The obligation to train employees in occupational health and safety stems directly from legal regulations. Pursuant to Article 237³ § 2 of the Labour Code, the employer must:
- train the employee before allowing them to work,
- and provide periodic health and safety training.
Detailed rules are set out in the Regulation of the Minister of Economy and Labour of 27 July 2004 on training in the field of health and safety.
Initial health and safety training
Initial training is mandatory for every employee and consists of:
- general instruction,
- workstation instruction.
Without completing this training, an employee cannot be allowed to work, regardless of their position or form of employment.
Periodic training - how often?
- The frequency of periodic training depends on the type of position:
- Employers and persons managing employees - every 5 years
- Engineering and technical employees - every 5 years
- Administrative and office employees - every 6 years
- Manual workers – every 3 years, and for particularly hazardous work – every 1 year
- Health and safety service – every 5 years
Periodic training is intended to update knowledge, familiarise employees with new hazards, changes in regulations and occupational risk assessment.
Why is it crucial to keep track of deadlines?
Lack of up-to-date health and safety training:
- is a violation of labour law,
- may result in penalties for the employer,
- increases liability in the event of an accident at work.
That is why more and more companies are opting for a systematic approach to training, which allows them to control deadlines, documentation and compliance.
