The paper compares the principles which are applied in this country in social security of subjects who had to abandon their hitherto performed work on account of occupational health damage with analogous principles practised in some western European countries. It was found that our workers are not sufficiently motivated for optimal use of their remaining working potential. The author suggests principles which should be applied when conceiving the social policy in this sphere.

        Key words: occupational diseases, occupational injuries, damages, motivation for work, social policy.