Employers have a legal obligation to provide safe and hygienic conditions for their employees and to provide training for them Health and Safety. This is standardised in the decree of the Minister of Economy and Labour of 27 July 2004. It contains detailed information to be observed, such as: 

  • principles of education, 
  • scope of training, 
  • content - what it is about, 
  • requirements for the implementation of the training programme, 
  • filing, 
  • conditioning the possibility of exempting employees from certain types of training; 

For what purpose is training provided? 

  • Countering threats; 
  • Protection of workers' health and life; 
  • Ensuring a safe working environment; 
Instructor teaches people first aid

During health and safety training, the employee is required to:  

  • learn about health and safety regulations and rules, 
  • participate in workshops, 
  • take part in instruction, 
  • meet the requirements of the examinations verifying the acquired knowledge; 

Who should attend health and safety courses? 

  • employer, 
  • every employee regardless of position, 
  • apprentices, 
  • persons on civil law contracts (the employer may require such a person to be trained at their expense), 
  • and apprentices; 

Who does not need to take the training? 

  • in the case of initial health and safety training, an employee who has worked in an identical position before entering into another contract with the same employer, 
  • in the case of periodic health and safety training, persons exempted under the applicable regulations. 

Do you have to pay for it? 

The owner of the company is obliged to pay for the training of his/her employees with employment contracts. In addition, the time spent on health and safety training is included in the total working time. 

What types of training are there? 

  • Initial health and safety training 
  • Periodic training in occupational health and safety 

Possible forms of training delivery (no indication of type of training): 

  • Seminar - takes place at least 4h. 
  • Instruction - the fastest way to learn, which usually takes min. 1,5h 
  • Self-directed learning - based on materials provided by the organiser. Using e.g. the Internet, mail, you can consult with people who are qualified lecturers. 

Who can provide general instruction? 

  • a designated person within the company with up-to-date knowledge of the subject matter and a relevant certificate; 
  • health and safety officer; 
  • Employer; 

The job training performs: 

  • manager; 
  • owner; 
  • instructors; 
  • lecturers. 

What does an instructor need to fulfil in order to educate people? 

Have a broad knowledge of the subject and the necessary experience. Adequate teaching qualifications, translating into correct implementation of the teaching plan, will be very helpful. 

For which people is a job briefing organised?   

  1. a student undertaking an apprenticeship and a student having a student placement. 
  1. a worker with a job or other position where he or she is exposed to harmful (hazardous or arduous) factors. 
  1. employee being transferred to a post under point 2. 

What do you need to know when working in more than one position? 

If you work in different positions in the company, you only need to repeat the job briefing. Periodic training covers changes introduced in the company, e.g. technological changes. The topics and the training cycle should be tailored to the extent of the changes introduced. 

Company evacuation assembly point

Who requires periodic health and safety courses?  

On the basis of Article 2375 the Act of 26 June 1974. - Labour Code (Journal of Laws of 1998, No. 21, item 94, as amended). 
 

  • employers;  
  • managers; 
  • persons employed in positions: 
  • workers, 
    engineering and technical, 
  • administration and offices, 
  • in the occupational health and safety service and others performing the tasks of that service, not listed, where the nature of the work involves exposure to factors which are harmful to health, hazardous or arduous, 
  • responsible for health and safety at work. 

Who can be exempted from them? 

  • A person who provides a current certificate that he or she has completed the required periodic training with another employer during this period. 
  • An employee who has received periodic training belonging to a different job group, if the subject matter in the curriculum is compatible with the new job at the workplace. 

What are the specific aims of running the courses?  

  1. Knowledge of health and safety regulations to the extent necessary to perform work in the workplace and in the specific work position, fulfilment of health and safety duties and responsibilities. 
  1. Learning what environmental factors can lead to safety and health risks and how to counteract them. 
  1. Ability to work in a safe manner for oneself and others. Acting in difficult situations, providing necessary assistance to those affected. 
  1. Handling emergency situations and providing assistance to a person who has had an accident.  

Remember that the employer must determine when the training will take place and how long it will last. This should be preceded by consultation with the employees (their representatives), in the area of frequency, as well as length of training, taking into account the conditions related to their position. 

Who can be the organiser of a periodic course? 

This is usually the employer or one of the following organisational units: 

  • an association whose statutes mention activities related to health and safety at work; 
  • continuing and practical training facility; 
  • further education and training centre; 
  • upper secondary or tertiary school; 
  • scientific faculty; 
  • research and development unit; 
  • a legal or natural person owning an educational activity in accordance with the rules on economic activity. Only in the case of the provision of health and safety training by an organisational unit. 

Employers' basic obligations to organise periodic training.  

Employers and other persons in charge of employees, including masters, foremen and supervisors, are required to receive their first training within six months of starting work in that position. For other positions, the deadline is up to 12 months. 

helmet on site

Who can provide periodic training for employers, instructors and lecturers on health and safety topics - and its services?  

These are the organisational units providing health and safety training. 

What should be in the periodic preparation plan for health and safety (regardless of the audience)? 

  • the employer's obligations in the company concerned; 
  • customisation; 
  • terms of reference; 
  • specific topics; 
  • form of implementation; 
  • duration. 

All information is described in the appendix to the Decree of the Minister of Economy and Labour in the field of occupational health and safety.