Occupational health and safety employees and emerging competences in environmental field in mining and other sectors in Poland

The aim of the article was to identify and analyze the requirements of the changing labour market for occupational health and safety (OHS) service employees, from the employee level in Poland. Competencies in the field of environmental protection for these positions constituted the main cognitive trend. Attention was focused on the recommendations of the new strategic framework on health and safety at work for 2021-2027 considering e.g. ecological transformation. Several research methods were used: a literature review, an exploratory national job offer as an introduction to survey research, and a survey. Review job offers showed that there is a demand for new competences in Poland that are focused on sustainable development. This information was verified through an anonymous survey aimed at examining the opinions of health and safety service employees on professional competences in the field of the environment, based on specified criteria and identified limitations. The analyses showed that there are significant differences between the requirements set by employers and the tasks performed by health and safety service employees. The survey results were used as a basis for formulating recommendations that may contribute to legislative changes and set further directions for analysis and research.