Seismic and rock burst hazards still currently appear to be important in most hard coal mines in Poland. Recently, there has been a significant increase in seismic activity in the Silesian rock mass, in comparison to previous years. In the period 2001-2010, hard coal mines experienced 33 rock bursts. The causes of rock burst occurrences are here presented, based on an analysis of the rock bursts that occurred in Polish hard coal mines. The scale of the rock burst hazard has been characterized with respect to the mining and geological conditions of the existing exploitation. The most essential of the factors influencing the status of rock burst hazard is considered to be the depth of the interval, ranging from 550 m to 1150 m. The basic factors that cause rock burst to occur are as follows: seismogenic strata, edges and remnants, goafs, faults, pillars and excessive panelling. The consequences of rock bursts are damaged and/or destroyed roadways. On this basis, the areas (ranges) of safe zones were selected as being those safe from rock burst hazard in roadways, according to the assessment conducted to establish different degrees of the risk., Renata Patyńska., and Obsahuje bibliografii