Management Commitment to Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Laws and Regulations in Polish Rock Mining Companies

Paweł Strzałkowski (), Paweł Bęś, Magdalena Sitarska, Justyna Woźniak, Katarzyna Pactwa, Żaklina Konopacka and Kamila Niemiec
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Paweł Strzałkowski: Department of Mining, Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Paweł Bęś: Department of Mining, Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Magdalena Sitarska: Department of Mining, Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Justyna Woźniak: Department of Mining, Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Katarzyna Pactwa: Department of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Żaklina Konopacka: Department of Mining, Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Kamila Niemiec: Department of Mining, Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-15

Abstract: Compliance with occupational safety and health (OSH) standards and safe employee behaviour largely depend on the level of management’s commitment to respecting occupational safety and health laws and regulations. A safe work environment is one that is consistent with the idea of sustainability and supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including in particular: SDG3 Good health and well-being, SDG8 Decent work and economic growth. and SDG16 Peace and justice. The purpose of this article is to provide an employee assessment of mine leaders commitment to creating safe working conditions as one element in shaping an OSH culture. The analysis is based on the results of a survey conducted in 21 rock quarries in Poland, which collected 444 questionnaires completed by employees at various organizational levels—from workers, managers, administrative and engineering employees. The questionnaire included basic socio-demographic characteristics and statements concerning the level of involvement of mine management in workers compliance with safety and health rules and regulations. The results of the survey indicate that in the analysed rock mines, the leaders fulfil their duties in accordance with OSH rules and regulations and organise the work of all employees at a high level of safety. Despite this, many survey participants do not see managers responding to unsafe behaviour by employees. Respondents indicate that the existence of OSH regulations and their enforcement by leaders is necessary to maintain a high level of safety in mines. This study has helped to characterise the state of rock mining in the context of creating a safety culture and can provide important information in the search for solutions to increase safety levels in Polish rock mining making it more sustainable.

Keywords: safety at work; safety culture; management commitment; rock mining; occupational safety and health; sustainable mining (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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