Introduction
National strategies are vital policy instruments to enhance the effectiveness of an OSH system by defining the key priorities and actions for improving workers’ health and safety.
The Commission called on the Member States to update and draw up their national OSH strategies in line with the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027 - in cooperation with social partners - to ensure that the new measures are applied on the ground.
In Italy, the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is committed to build and promote a safety and prevention culture. It gives special consideration to all activities and initiatives that contribute to responsible and considerate behaviour among employees – for the protection of their own safety and the safety of others. The aim is to develop strategies for effectively combating workplace accidents. To this end, the Ministry works closely with civil society actors who are committed to the practical implementation of safety regulations.
More information on the various OSH systems can be found in the relevant OSHwiki articles on national OSH systems.
Basic information on the national OSH strategy
The National Strategy on Health and Safety in the Workplace 2026-2030 (Strategia nazionale in materia di salute e sicurezza nei luoghi di lavoro 2026 - 2030)[1] is a guidance document that identifies priorities, objectives and actions to strengthen the prevention of accidents and occupational diseases in Italy. The strategy, developed through collaboration among Ministries, Regional authorities, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), the National Labour Inspectorate (INL), and the social partners, follows the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021–2027 and is divided into five strategic axes, with a strong orientation to emerging risks, coordinated supervision, support for micro, small, and medium enterprises and dissemination of a prevention culture.
The current National Strategy for Health and Safety in the Workplace 2026–2030 integrates into the National Prevention Plan 2026–2031 (Piano Nazionale della Prevenzione 2026-2031: Macro obiettivo MO4 and Programmi Predefiniti 3, 5, 6, 7))[2] and the initiatives of other bodies active in the field of occupational health and safety, consolidating a coordinated approach across public health, occupational safety and health, and related social policies. . Their primary objective is the implementation of the Vision Zero approach, with the ambition of eliminating serious accidents and workplace deaths.
Former strategies:
For the first time, Italy has adopted a national strategy specifically dedicated to occupational health and safety (OSH) for the period 2026–2030. Previously, OSH objectives were addressed within broader public health policy frameworks, particularly through the National Prevention Plans (PNPs).
Piano Nazionale della Prevenzione 2020-2025, Macro obiettivo 5.4 Infortuni e incidenti sul lavoro, malattie professionali.[3]
Piano Nazionale della Prevenzione 2014 – 2018 - Macro obiettivo 7: Prevenire gli infortuni e le malattie professionali (National Prevention Plan 2014 -2018 – Macro objective 7: Prevention of work-related accidents and diseases).
Background and the perceived problem
In recent years, the epidemiological and demographic landscape of our country has undergone profound changes. This necessitates a comprehensive rethinking of prevention strategies in order to effectively address the new health challenges facing the population.
These challenges include the impact of climate and environmental change on health, the resurgence of infectious diseases and the experiences of the recent pandemic, the aging population with increasing frailty and disability, and risks related to mental health and well-being, which are becoming increasingly important. The plan defines the strategic framework for health promotion and prevention measures in various life and work contexts, confirming the integrated One Health approach and strengthening coordination between national, regional and local levels.
The National Strategy for Health and Safety in the Workplace 2026–2030 was developed based on a comparative analysis of the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027 and strategies adopted by EU countries, taking into account the specific national context outlined in Legislative Decree 81/2008 and subsequent amendments. This framework establishes a tripartite governance of OSH activities, in an integrated and participatory approach. It proactively involves prevention specialists and strengthens the strategic role of parity and bilateralism in achieving effective occupational safety and health.
Main characteristics and objectives of the national OSH-strategy
The National Strategy for Health and Safety in the Workplace 2026-2030 aims to eliminate or drastically reduce accidents and deaths at work through the adoption of the “Vision Zero” approach, a principle that every accident is preventable.
One of the key elements of the Strategy is the strengthening of coordination between all actors involved in the preventive system. Competent ministries, Regions and Autonomous Provinces, INAIL, the National Labour Inspectorate and the social partners are called upon to operate in a synergistic way. The goal is to make prevention policies more effective and homogeneous throughout the country, reducing mismatches and overlaps.
The document identifies five strategic axes on which to build prevention policies over the next few years.
Strategic Axis 1: Dealing with the changes of the world of work
Strategic Axis 2: Strengthening and increasing the resilience of the institutional system
Strategic Axis 3: Strengthening the effectiveness of protections
Strategic Axis 4: Supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises
Strategic Axis 5: Spreading the culture of prevention
Details of the strategy (action plan)
Strategic Axis 1: Dealing with the changes of the world of work
With the emergence of new organisational forms, business models, and industries, the concept of the workplace is becoming more fluid, but also more complex, for some workers. The COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated these complexities and made OSH policies central to public health strategies. The nature of many jobs, work rhythms, and workplaces is changing. Driven by the green and digital transitions, jobs that didn't exist ten years ago have emerged. This will significantly shift the skills required in the labour market, particularly requiring increasingly transversal skills, such as cognitive and social skills, alongside technical ones. At the same time, demographic changes, including an aging workforce, require adapting the work environment and tasks to specific needs, in order to minimise health and safety risks.
- Objective 1.1. Anticipate and manage new and emerging risks (12 actions)
- Objective 1.2. Address traditional risks (9 actions)
- Objective 1.3. Introduce innovative strategies, tools, and technologies for prevention and monitoring to protect vulnerable groups and situations (3 actions)
Strategic Axis 2: Strengthening and increasing the resilience of the institutional system: The
To promote resilience, a free flow of information is necessary in the field of occupational health and safety, as in other contexts, to support the search for the systemic causes of problems. Fostering a positive cycle of reporting and resolving potential health and safety hazards can lead to organisational learning.
Strategic Axis 3: Strengthening the effectiveness of protection measures
Strengthening the effectiveness occupational safety and health requires a sufficient number of qualified professionals with multidisciplinary skills. Increasing personnel resources for support, monitoring, and oversight activities in the prevention departments of local health authorities (Aziende Sanitarie Locali - ASLs INL (and INAIL (will enable more comprehensive and targeted prevention measures, as well as more frequent and effective inspections.
- Objective 3.1. Strengthening the role of the public service, through the operational enhancement of the Services for the protection of the Health and Safety of the Work Environments of the local health authorities. (3 actions)
- Objective 3.2. Rationalisation of prevention interventions, in order to plan an effective, efficient and appropriate use of human, instrumental and financial resources provided for and used under current legislation (7 actions)
- Objective 3.3. Strengthening the supervisory activity by orienting it in order to favour the Vision Zero approach (3 actions)
- Objective 3.4. Programming of supervision according to criteria that increase its effectiveness (5 actions)
Strategic Axis 4: Support micro, small, and medium enterprises MSME
MSMEs represent the heart of the Italian production fabric. Due to their lean structure and limited financial and human resources, they face unique challenges in effectively implementing occupational health and safety measures. The Strategy includes simplified tools, operational guidelines, technical assistance and targeted incentives to make prevention truly accessible.
- Objective 4.1. Provide support and assistance to companies, workers and their representatives (7 actions)
- Objective 4.2. Raising awareness on the importance of a prevention culture as opportunity for growth and development (3 actions)
Strategic Axis 5: Spreading the prevention culture
Students, even the youngest, become multipliers in their families by learning health and safety principles. A well-structured educational approach can achieve positive effects that extend beyond the school context. Students become agents of change and contribute to a comprehensive cultural shift that views prevention not as a limitation, but as a value. Investing in education means building safe behaviours in the long run.
- Objective 5.1. Implement the promotion and dissemination of OSH culture in school
- and university training programmes (3 actions)
- Objective 5.2. Preventing occupational safety violations through initiatives that promote the Vision Zero approach and raise awareness among all stakeholders (2 actions)
Actors and stakeholders
National strategies and programmes related to occupational safety and health are developed by the Committee for the direction and evaluation of active policies and for the national coordination of supervisory activities in the field of occupational health and safety (Comitato per l'indirizzo e la valutazione delle politiche attive e per il coordinamento nazionale delle attività di vigilanza in materia di salute e sicurezza sul Lavoro[4]). This body is established within the Ministry of Health and is chaired by the Minister himself. The Committee includes representatives from the Ministries (Health, Labour, Infrastructures and transport, and the Interior) and the Regions, with the consultative participation of INAIL.
The National Strategy for Workplace Health and Safety 2026-2030 was prepared by the Committee for the direction and evaluation of active policies and for the national coordination of supervisory activities in the field of occupational health and safety, chaired by the Minister of Health, and comprises ministries, regions, INAIL and the National Labour Inspectorate, with the involvement of social partners during the consultation phase.
Resources and time frame
Operational actions are funded and implemented by the relevant national bodies, such as the INAIL Plan and regional resources.
Evaluation
The Strategy will be accompanied by a continuous monitoring system in accordance with Article 5 of Legislative Decree 81/2008. The Committee for the direction and evaluation of active policies and for the national coordination of supervisory activities in the field of occupational health and safety maintains its steering role through an annual review of the measures taken, with the aim of adapting the plan to changes in the production and technology environment and translating strategic goals into measurable and verifiable results.
In this meeting, all actors involved in the practical implementation – including the relevant Ministries, the Regions, INL, INAIL and the social partners – are obliged to report regularly on their work and the progress made in implementing the strategy.
Outcome and impact indicators for the years 2026 to 2030
The effectiveness of a five-year strategy lies in its ability to be monitored, evaluated and, where necessary, recalibrated along the way. For this reason, the monitoring system and the verification of the progress of the work play a central role in the governance of the plan. To this end, the national OSH strategy refer to the institutional mechanism established within the Committee for the guidance and evaluation of active policies and for the national coordination of occupational health and safety inspection activities, pursuant to Article 5 of Legislative Decree 81/2008.
Specifically, a fixed and structured appointment is established: the annual meeting under Article 5, as the preferred forum for operational and strategic discussion. In this forum, all the actors involved in practical implementation, including the competent Ministries, the Regions, the INL (National Labour Inspectorate), INAIL and the Social Partners, will be called upon to report in detail on their work and on the progress made in applying the strategy. This periodic reporting moment will have a twofold function:
- Verifying the achievement of objectives: by analysing the data from information flows and inspection activities, in order to assess the real impact of the actions undertaken on injury rates and occupational diseases.
- Sharing critical issues and good practices: allowing timely alignment of corrective actions and fostering the replicability of virtuous experiences developed at regional or sectoral level.
Relationship to EU Strategic Framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027
The National Strategy on Health and Safety in the Workplace 2026-2030 is in full coherence with the EU Strategic Framework 2021–2027 and dialogues with the National Prevention Plan 2026–2031.
Examples:
Key objective 1 of the EU Framework : Strategic axis 1 deals with the changes in the world of work. Objective 1.1 fully follows key objective 1 of the EU Framework.
Key objective 2 of the EU Framework Vision Zero is explicitly mention in Objective 3.3, 5.2 and as overall principle for the National OSH strategy.
Combatting harassment and violence at work is also covered by Objective 1.1
Key objective 3 of the EU Framework: Focus on seasonal workers and road transport workers is covered by Objective 1.3.
The importance of healthcare preparedness in light of the COVID-19 pandemic is covered by the Makro Objective M06 of the National Prevention Plan 2026-2031 (PNP). Objective 1.1 of the National Strategy on Health and Safety in the Workplace 2026-2030 has among others a focus on seasonal workers.
