Halina Krahelska’s awards presented

Encounter with tradition, history and ... work

On 21 October 2008 Chief Labour Inspector Tadeusz Jan Zając presented the awards of Halina Krahelska in the Column Hall of the Republic of Poland’s Parliament honouring outstanding achievements in protection of labour and health in the working environment. The ceremony was attended by the Speaker of Parliament Bronisław Komorowski, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Stefan Niesiołowski and members of Labour Protection Council with its Chairperson MP Izabela Katarzyna Mrzygłocka.

The Award of Halina Krahelska has been bestowed since 1989 by Chief Labour Inspector for remarkable achievements in the area of occupational hazards prevention supervision and inspection of compliance with labour law, its popularization as well as developing and implementing safe methods and technologies related to labour protection. It commemorates the figure of an activist fighting for Poland's independence, a long-time labour inspector, who also held the function of Deputy Chief Labour Inspector in the II Republic of Poland, the author of numerous papers on labour protection, murdered by Nazis in Ravensbrück Concentration Camp. It is a symbol of recognition for the remarkable personality of Halina Krahelska, the labour inspector who served the matter of labour protection in the period between wars. So far, the award has been presented to 120 people.

This year’s laureates of the award were: Józef Cencora, zfounder of Wrocław Open University for Social Labour Inspection, propagator of occupational safety in Zarząd Regionu Dolny Śląsk NSZZ „Solidarność”, Roman Macuga, for 40 years related to Polish mining sector, participated in works of a group which, following the explosion of methane in the mine „Pomorzany”, drew up the principles of safe mining works process, since 2006 he has been the Head of Inspection Department at the State Mining Authority, Professor Tadeusz Wacław Nowacki, founder of the Polish Labour Pedagogy School, co-author of modern teaching standards concerning the issues of occupational health and safety, academic lecturer for several years, senator Jan Rulewski, a well-known trade union activist, defender of employees’ rights, co-author of numerous acts, concerning for example the social insurance reform, employment and unemployment, professional and social rehabilitation and employment of the disabled, Marek Szularz, all his professional life related to power plants in Warsaw, Chairman of OSH team in Polish power plants and thermal power plants, Józef Woźny, representing the chemical sector, union activist, has contributed to the formation of a Polish-German Professional and Intercultural Training Foundation, dealing with occupational safety programme, Krystyna Zakrzewska-Szczepańska, OSH Specialist at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, co-author of labour law, participant in works on the project National OSH Strategy in years 2008-2012, MP Józef Zych, Ph. D. in law, author of numerous scientific and popularizing publications in civil, insurance and labour law, Chairman of Constitutional Responsibility Commission, Vice-Chairman of Extraordinary Commission for changes in codification. The team award was presented to Barbara Paczuska and Eugeniusz Szajba, representing Product Certification Unit at the Institute of Construction, Mechanization and Electrification of Agriculture.

Congratulating the laureates, the Speaker of Parliament Bronisław Komorowski, wished them perseverance „in their wise, good work, without which there will neither be happier nor richer Poland”. He underlined Halina Krahelska’s remarkable merits for Poland’s independence. He stated that chief labour inspector’s award, through its patron’s figure, positions itself very close to Polish dreams of Żeromski’s glass houses.

– Dreams of independent, democratic Poland which, fought for in great hardship, will not only be beautiful and loved but will also develop, with view to every citizen’s well being.

Chief Labour Inspector Tadeusz Jan Zając emphasized that among the laureates there are persons of undisputed position in scientific and labour protection circles, lawmakers, remarkable figures from parliamentary circles, of modern engineering and technical thought, representatives of public institutions, persons for whom service in the name of dignity and respect for people’s work is a permanent value and gives meaning to professional activity.

MP Izabela Katarzyna Mrzygłocka, chairperson, congratulated the laureates on behalf of Labour Protection Council. She stated that the idea of this unique award is a reflection of profound respect for the dignity of people’s work. It honours distinguished individuals, particularly meritorious to protection of labour through creation of safe and healthy working conditions. It is also a token of appreciation for remarkable personality and achievements of labour inspector Halina Krahelska.

Expressing his thanks for the distinction on behalf of the laureates, MP Józef Zych said he was proud to receive an award from the office of nearly 90-year tradition and which, since the formation of reborn Poland, has successfully worked for the benefit of labour protection.

Senator Jan Rulewski, in agreement with other laureates, proposed an initiative of the broadest possible popularization among public opinion of Halina Krahelska’s figure and professional merits and commemoration of her heroic deeds through funding of a memorial and publishing her works. – Even when having such interesting life, I cannot imagine how in a place like a concentration camp where the world collapses and where Poland, Warsaw seemed to have collapsed, it was possible to bend over sheets of paper and write... about life and dignity at work, protection of motherhood, the youth in working environment in reborn Poland – senator Jan Rulewski said. – Through her life and work, inspector Halina Krahelska proved that labour inspectorate which next year celebrates its 90 anniversary is not only an office but also service to the country!

The ceremony, which ended with a commemorative photograph of the awarded, was also attended by representatives of institutions supervising working conditions, ministries, institutes of science and research cooperating with NLI, trade unions and employers’ organizations, Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), The Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (KRUS), National Fire Brigade as well as management of the National Labour Inspectorate.

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