One of the most important values in human life is health and safety. This is reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG3, SDG8), which were presented by the United Nations in 2015. These goals emphasize the importance of ensuring healthy lives, promoting well-being for all, and fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth through decent work and safe working conditions. Taking into account the importance of issues related to safety, including occupational safety and human health, research was carried out to examine the impact of the development of a safety culture during employees’ work on improving public health. In order to conduct the research, a survey questionnaire was developed, consisting of 20 questions relating to 10 attributes of safety culture. The research surveys were carried out among 363 employees in a production enterprise, and an interview questionnaire was administered to 3 employees of the Occupational Health and Safety Service of this enterprise. The results revealed that the enterprise’s employees rate the level of safety culture very highly. Along with the improvement of working conditions in the enterprise, the level of safety increases, the number of accidents at work decreases, and thus the protection of employee health is higher. Therefore, a high level of safety culture is correlated with a high value attached to the health and life of employees, and this, in turn, affects public health. Moreover, fostering a strong safety culture aligns with the principles of sustainable development, contributing to long-term societal well-being and aligning with global goals for responsible and ethical growth.

This article highlights the importance of developing a sustainable safety culture as an important component of the long-term development of manufacturing companies, especially in SMEs. A sustainable safety culture combines principles in favor of protecting the health and lives of workers with sustainable development principles, while improving operational and environmental performance. The aim of this study was to identify best practices, challenges, and strategies for implementing this type of culture in manufacturing companies. A mixed-methods approach was used, including quantitative surveys, in-depth interviews, case study analysis, and field observations at selected companies. This research was conducted at two food companies from Poland. The findings indicate that the successful implementation of a sustainable safety culture relies on strong leadership, employee engagement, pro-active risk management, and continuous process improvement. Additionally, this article discusses major challenges, such as resistance to change, financial constraints, and regulatory complexity. Ultimately, this article provides practical recommendations for industry leaders developed from the research findings to support long-term efficiency and safety in manufacturing organizations.

With the growing trend towards the electrification of transport, it is anticipated that internal combustion engines will continue to play an important role in the production of electricity for electricity systems or the direct propulsion of vehicles. However, these engines are under considerable pressure to achieve carbon neutrality, making zero-emission fuels a key solution. One solution is the use of hydrogen, which is an extremely clean and carbon-free fuel whose combustion product is only water. The paper also introduces the KEYOU concept, which involves switching from burning propellant oil to a supercharged, lean-burn, hydrogen-fueled ignition engine. The authors provide a study on the selected issues based on 113 reviewed literature sources and highlight the achievements and potential of hydrogen engines. Based on the achievements described, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of the impact of hydrogen engines in reducing emissions as well as supporting the sustainable development of transport systems. The literature research conducted highlights hydrogen as an important solution for decarbonizing internal combustion engines and moving towards an emission-free future.

With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies had to adapt quickly to survive in the market. During this time, employers played a key role, along with employees involved in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) activities, as they were responsible for implementing the recommendations of the European Commission. There is no unambiguous definition of OHS in Polish legislation. It is assumed that it is a set of rules defining the manner of performing work, and above all, a method of providing employees with working conditions so that their performance is safe and hygienic. Responsibility for the health and safety in the workplace is imposed on the employer by the legislature. Thus, effective health and safety training is an essential element of the success of any properly operating company. In the literature, no studies have been identified that evaluate the effectiveness of actions during the COVID-19 outbreak. The aim of the article is to present the actions of Polish employers along with their effectiveness assessment related to the protection of employees during the COVID-19 outbreak. The article presents a proposal for conducting remote OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) training using the platform Moodle. The created course was implemented during OHS training conducted in a selected manufacturing company. At its end, an evaluation of the course was carried out, and the collected opinions of training participants allowed the formulation of interesting conclusions, which became the contribution of this paper. The authors pay special attention to three main points of the work. The first is the form of training, which gives the possibility to conduct training at a distance while maintaining its effectiveness. The second important point is the mandatory feedback of the trainees, ensuring the possibility of continuous improvement and quality enhancement of both the program and the form of training. The evaluation was developed on the basis of the extended Kirkpatrick model, which is a completely new approach to OHS training evaluation. The third point emphasized by the authors is the possibility of precise adaptation of the training to other plants and even industries. Therefore, it can be concluded that the course developed by the authors is a very interesting and practical didactic tool with great implementation potential.

Modern technologies are transforming occupational health and safety training by enhancing education, innovation, fire prevention, and promoting sustainability conditions in various sectors of industries. Digital tools such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and interactive simulations improve learning efficiency, engagement, and risk awareness. By integrating the technologies, companies can better prepare employees for hazardous situations, reduce workplace accidents, and ensure compliance with safety regulations. Fire courses on fire prevention and control are an essential element in health and safety trainings, and a crucial aspect of safety management. In any business, employees should be prepared for emergency situations, including fires by using modern tools like artificial intelligence. This article aimed to assess the implementation of modern technologies in Polish occupational health and safety training across various industrial sectors. Additionally, this research considered variations in training program development based on company size and financial capacity, highlighting the importance of integrating training, education, and innovative technologies into the company’s overall development strategy. The relationships between safety training programs, education, and innovation in 597 industrial companies were evaluated. The research findings suggest that integrating innovative technologies into training can improve working conditions in a more sustainable way and enhance the market competitiveness of enterprises.

The three primary branches of ergonomics/human factors (E/HF), concentrate on the physical, cognitive, and organizational dimensions, have developed over time. Generally, E/HF is the scientific discipline concerned with the design and arrangement of work environments, systems, and products to fit the physical, cognitive, and emotional needs of the people who use them. The goal of E/HF is to optimize human well-being and overall system performance by improving comfort, safety, efficiency, and productivity while reducing the risk of injury and strain. E/HF is increasingly relevant in the context of Industry 4.0 characterized by automation, cyber-physical systems, and interconnected technologies. The integration of advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and augmented reality (AR) within manufacturing environments presents both opportunities and challenges for worker well-being. Development of industrial technologies requires also a rethinking of traditional E/HF principles to address new human-machine interactions, cognitive demands, and the physical layout of workplaces. E/HF benefits and the threats of Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies must be considered in an integrated manner. The importance of designing systems that promote user-friendly interfaces, reduce mental and physical strain, and support sustainable work environments now becomes critical. In this context, this review paper explores the connection between E/HF and Industry 4.0/5.0, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to designing work systems that enhance both human performance and technological innovation.