More than 2,000 people have received free training on workplace health and safety in the first 100 days of the new government, with a further 800 people already registered for sessions scheduled by the end of the year.
The figures were announced by Infrastructure, Planning and Employment Minister Jonathan Attard during a review of work carried out under the Budget 2026 measures. The government has allocated €400,000 over 24 months to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) to provide the training free of charge.
Attard said the strong response demonstrated the demand for greater knowledge and expertise on health and safety across different sectors of society.
“While in previous years the specialised OHSA courses reached an average of just over 150 people per year, in the last three months training has already been provided to 2,000 people,” Attard said.
He added that more than 800 people are already registered for training sessions taking place until the end of the year, with 57 sessions currently scheduled and the possibility of adding more.
The initiative provides access to specialised training covering both occupational health and safety and mental health, reaching small businesses, self-employed people and workers in sectors including aviation, construction, manufacturing, retail, restaurants and hotels, as well as care and welfare services.
Voluntary organisations, NGOs, local councils, Church entities and organisations involved in community activities are also benefiting from the training.
The government is also investing in basic health and safety training specifically for volunteers, helping them identify and assess risks and carry out their projects and activities with greater preparation.
OHSA Chief Executive Josianne Cutajar stressed that voluntary work does not mean work without risk, saying everyone involved in an activity or project needs to understand the risks and know how to protect their own health and safety and that of others.
Cutajar also highlighted the inauguration of the OHSA Training Centre in 2025, describing it as an important step in strengthening the culture of health and safety in the workplace.
She said OHSA would continue investing in practical and specialised training, supported by research and technical expertise, while also adopting innovative methods, including artificial intelligence, to ensure its training responds to the changing world of work.
During the conference, a video featuring testimonials on the benefits of the training was also shown.
Commissioner for Youth and Scout Development Daniel Cassar welcomed the initiative, highlighting its importance for adults involved in the organisation as well as its wider educational impact on members of the community.
Attard said the Government would continue working to widen access to training and address the risks associated with evolving workplaces, stressing that health and safety is everyone’s responsibility.
The conference was also attended by Permanent Secretary Ronald Mizzi, OHSA board chairman Pierre Fava, and representatives of various stakeholders and organisations which participated in the training.