Metalworking fluids as a source of biological agents that pose a health risk to workers Rafał Lewandowski, p. 5-7 Hazard of mechanical vibration acting on riders of selected single-track vehicles - original research Piotr Kowalski, Jacek Zając, p. 8-11 Perception of work-related hazards and workers' age Zofia Pawłowska, Marta Antoniak, p. 12-15 Work-related sick absence - what do we know about it? Małgorzata Pęciłło, Marta Antoniak, p. 16-18 Occupational safety in chemical storage Wojciech Domański, p. 19-21 Teachers' occupational expectations and the possibility of fulfilling them in an educational work environment Beata Taradejna, p. 22-26 Metalworking fluids as a source of biological agents that pose a health risk to workers Rafał Lewandowski This paper discusses the adverse effects on workers'' health of biological agents present in metalworking fluids. Those fluids are used in machining to reduce the wear of machining tools, improve the quality of the machining material and protect against corrosion. Microbiological examination of samples of metalworking fluids revealed the presence of various microorganisms: bacteria, fungi and yeasts. In the past few years, there have been attempts to prove the impact of the biological agents in metalworking fluids on the presence of various diseases in workers engaged in machining. These are mainly respiratory diseases, with hypersensitivity pneumonitis the most commonly reported one. The disease diagnosed in patients with confirmed exposure to metalworking fluid aerosols is known as the "machine operator’s lung". Hazard of mechanical vibration acting on riders of selected single-track vehicles - original research Piotr Kowalski, Jacek Zając This paper presents results of tests of mechanical vibration acting on riders of selected single-track vehicles. The obtained daily exposure values of hand-arm and whole-body vibration allow preliminary recognition of the mechanical vibration hazard experienced by workers who use such vehicles. The results of tests indicate that occupational use of single-track vehicles may cause high exposure of the riders to hand-arm and whole-body vibration. The exposure of a rider of a single-track vehicle strongly depends on the type and design of the vehicle, type of road surface and speed. Perception of work-related hazards and workers' age Zofia Pawłowska, Marta Antoniak Age is commonly considered to be an important factor influencing perception of hazards and related occupational risks. However, research to date has not allowed formulating unambiguous conclusions on these influences. This article presents a perception of hazards and their potential negative influence on workers’ health on the basis of the European Working Conditions Survey (carried by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions) and of Eurostat’s Labour Force Survey 2007 ad hoc module on health and safety at work. Work-related sick absence - what do we know about it? Małgorzata Pęciłło, Marta Antoniak Sick absence can be influenced by several factors, both internal and external ones. This article presents questions related to work-related sick absence in Poland. It also presents the results of studies conducted within the European Working Conditions Survey, by the Central Statistical Office and a literature survey in this field. Occupational safety in chemical storage Wojciech Domański Safety of employees in a chemical storage where hazardous substances as well as their mixtures are stashed requires the knowledge of behavior around such materials. Their various chemical and physical properties call for a proper, differentiated approach throughout all operations carried out in the storage, especially in case of warehousing and transport. The information about threats which source is to be found in hazardous substances and their mixtures, needs to be properly displayed on their wrappers. Therefore, in order to ensure safety of storage employees, especially these responsible for transportation of the chemicals, proper procedures should be implemented and complied with. It’s also a basis for ensuring safety of outsiders as well as other employees who do not participate in such activities. Teachers' occupational expectations and the possibility of fulfilling them in an educational work environment Beata Taradejna This article presents the results of research conducted at the Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB), which showed teachers'' occupational expectations and the possibility of fulfilling them in an educational work environment. The research was conducted on teachers with various tenure. One group consisted of teachers with short tenure (up to 3 years), while the other consisted of teachers who had spent at least 10 years teaching. Respondents were chosen from teachers teaching at primary and lower secondary schools across the Mazowieckie voivodship.