Stress is a torment for employees. Should the list of occupational diseases be expanded?
In 2024, 2,700 cases of occupational disease were confirmed, which is 9.7% fewer than the previous year, according to the latest report from the Institute of Occupational Medicine .
In absolute numbers, the greatest increase was recorded in the group of chronic vocal diseases, while the greatest decrease was observed in infectious or parasitic diseases and their consequences, followed by the pneumoconiosis group.
" Many occupational diseases in previous years were linked to the coronavirus and, in some sectors, to industry or mining (e.g., pneumoconiosis). The end of the pandemic and various efforts to ensure greater occupational safety in the mining industry may have reduced the number of diagnosed occupational diseases in these areas," says Katarzyna Kamecka, an expert at the Polish Economic Society.
Her observations show that working conditions are generally improving.
" Entrepreneurs are investing more in improving safety in their companies. Employees and employers are also more aware of the importance of this issue. Technology has also advanced over time. Personal and collective protective equipment is of better quality. All of this must have ultimately contributed to a decline in the number of occupational illnesses, although the decline is not very significant ," he adds, emphasizing that the improved statistics certainly aren't due to changes in the assessment process, as the procedures in this area have not changed.
The report's authors also point out that work-related stress is now becoming a dominant health risk factor, leading to an increase in the number of people suffering from burnout , depression, and anxiety disorders, which are not listed as occupational diseases. They believe this raises the need for a broader debate on illnesses resulting from long-term exposure to stress. What do experts say?
" Research should definitely be conducted on this topic. Perhaps this postulate will prove to be justified," says Katarzyna Kamecka.
The expert points out, however, that the change would certainly not be easy to implement.
" It's difficult to imagine classifying health problems as occupational diseases, the occurrence of which, from an occupational health and safety perspective, is currently beyond our control. There's a lack of a formalized approach to mental health in the workplace. An example is occupational risk assessments for specific professions, which only consider exposure to factors that involve the physical aspect (e.g., eyesight), not those that affect mental health. This isn't just about adding new conditions, but about overall prevention, which should be comprehensive and not focus solely on selected aspects," he adds.
Employees' mental health problems are not only of professional natureAccording to Łukasz Kozłowski, chief economist of the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs, it is worth examining the issues discussed and discussing them with experts.
" In the context of occupational diseases, individual risk factors for employees are assigned to specific professions. Stress can be classified as a factor in most of them. In this context, precisely assigning this factor to specific professions can be challenging, " he adds.
In turn, Wioletta Żukowska-Czaplicka, an expert on socio-economic issues at FPP, admits that mental health problems are a difficult and complex topic.
" It's a fact that employers are increasingly aware of the importance of not only their employees' physical health, but also their mental health. They organize various training courses and workshops on this topic, including those related to stress management and work-life balance. Employee well-being benefits are also becoming increasingly popular, " he says.
The expert also points out that problems related to mental health or stress don't necessarily have to stem from work conditions. " Employers often encounter situations where an employee has problems in their personal life, family life, or health, which impact their mental well-being ," Wioletta Żukowska-Czaplicka points out.
The expert admits that there is certainly still much to be done in terms of improving mental health and treating this type of disorders.
" Expanding the list of occupational diseases to include mental health conditions won't solve the problem at its source. Such a measure won't reduce the number of occupational diseases or reduce their treatment time. This requires changes to the healthcare system and increased access to services. This is what we should address first. Of course, it's quite difficult, time-consuming, and requires financial resources ," notes the FPP expert.
The Institute of Occupational Medicine report also shows that, as in the previous year, the structure of occupational diseases in 2024 was dominated by those diagnosed in women. This pattern, observed over the past few years, is a reversal of the trend observed previously, namely the numerical predominance of men suffering from ailments related to work conditions. Last year, they accounted for only 43.7% of all those diagnosed with occupational diseases (1,185 cases).
" The data shows that for women, one of the most prevalent categories is chronic vocal disorders, which are often associated with the highly feminized teaching profession. The largest increases were also noted in this group of conditions. This may contribute to the changing gender structure in the reported cases of occupational illness," comments Łukasz Kozłowski.
RP
