introduction

The history of setting occupational limit values of agents harmful to health occurring in the working environment in Poland begins around 1956. At that time a list containing 14 chemicals, for which the values of hygiene standards were adopted without justification (documentation), was published. The values were at the same level as in the former USSR. In 1959, in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of 21 August on general sanitary and hygienic conditions in newly built or reconstructed industrial plants (Dziennik Ustaw z 1959 r. Nr 53, poz. 316 {Journal of Laws 1959 No. 53, item 316}) a list of hygiene standards for 183 chemicals and 5 dust was published. In 1976, the list of the Maximum Admissible Concentrations (MACNDS) of chemicals and dust counted 212 items in part A, while part B indicated the Maximum Admissible Intensities value (MAI-NDN) of 90 dB for noise at workplaces in factory halls, mines and open spaces (Dziennik Ustaw z 1976 r. Nr 13, poz.77 {Journal of Laws 1976 No. 13, item 77}). The definitions of the Maximum Admissible Concentrations (MAC-NDS) and Intensities (MAI-NDN) of agents harmful to health in the working environment were introduced for the first time to the Regulation of the Minister of Labour, Wages and Social Affairs of 22 December 1982 (Dziennik Ustaw z 1982 r. Nr 43, poz.287 {Journal of Laws 1982 No. 43, item 287}). This regulation defines the system and manner of making changes to the list, the obligations of enterprises in the case of exceeding the MAC and MAI values as well as the methods of measurement. The State Sanitary Inspection was entrusted with monitoring of the compliance with the provisions of the Regulation. The values of the Maximum Admissible Short-Term Concentration (MAC (STEL)-NDSCh) and Maximum Admissible Ceiling Concentration (MAC(C)-NDSP) were introduced by the regulation of the Minister of Labour, Wages and Social Affairs of 27 November 1985 (Dziennik Ustaw z 1985 r. Nr 56, poz.290 {Journal of Laws 1985 No. 56, item 290}).

Since 1983, the establishment and verification of the concentration limits for chemicals and admissible intensities (MAI) for physical factors in the working environment has been carried out by the Interdepartmental Commission for the Updating of the MAC and MAI for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment.

The Commission was established by the regulation No. 33 of the Minister of Labour, Wages and Social Affairs and the Minister of Health and Social Care on 27 June 1983.

In 1996, by the Regulation of the Prime Minister of 28 May 1996, the name of the Commission was changed to the “Interdepartmental Commission for Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities of Agents Harmful for Health in the Working Environment” (Dziennik Ustaw z 1996 Nr 61, poz. 284 {Journal of Laws 1996 No. 61, item 284}) and 26 members of the Commission were appointed.

The current composition of the Interdepartmental Commission for MAC and MAI is included in the Regulation of the Prime Minister of 15 December 2008 (Dziennik Ustaw z 2008 r. Nr 225, poz.1490 ze zmianami Dziennik Ustaw 2019 poz. 2201 {Journal of Laws 2008 No. 225, item 1490 as amended Journal of Laws 2019 item 2201}). Currently, the Commission consists of 32 members. Representatives of the Ministries (of health, labour, industry, environmental protection), scientific institutions and social partners are involved in the work of the Commission (Figure 1).