Here is the ergonomics legislation from
Italy
The information here was collated from official online sources by Ergo Global ergonomists. All information is for general purposes and cannot be considered 1-to-1 legal advice. Ergo Global disclaim any liability relating to the information provided on this page.
To Note
Italy does not have a single “ergonomics act,” but ergonomics regulation is integrated into its Royal Decree establishing Book VIII.
Page last updated: 30/01/2026
The Duties of
The Employer
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Workplace analysis - The employer, when carrying out the risk assessment referred to in Article 28 of Legislative Decree No.81/2008, shall analyse the workplaces with particular regard to:
a) risks to sight and eyes;
b) problems related to posture and physical or mental fatigue;
c) ergonomic and environmental hygiene conditions. - Risk reduction - The employer shall take appropriate measures to remedy the risks identified on the basis of the assessments referred to in paragraph 1, taking into account the sum or combination of the incidence of the risks identified.
- Minimum requirements - The employer shall organise and prepare the workplaces referred to in Article 173 of Legislative Decree No.81/2008, in accordance with the minimum requirements set out in Annex XXXIV.
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Breaks - The worker has the right to a break in his activity by means of breaks or change of activity.
In the absence of a contractual provision concerning the interruption referred to in paragraph 1, Article 174 of Legislative Decree No.81/2008, the worker shall in any case be entitled to a fifteen-minute break for every one hundred and twenty minutes of continuous application to the display screen.
The methods and duration of interruptions may be established temporarily at individual level if the competent doctor shows the need.
The break is considered to all intents and purposes an integral part of working hours and, as such, cannot be absorbed within agreements that provide for the reduction of overall working hours. -
Health examinations - Workers shall be subject to the health surveillance referred to in Article 41 of Legislative Decree No.81/2008, with particular reference to:
a) risks to sight and eyes;
b) risks to the musculoskeletal system.
Except in special cases requiring a different frequency determined by the competent doctor, the frequency of check-ups shall be every two years for workers classified as fit with prescriptions or limitations and for workers who have reached the age of fifty; five years in other cases. - Corrective devices - The employer shall provide workers with special visual correction devices at its own expense, depending on the activity carried out, when the outcome of the examinations referred to in paragraphs 1, 3 and 4 shows that they are necessary and it is not possible to use normal correction devices.
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Information and training - In compliance with the general provisions referred to in Article 18 of Legislative Decree No.81/2008, the employer must:
a) provide workers with information, in particular on the measures applicable to the workplace on the basis of the analysis of the workplace referred to in Article 174, on the methods of carrying out the activity, and on the protection of eyes and eyesight;
b) ensure that workers are adequately trained, in particular with regard to the provisions of paragraph 1, letter a).
Refer to Annex XXXIV of Legislative Decree No.81/2008 on minimum requirements for equipment and environment, including screen, keyboard, work surface, work seat, laptop, lighting, and noise.
The Duties of
The Employer
🏠 for Remote Work
- Installation and maintenance - The employer must provide for the installation and maintenance of the tools needed for the worker to perform their duties.
- Training - The worker is entitled to the same training as the company’s in-person workers, and additionally training specific to teleworking and its related tools.
- Monitoring - The work performed by the teleworker can be monitored either electronically or by accessing the chosen workplace. If the office is in the employee’s home, they must give access to their employer.
- Rights - Teleworkers have the same collective rights as in-person workers. All rights and responsibilities related to health and safety at work remain unchanged for both parties.
The Duties of
The Employee
- Health and safety - Every worker must take care of his or her own health and safety and that of other persons present at the workplace who are affected by his or her actions or omissions, in accordance with his or her training, instructions and the means provided by the employer.
- Participate - Workers must contribute, together with the employer, managers and supervisors, to the fulfilment of the obligations provided for the protection of health and safety in the workplace.
- Follow instructions - Workers must observe the provisions and instructions given by the employer, managers and supervisors, for the purposes of collective and individual protection.
- Correctly use work equipment - Workers must correctly use work equipment, substances and dangerous mixtures, means of transport, as well as safety devices
- Use PPE - Workers must use the protective equipment made available to them appropriately.
- Report deficiencies - Workers must immediately report to the employer, manager or supervisor any deficiencies in the means and devices referred to above, as well as any dangerous condition of which they become aware, working directly, in case of urgency, within the scope of their powers and possibilities and without prejudice to the obligation referred to below to eliminate or reduce situations of serious and imminent danger, informing the workers' safety representative.
- Do not modify - Workers must not remove or modify the safety, signalling or control devices without authorisation.
- Do not step outside of competence - Workers must not carry out on their own initiative operations or manoeuvres that are not within their competence or that may compromise their own safety or that of other workers.
- Training participation - Workers must participate in training and training programs organized by the employer.
- Health check participation - Workers must undergo the health checks provided for by this legislative decree or in any case ordered by the competent doctor.
What's next?
Step 1
Carry out an ergonomics audit following the regulations above.
Step 2
List out the gaps in your ergonomics policy.
Step 3
Use our ergonomics starter pack to address those gaps.
