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Med. Pr. 2012;63(4):493-504

ADAPTATION OF THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT TO THE CAPACITIES OF WORKERS WITH PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES

PRZYSTOSOWANIE ŚRODOWISKA PRACY DO MOŻLIWOŚCI OSÓB

Dorota Żołnierczyk-Zreda, Tadeusz Majewski

Abstract

The occupational activity index among people with disabilities in Poland is still one of the lowest in Europe. Employers' resistance to employ these people is considered to be one of its major reasons. It stems from employers' fear of their low productivity and the need to adapt the work environment to their psychophysical capacities. In addition, the existing system of medical certification of disability does not motivate employers strong enough to adjust the work environment. This paper attempts to specify the main principles of the work environment adaptation to psychophysical capacities of two categories of workers with disabilities: those with motor function disabilities and those with intellectual or mental disability. For the former group of workers, the work environment adaptation may involve modifications of its physical aspects and entail some outlays, while for the latter group, the work environment adaptation is mainly based on the provision of workers with social support (both instrumental and emotional) by their supervisors and co-workers. Efforts associated with the work environment adaptation to the needs of workers with disabilities should, therefore, be considered not only in terms of outlays and enterprise productivity but also in terms of preventing social exclusion of people with disabilities. Med Pr 2012;63(4):493-504

Key words

work environment adaptation, motor function disability, intellectual disability, mental disability