Abstract:

No technology can thrive if it is not concerned about its workers’ health and safety, working environment and working conditions. Therefore, effective occupational safety management systems must consider both technology’s positive and negative impacts. Statutory occupational safety measures respond to society-wide requirements in changing production and economic conditions. Nowadays, there is an increasing number of chemical substances that can be hazardous or have toxic effects on health, negatively affect the environment, pollute the air, water and soil and thus gradually enter the food chain. Therefore, education-oriented in this way must take place from the pupils of primary school.

The paper highlights the need for increasing occupational health and safety compliance demands. Furthermore, based on the analysis of work procedures, the performed work operations, movements and actions, we point out the possibility of forming skills and habits already in school conditions. Finally, a part of the paper offers some examples of the set of activities in preparation for a teacher for selected laboratory exercises.

The methods used include content analysis of documents; literature search focused on the importance of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) compliance in the education of technical and natural science subjects, and theoretical analysis of professional articles and publications.

The paper analyses OHS education. OHS education is essential to the person’s inclusion in the work process. The current production technology, complex work operations and procedures, new materials, etc., require a person with the necessary technical and technological knowledge, working and intellectual skills following occupational safety and hygiene requirements should be included in the work process. The evaluation starts from the primary school pupils’ education to the worker’s inclusion in the work process with the requirements for compliance with the principles of OHS. From the application in practice, the findings reflect the high level of the pupils’ education on health and safety in creating the right work skills and habits.

The brief history of human activities presented in this paper highlights the development of increasing demands for occupational health and safety compliance. Based on these results, we can conclude that OHS education provides the necessary conditions to establish good work habits that will ensure good work results, environmental protection, and quality of health. Furthermore, it is likely that with the changing nature of the modern economy, the development of new jobs and a high level of expertise will be required, consequently leading also changes in OHS.

Keywords:

Education, skill, creation, work, risk, prevention.