2025 News on Training: What Changes with the New State-Regions Agreement

Staying updated on regulations regarding health and safety at work is essential to ensure compliance and protect both workers and employers. A significant development is the approval by the State-Regions Conference of the Agreement of April 17, 2025, an agreement that regulates training in the field of health and safety at work (SSL). This agreement represents a single text that repeals and replaces the previous agreements of December 21, 2011, February 22, 2012, July 7, 2016, and July 25, 2012, creating a simplified regulatory framework but with important practical changes. While we await its publication in the Official Gazette, let’s take a look at the key points.

1. Final mandatory learning assessment for all: every training or safety update course must conclude with a mandatory assessment for all participants. The methods may vary (tests, interviews, practical assessments); if conducted via videoconference, they must always be done synchronously and not asynchronously. For basic courses, the assessment must consist of 30 questions with three alternative answers, while for update courses, it must consist of 10 questions with three alternative answers; the outcome is positive with at least 70% correct answers.
2. Evaluation of satisfaction mandatory for all courses. The evaluation of the degree of satisfaction is carried out in relation to: teaching quality, organizational quality, and perceived usefulness and alignment with expectations.
3. Obligation to verify the effectiveness of training: the Agreement establishes that the employer must verify the effectiveness of the training conducted. This evaluation should be done after the course, during work activities, to understand if the skills learned are actually being applied. Suggested tools include the analysis of accidents/non-accidents, questionnaires for workers, or check-lists.
4. Regulated distance learning, but with limits: the Agreement formalizes the use of distance methods such as synchronous videoconferencing (SVC) and e-learning. SVC is equated to in-person attendance for theoretical parts, but parts that require training or practical testing must be conducted in physical presence. For SVC, each learner must be connected to the training event via a PC or tablet for their exclusive use; "classes of learners" connected by a single device are no longer allowed, and the use of smartphones is not permitted (this last requirement also applies to e-learning).
5. Five-year period and maintenance of qualifications: for roles such as Safety Officer (RSPP) or Safety Operator (ASPP), Safety Coordinators, and operators of equipment that require specific qualifications, the update is every five years. If the update is not completed within 5 years, one can no longer perform the function or use the equipment. The absence of updates for a period (up to 10 years) does not invalidate the basic course, but to return to operation, it is necessary to complete the missing updates from the five-year period prior to the assignment/use.
6. Requirements of the training subjects: the Agreement defines the requirements of the Educational Project Manager (EPM), the Teacher, and the Tutor. The key figure of the EPM is noteworthy, as in addition to possessing the qualifications of a teacher, they must have at least three years of experience in SSL. The requirements for the Teacher remain unchanged (requirements D.I. March 6, 2013 + specific).
7. Documentation of training activities: the Agreement precisely defines the contents of the Minutes of the final assessments, the Course file (to be kept for 10 years) and the Training project (the output document of the entire design process).
8. New deadlines: some training obligations have specific timelines dictated by the new Agreement:
   1. The course for Employer acting as RSPP (basic module of 16 hours) must be completed within 24 months from the entry into force of the Agreement.
   2. The update for the Supervisor, if their last course dates back to more than 2 years before the Agreement, must be done within 12 months from its entry into force.
   3. The courses for the qualification to use specific equipment (including three new: fruit harvesting machines, material handling loaders, overhead cranes) and the courses for work in confined or suspected contaminated environments, if not already compliant, must be completed within 12 months from the entry into force.

In conclusion, the new Agreement of April 17, 2025, is an important step in reorganizing training in SSL. The news about the learning assessment and, above all, the obligation to verify effectiveness by the employer, along with the formalization of distance training and the new deadlines, require immediate attention.

We remain at your disposal to support you in the analysis and application of these important regulatory updates, ensuring full compliance of your training in health and safety.