Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy (Central Institute for Labour Protection-National Research Institute)

Background

The Institute was established in 1950 by the act of the Polish Parliament of 4 April 1950. Being the leading Polish institution in the field of occupational safety & health (OSH), CIOP-PIB was granted the status of a national research institute by the Council of Ministersin 2002.

Aims and activities

The aim of the Institute is carrying out interdisciplinary research, including studies of broadly understood human protection in the working environment. A scope of research includes technical sciences (engineering and environmental protection), medical sciences and social sciences. Research and development activities are related to the following fields:

• identification and prevention of chemical, biological and aerosol hazards,
• prevention of noise and vibration,
• safety engineering,
• ergonomics and work physiology,
• psychosocial risk factors,
• electromagnetic fields, static electricity and ionization,
• optical radiation and lighting of work places,
• prevention of major industrial accident hazards,
• development and testing of personal protective equipment,
• development and assessment of OSH management systems,
• education and dissemination of information in the area of OSH and ergonomics.

CIOP-PIB is a coordinator and the main performer of the national research programme (established by the Council of Ministers) on "Improvement of Safety and Working conditions". The Programme is realised with the participation of the State administration, supervision and control bodies, social partners and scientific and research community. It consists of two parts, i.e. tasks related to services for the State and research projects.The strategic objective of the Programme is to develop and implement innovative organizational and technical solutions that are focused on improvement of human resources, new products, technologies, management methods and systems. The overall aim of the Programme is to achieve a significant reduction of occupational hazards to the level permitting prolonged occupational activity, improve the quality of work and life and to advance safety culture in the working and living environment.

CIOP-PIB is also a notified body (identification number 1473) in the area of EU directives related to: personal protective equipment, machinery, noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors.

The Institute employs almost 300 people including researchers, engineers, technical specialists, psychologists and health professionals.

International Cooperation

CIOP-PIB international cooperation is carried out mainly within the framework of EU Programmes (Framework Programmes, EC tenders) and other international programmes. The Institute actively participates in European and international standardization work, networks and consortia, e.g. PEROSH, EUROSHNET, ETPIS. Furthermore, CIOP-PIB is involved in the work of ISO and CEN/CENELEC standardization committees and working groups. The Institute co-operates with many international organizations, among others, the International Labour Organization and the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work in Bilbao. CIOP-PIB fulfils the role of the Polish Focal Point in the Agency network.

Stakeholders

The Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB) is a legally, organisationally, economically and financially independent state body. It is supervised by the Minister of Labour and Social Policy.

External links

[CIOP]