In brief
Under the 2026 training regulation, job- and workplace-specific risks, the 4th topic group of basic training, are taught face to face in hazardous and very hazardous workplaces; they take at least 3 lesson hours in the hazardous class and at least 4 in the very hazardous class. The content should be derived not from generic slides but from the workplace's risk assessment, emergency plan and, if any, explosion protection document. This article shows step by step how to do this for forklift operators and welders.
Job-specific risk training: what does the regulation require?
Basic OHS training consists of four topic groups: general topics, health topics, technical topics and job- and workplace-specific risks. The first three groups have similar content in every workplace and can also be delivered remotely. The fourth group, however, is the part of the training that really touches the workplace. The training regulation published on 2 April 2026 sets clearer rules than the previous regulation for job-specific risk training:
| Rule | Less hazardous | Hazardous | Very hazardous | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total duration of basic training | At least 8 lesson hours | At least 12 lesson hours | At least 16 lesson hours | Art. 13/1 |
| Time allocated to topic 4 | At least 2 lesson hours | At least 3 lesson hours | At least 4 lesson hours | Art. 13/3 |
| How topic 4 is delivered | Remote, face to face or blended | Face to face | Face to face | Art. 12/3 |
| Source of content | General hazards of the activity | Risk assessment, emergency plan, explosion protection document | Same | Art. 9/4, 9/5 |
| Refresher | Every 3 years | Every 2 years | Every year | Art. 14/1 |
One lesson hour consists of at least 45 minutes of teaching and a 15-minute break (Art. 4). Taking the shift pattern into account, training may be split into different time slots, provided none is shorter than one lesson hour (Art. 13/4). Refresher training is at least 8 lesson hours in every class, and topic 4 is again delivered with the same duration and method (Art. 14/2).
The reason this section requires mandatory face-to-face OHS training is simple: showing a forklift's tendency to tip over, the correct attachment of a welding machine's earth clamp or the location of an emergency stop button on a screen does not have the same effect as showing it on site. For the general framework of the Regulation, see our article on the new OHS training regulation, and for the content of the four topic groups, our article on basic OHS training topics.
From the risk assessment to training content
The Regulation requires the content of topic 4 in hazardous and very hazardous workplaces to be prepared specifically for the job and workplace, taking into account the risk assessment document, the emergency plan, the explosion protection document if any, and other OHS documents (Art. 9/4). This also determines the design method. Topic group 4 training can be prepared in these four steps:
- Define the groups. Divide employees into groups that share similar risks: forklift operators, welders, press operators, maintenance technicians, warehouse staff and so on. A separate topic 4 plan is prepared for each group.
- Pull out the risk lines. Take the lines relating to that group from the risk assessment and rank them by risk score. High-scoring lines take more time in the training.
- Turn each line into a learning objective. The line "forklift tip-over" becomes an observable objective such as "the operator knows and demonstrates not turning on a ramp with a loaded forklift and not carrying the forks high".
- Add scenarios from the emergency plan. The emergencies the group may face (fire, chemical spill, entrapment) and the escape route, assembly point and emergency stop points in that department are included in the training.
This method has a side benefit: when the risk assessment is updated, it is also clear which part of the training content will change. For the annual planning of training, see our article on the annual OHS training plan.
Example 1: a 3-lesson-hour plan for forklift operators
For forklift operators working in a warehouse and dispatch area in the hazardous class, a plan derived from the risk assessment might look like this:
| Lesson hour | Line in the risk assessment | Content | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tip-over, falling load | Load chart, centre of gravity, driving on ramps and bends, fork height | Demonstration on site, load chart reading exercise |
| 2 | Striking pedestrians, blind spots | Pedestrian walkways in the warehouse, junctions, reversing, loading dock | Site tour, blind spot demonstration |
| 3 | Battery charging or fuel, emergencies | Charging area rules, fire and spill scenario, assembly point | Demonstration in the charging area, short scenario exercise |
This content does not replace the forklift operator certificate; the operator certificate is a matter of vocational training (forklift operator certificate). Topic 4 of OHS training ensures that the operator knows the risks in this warehouse. Our articles on the forklift operator daily check and the warehouse forklift and pedestrian traffic plan can serve as sources for training material on daily checks and traffic arrangements.
Example 2: a 3-lesson-hour plan for welders
Using the same method, for the welding section of a metalworking workshop:
| Lesson hour | Line in the risk assessment | Content | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Welding fumes, ventilation | Correct position of local exhaust ventilation, which jobs require respiratory protection | Demonstration in the welding booth |
| 2 | Electric shock, UV and burns | Attaching the earth clamp, cable checks, use of screens and masks | Practice at the machine |
| 3 | Fire, gas cylinders, hot work | Securing cylinders, flashback arrestor, hot work permit, fire watch | Permit form completion exercise, extinguisher location |
For details of the risks of welding work, see our article on welders' occupational safety risks, and for the permit system, our article on the hot work permit. In the very hazardous class, the same plan is extended to 4 lesson hours; the extra hour can be devoted to a workplace-specific risk such as welding in confined spaces or the chemicals on a coating line. This table can also be duplicated for each piece of equipment requiring machine-specific training; the Regulation requires the duration to be reasonably increased when topics are added to those in Annex 1 (Art. 9/6).
Induction training, on-the-job training and topic 4
Three concepts are often confused. The difference between them also determines who can deliver them:
| Topic | Induction training | Topic 4 (within basic training) | On-the-job training |
|---|---|---|---|
| When? | Before starting work | Together with basic training, within 3 months of starting work at the latest | Continuously, in the flow of work |
| Duration | At least 2 hours; not counted towards basic training | At least 2, 3 or 4 lesson hours depending on class | No duration requirement |
| Who delivers it? | The employer, specialist, physician or an appointed knowledgeable and experienced employee (Art. 7/4) | The specialist, physician or the institutions listed in Art. 10 | Foreman, experienced employee |
| Documentation | Record, in the personnel file | Attendance record, exam, basic training certificate | The workplace's own record |
On-the-job training, that is, the foreman showing the new employee the work at the bench, is a valuable practice and can be documented in the record as part of induction training. However, it does not replace topic 4. You can use an experienced operator for the practical demonstration; the person recorded as the trainer, however, must be one of those listed in Art. 10 of the Regulation. For short safety talks at the start of the shift, see our article on toolbox talks.
Assessment, records and updating
Before basic training, employees' level is determined, and at the end of training an assessment is carried out. Those who score at least 60 out of 100 in the exam pass; those who fail may take the exam up to two more times, and if they still do not pass, they attend basic training again (Art. 16). In topic 4, carrying out short practical checks for observable objectives alongside the written exam shows the effect of training better.
For face-to-face training, the attendance record contains the location and date of the training, the names and signatures of the participants and trainer, the duration and the topic headings (Art. 17/1).
The 2026 base administrative fine for not providing training at all is 8,980 TL per employee; you can see current amounts with our OHS administrative fines tool.
Topic 4 also comes up again independently of the basic training calendar:
- Absence of more than six months: A returning employee is given refresher training on topic 4 (Art. 18).
- An employee changing workplace but doing the same job: The whole of basic training is not repeated, only topic 4 is delivered; induction training is also given separately (Art. 25).
- Change of work, equipment or technology: Training on the new risks is given without waiting for the refresher interval (Art. 14/3).
In our OHS training service, we prepare topic 4 content separately for each employee group by deriving it from the lines in your risk assessment document, and deliver it face to face and in practical form. For businesses in Bursa and the surrounding provinces, you can use our OHS calendar tool to track training and refresher dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can topic group 4 training be delivered remotely?
In less hazardous workplaces it can be delivered remotely, face to face or in blended form. In hazardous and very hazardous workplaces it must be delivered face to face.
How many hours should be devoted to job-specific risk training?
Within the total basic training time, at least 2 lesson hours are allocated in less hazardous workplaces, at least 3 in hazardous workplaces and at least 4 in very hazardous workplaces. One lesson hour consists of at least 45 minutes of teaching and a 15-minute break.
Does on-the-job training given by the foreman replace topic 4?
No. On-the-job training can be documented in the record as part of induction training, but topic 4 of basic training is delivered by the persons and institutions listed in Art. 10 of the Regulation.
Does an experienced new hire need topic 4 again?
Yes. For an employee who completed basic training at a previous workplace and does the same job, the whole of basic training is not repeated, but topic 4 is delivered according to the risks of the new workplace. Checking previous training certificates is the employer's responsibility.
Induction, basic and refresher training in line with the 2026 regulation; on your premises, with examples from your own site and fully documented.
Bursa SİSTEMER OSGB Technical Team — written from the field experience of our OHS specialists and workplace physicians. Legal information is valid as of the publication/update date; contact us for an assessment specific to your business.