THE NEW “SINGLE” AGREEMENT CONCERNING HEALTH AND SAFETY TRAINING AT WORK
The Training Agreement was published in the Official Gazette on 24 May 2025, approved on 17 April 2025 within the State-Regions Conference.
It is therefore finally possible to identify the final deadline by which companies must comply with the new training obligations: 23 May 2026.
We recall that the agreement, signed between the Government, the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano pursuant to article 37, paragraph 2, of Legislative Decree 81/08, reorganises and updates the training agreements already in force, establishing new rules on:
- duration, minimum content and delivery methods for mandatory courses that fall within the responsibilities of Employers;
- methods for final assessments for participants, valid for both initial training and refresher training;
- monitoring and control of training activities and the correct application of the rules, with attention both to training bodies and to training recipients.
The new agreement precisely defines the mandatory training hours and refresher courses intended for Employers, Managers and Supervisors.
It also introduces new training obligations for the use of specific equipment and establishes targeted training pathways for those working in confined or potentially polluted environments.
The organisation of courses is also regulated – with limits on the number of participants, minimum attendance requirements, maximum trainer/learner ratio – as well as the delivery methods and final assessment.
Finally, the text clearly classifies the subjects authorised to carry out training activities.
The new provisions are numerous and significant, including:
- The course for Employers: 16 hours of training divided into legal and organisational modules. For owners of construction companies operating on construction sites, an additional 6-hour module is required, with mandatory refresher training every 5 years of at least 6 hours, also available online.
- The new definition of courses for Supervisors: a 12-hour course divided into four thematic areas, with refresher training every two years and in any case whenever necessary due to the evolution of risks or the emergence of new risks, with a minimum duration of 6 hours.
- Training for Managers: reduced to 12 hours with refresher training of at least 6 hours every 5 years.
- The introduction of new courses for confined environments: specific 12-hour training for workers, employers and self-employed workers operating in environments suspected of pollution or confined environments, with a mandatory 8-hour practical session. Refresher training must be carried out every five years and with a minimum duration of 4 hours relating to the practical part.
- Qualification for the use of new operating machines:
- agricultural fruit-picking machine: 8 hours (4 theory + 4 practice);
- loaders for material handling: 8 hours (4 theory + 4 practice);
- overhead travelling crane: 4 hours of theory + 6 hours of practice for the overhead travelling crane/gantry crane with cab control, or 6 hours of practice for pendant/radio control, or 7 total hours for both types.
- The verification of effectiveness: which must be carried out by the Employer within a maximum of one year from the delivery of the training.
- The new definition of training providers: the agreement clarifies the requirements for those delivering training and refresher courses, identifying three categories:
- Institutional bodies;
- Accredited bodies;
- Other bodies such as joint bodies and sector interprofessional funds.
Transitional provisions:
- During the initial application phase and in any case no later than twelve months from the entry into force of this agreement, courses may be started according to the provisions of the repealed State-Regions agreements as well as Annex XIV of Legislative Decree no. 81/2008 in force before the agreement entered into force.
- In order to allow the full and effective implementation of the training obligations referred to in art. 37 of Legislative Decree no. 81/2008, employers are required to attend the training course so that it is completed no later than 24 months from the entry into force of the agreement.
- Employer training courses already delivered on the date of entry into force of this agreement, whose contents comply with this agreement, are recognised. Refresher training for these courses starts from the course end date shown on the certificate.
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