Focus on work: training and safety

Obligations and new rules from Legislative Decree 81/2008 to the 2025 State–Regions Agreement

Safety training is not a box‑ticking exercise. It is an essential lever to genuinely protect workers throughout their entire journey: from their first day in the company to ongoing refresher courses.

Knowing when it is required, who is responsible, and how to manage it correctly is crucial not only to remain compliant, but also to build real risk awareness and ensure safe workplaces.

The regulatory framework is defined by Legislative Decree 81/2008, now updated by the new State–Regions Agreement of 17 April 2025, which reorganised and unified the rules on mandatory health and safety training at work.

Under the new rules, safety training must be completed before work actually starts and before assigning the worker to their role. This has a direct impact on internal organisation, onboarding processes and the risk of non‑compliance.

At AxL, we work alongside companies every day, also supporting them on health and safety requirements. That is why we have summarised the key points you need to know to manage training correctly.

The Agreement provides a single, streamlined and updated framework for training workers, managers, supervisors, employers, HSE managers and safety coordinators. It also introduces new provisions and updates, including specific rules on training for the use of work equipment.

Training timelines under the new Agreement

Training must be delivered and completed in the following cases:

• When an employment relationship is established or work starts

• When a worker is transferred or their duties change

• When new work equipment, technologies, substances or hazardous mixtures are introduced

• In line with the provisions of Article 37, paragraph 4 of Legislative Decree 81/2008

The new Agreement removes the previous 60‑day deadline for completing training, which had generated conflicting interpretations and incorrect practices in the past.

For agency workers, it is just as essential that the host company provides training, information and practical instruction before the actual start of work.

Why it is important to act now

Aligning with the new framework does not simply mean meeting a legal requirement. It also means:

• Providing real protection for people in the workplace

• Managing onboarding processes correctly

• Reducing the risk of penalties and non‑compliance

Do you want to understand how to apply these changes in your organisation?
AxL Spa, Employment Agency, is ready to support you with the operational management and planning of your safety training programmes.