In brief
Under the regulation published on 2 April 2026, every worker must receive at least 2 hours of face-to-face, hands-on training before starting work, and basic training must be completed within 3 months at the latest. Refresher training is at least 8 lesson hours in every hazard class, and basic training ends with an exam passed with at least 60 out of 100. Training and certificates obtained under the 2013 regulation remain valid.
What changed on 2 April 2026?
The Regulation on the Procedures and Principles of Occupational Health and Safety Training for Workers was published in Official Gazette No. 33212 of 2 April 2026 and entered into force the same day. The previous regulation, published in Official Gazette No. 28648 of 15 May 2013, was repealed. In April 2026 the Ministry also published an implementation guide to explain how it is to be applied.
The legal basis has not changed: under Art. 17 of Law No. 6331 on Occupational Health and Safety, training is given before starting work, on a change of workplace or job, when equipment or technology changes, and is repeated at regular intervals. The cost of training cannot be passed on to the worker, and time spent in training counts as working time; if it exceeds the weekly working time, it is treated as overtime. While keeping this framework, the new regulation changed practice significantly in four respects:
- Induction training has become a separate, mandatory stage.
- Refresher training has been set at a minimum of 8 lesson hours in every hazard class.
- An exam with a pass mark has been added at the end of basic training.
- The limits and record-keeping requirements for distance learning have been clarified.
Comparing the old and new regulations
| Topic | 2013 regulation | 2026 regulation |
|---|---|---|
| Basic training duration | Less hazardous 8, hazardous 12, very hazardous 16 hours | Same: 8 / 12 / 16 lesson hours; a lesson hour is at least 45 min teaching + 15 min break |
| Refresher frequency | Very hazardous every year, hazardous every 2 years, less hazardous every 3 years | Same |
| Refresher duration | No separate refresher duration was defined; the 8 / 12 / 16-hour minimums were the general rule for training | At least 8 lesson hours in every class; at least 2 / 3 / 4 hours for topic group 4 |
| Before starting work | Job- and workplace-specific risks were explained; no minimum duration was defined | At least 2 hours of face-to-face, hands-on induction training; documented with a signed record |
| Distance learning | In the 2013 text, for general topics only | Topic groups 1–3 can be delivered remotely; topic 4 is face-to-face in hazardous and very hazardous workplaces |
| Assessment | The effectiveness of training was evaluated; there was no pass mark | Pre-training level assessment and an exam; at least 60/100, at most 2 resits |
| Worker changing workplace in the same job | The certificate requirement in the Law applied | The certificate is checked; only topic 4 is repeated and induction training is given |
Induction training: on day one, on site, at least 2 hours
Under Art. 7 of the regulation, the employer ensures that all workers, including apprentices and interns, receive induction training before they actually start work. The training lasts at least 2 hours per worker and is face-to-face and hands-on. It does not replace basic training and does not count towards basic training hours.
According to the Ministry's guide, induction training is not vocational training; it aims to show on site the risks specific to the job the worker will do, the equipment they will use and the area they will work in. The content is built around the following topics:
- Job description and area of responsibility
- The machines, equipment and tools they will use
- Physical, chemical, biological and ergonomic risks arising from the work environment
- Workplace-specific OHS rules
- Emergency procedures and safe working instructions
For a forklift operator starting at a logistics warehouse in Bursa, this means being shown on site the traffic flow inside the warehouse, blind spots, rack capacities and pedestrian walkways. In an office, working with display screen equipment, ergonomics, escape routes and the assembly point are explained. The training can be given by the employer, the OHS specialist, the workplace physician or a knowledgeable and experienced worker appointed by the employer. At the end, a signed record is drawn up and signed by the trainer, the worker and the employer or their representative, and placed in the personnel file.
Basic training: within 3 months, in four topic groups
Basic training is given as soon as possible after starting work, and this period may in no case exceed three months (Art. 8). The minimum durations are 8 lesson hours in less hazardous, 12 in hazardous and 16 in very hazardous workplaces (Art. 13). A lesson hour consists of at least 45 minutes of teaching and a 15-minute break; durations may not be reduced, but can be increased where necessary.
The topics are grouped into four in Annex 1:
- General topics: labour legislation, legal rights and responsibilities, workplace cleanliness and order, legal consequences of work accidents and occupational diseases.
- Health topics: causes of occupational diseases, principles of prevention, biological and psychosocial risk factors, first aid, addictive substances and technology addiction.
- Technical topics: chemical, physical and ergonomic risk factors, manual handling, flammability and explosion, fire, work equipment, display screen equipment, electricity, PPE, safety signs, emergencies and evacuation.
- Job- and workplace-specific risks: in hazardous and very hazardous classes, based on the risk assessment, the emergency plan and the explosion protection document if any; in the less hazardous class, covering the general risks of the activity.
The time allocated to topic 4 within the total is at least 2 (less hazardous), 3 (hazardous) and 4 (very hazardous) lesson hours. Those who can deliver basic training are listed exhaustively in Art. 10; first among them are the OHS specialist and workplace physician providing OHS services at the workplace. The trainer's expertise must match the topic they teach.
Distance learning: what can be delivered remotely?
The first three topic groups in Annex 1 can be delivered remotely, face-to-face or by a blended method in all workplaces (Art. 12). Topic 4 can also be delivered remotely in less hazardous workplaces; in hazardous and very hazardous workplaces it must be delivered face-to-face.
When the distance method is chosen, the process must be traceable: log-in and log-out times, completion rates, training duration and assessment results are recorded and reported when needed. The Ministry's guide expects a system that prevents training from being completed passively by fast-forwarding, switching tabs or closing the window, and that requires questions or interaction at intervals. Simply showing a video or sending a document is not considered sufficient.
A sensible arrangement at an automotive supplier plant working in shifts is this: general, health and technical topics delivered remotely and outside shift hours; topic 4 on the line, at the machine and in small groups.
Exam and certificate
The employer establishes workers' level of knowledge before basic training. At the end of the training, a remote, face-to-face or blended exam is held. Those scoring at least 60 out of 100 pass; those who fail are given at most two resits, and if they still do not pass, they take basic training again (Art. 16).
The guide also states that documents under the regulation can be signed with an electronic signature and archived electronically. It further recommends evaluating the effect of training through work accident and near miss statistics, observations of unsafe behaviour and worker feedback.
Refresher training and special cases
| Situation | What is done? | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Periodic refresher | Very hazardous every year, hazardous every 2 years, less hazardous every 3 years; at least 8 lesson hours, with at least 2 / 3 / 4 hours for topic 4 | Art. 14 |
| Change of job, equipment or technology | Additional training without waiting for the refresher period | Law Art. 17/1 |
| Absence of more than 6 months | Refresher training on topic 4 before returning to work | Art. 18 |
| Work accident or occupational disease | On return to work, before starting, additional training on the causes, means of prevention and safe working methods | Art. 19; Law Art. 17/4 |
| Changing workplace in the same job | The previous certificate is checked; only topic 4 is given, and induction training is still mandatory | Art. 25 |
The guide also reminds readers that support staff and employee representatives must receive training specific to their duties, that subcontractors' own employers are responsible for training subcontractor workers, and that the principal employer will check these certificates. For additional training after an accident, see also our article on the first 72 hours after a work accident.
Transitional provision and planning tips
Under Provisional Art. 1, training given under the old regulation remains valid; basic training certificates remain valid for the refresher periods in Art. 14. Training that had been given but not documented had to be documented within one month of publication; that period expired at the beginning of May 2026. In other words, you do not need to reissue the certificates you hold, but you do need to plan the next refresher under the new rules.
A few practical tips that will help with planning:
- Add the 2-hour block to the recruitment flow. On site on the first day with the shift supervisor and the specialist; with a ready-made template for the signed record.
- Plan basic training in monthly groups. To avoid missing the three-month limit, gather each month's new starters into one group.
- Split topic 4 by job group. The risks of administrative staff and a press operator are not the same.
- Keep the calendar in one place. Enter refresher dates in the OHS renewal calendar; see the hours required with the obligation calculator.
The 2026 basic fine for failing to provide training is 8,980 TL per worker, and no increase is applied to this per-worker fine. At the workplaces we serve, our assigned specialists and physicians deliver OHS training with site-specific examples. For the certificate additionally required in hazardous work, see our vocational training certificate guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the training certificates we obtained under the old regulation valid?
Yes. Under the transitional provision, training given under the 2013 regulation is valid, and basic training certificates can be used until the refresher period for your hazard class expires. The next refresher training, however, is carried out under the new rules, i.e. at least 8 lesson hours with the minimum durations for topic 4.
Can induction training be delivered remotely?
No. Induction training must last at least 2 hours and be face-to-face and hands-on. It does not replace basic training; basic training is completed separately, within three months at the latest.
Is refresher training also 8 hours in a very hazardous workplace?
Yes, refresher training is at least 8 lesson hours in all hazard classes. However, at least 4 hours of this are devoted to job- and workplace-specific risks, and in very hazardous workplaces this part is delivered face-to-face.
What happens to a worker who fails the exam?
A worker who scores below 60 in the first exam is given at most two resits. If they still do not pass, they take basic training again. Before a resit, it is good practice to go over the topics they struggled with together with the worker; if there are literacy or language difficulties, take care to arrange the training and the exam in a way the worker can understand.
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.