New provisions of the Polish Labour Code came into force on 1 January 2019 which limit the necessity of conducting periodic health and safety training for employees whose work involves a low accident rate and low exposure to harmful factors. The new regulations are very important for employers that employ administrative and office staff provided that employer carries out business activity classified not higher than at the third risk level within the meaning of the provisions on social insurance for accidents at work and occupational diseases. The exemption from conducting health and safety training is not absolute – it remains obligatory if an occupational risk assessment indicates so.

Another change increases the number of employers that can carry out themselves  the tasks of the occupational health and safety (OHS) service (the advisory/supervisory body for health and safety issues in the workplace). According to the new regulations, an employer that has completed the relevant training can carry out the tasks of the OHS service itself if: (i) it has up to 10 employees or (ii) it has up to 50 employees and carries out business activity classified not higher than at the third risk level within the meaning of the provisions on social insurance for accidents at work and occupational diseases.