Amendment to the Labor Inspection Organization Regulations, July 2026
Aug 26, 2026
By: Itzick Simon
Regulations for providing information and training employees – implications for liability, risk management and insurance.
On July 14, 2026, an amendment to the Labor Inspection Organization Regulations (Provision of Information and Training of Workers) was published, which will enter into force on October 16, 2026 - exactly the same date that the new safety regulations for construction work, which are the focus of this book, enter into force.
Ostensibly, these are two separate sets of regulations. However, a broader examination shows that they are part of a single regulatory process, which seeks to raise the level of safety in the construction industry by expanding responsibility, strengthening control mechanisms, improving the quality of training, and deepening documentation requirements.
While construction safety regulations mainly deal with the division of responsibility between the client, the construction operator, and the project officials, regulations on the provision of information and training of workers focus on the manner in which information is conveyed to workers, the manner in which training is carried out, and the manner in which it will be possible to prove that it was indeed carried out as required.
It is important to clarify at the outset that this amendment does not expand the responsibility of the work orderer beyond that set out in the Construction Safety Regulations. Most of the obligations set out in the Regulations for the Provision of Information and Training of Workers are imposed on the workplace holder, as broadly defined in the Regulations (see Appendix C, p. 93). However, since all parties operate on the same construction site and affect the level of safety, it is of great importance that developers, work orderers and project managers are also familiar with the changes and their implications.
The purpose of this chapter is not to repeat the wording of the regulations or analyze them from a legal perspective. Its purpose is to present the main changes, explain their practical significance, and point out their implications in terms of liability, risk management, and insurance.
For convenience, this chapter refers only to construction sites, which are the subject of this book. In the vast majority of projects, the party on whom most of the duties detailed in this chapter are actually imposed is the construction operator (the main contractor), who usually also serves as the occupier of the site for the purposes of these regulations. Where the regulations impose a specific duty on another party, this will be expressly stated.
The real drama is not “another form” – but a change in perception
מי שקורא את התקנות לראשונה עלול להתרשם כי עיקר השינוי מתבטא בהוספת הצהרות, טפסים, אישורים ופנקסי הדרכה. להבנתי, זוהי הסתכלות חלקית בלבד.
הדרמה האמיתית היא שינוי תפיסתי באופן שבו המחוקק רואה את מערך ההדרכות במקום העבודה.
עד היום התמקדו התקנות בעיקר בשאלה האם בוצעה הדרכה לעובדים. מעתה, הדגש עובר גם לשאלה: כיצד בוצעה ההדרכה, מי העביר אותה, האם היה בעל הכשרה מתאימה, האם ניתנה בשפה שהעובד מבין, כיצד תועדה והאם ניתן יהיה להוכיח את כל אלה גם חודשים ואף שנים לאחר ביצועה.
זהו מעבר מתפיסה המתמקדת בביצוע פעולה, לתפיסה המחייבת גם יכולת להוכיח כי הפעולה בוצעה כנדרש.
מנקודת מבט של ניהול סיכונים, מדובר באחד השינוי ים המשמעותיים ביותר שנעשו בתחום זה בשנים האחרונות. ההדרכה אינה נתפסת עוד כפעולה נקודתית שיש לבצע כדי לעמוד בדרישות הדין, אלא כחלק ממערך כולל של אחריות, בקרה ותיעוד, אשר עשוי לעמוד במרכזו של בירור משפטי לאחר תאונת עבודה.
For the first time, the regulations are not satisfied with the instructor's identity - but require proof of his professional suitability for the subject of instruction.
The amendment defines for the first time who is a "suitable professional" who is authorized to provide training to employees. It is not enough for a person to have a general background in the field of safety or extensive professional experience. They must have experience, skills, and training appropriate to the specific subject for which the training is being conducted, and sign a detailed declaration that will be attached to the training log.
This requirement reflects a new concept, according to which there is a direct connection between the content of the training and the professional suitability of the person delivering it. The more complex the risk, the greater the importance that the training be delivered by someone who is deeply familiar with that field.
From a practical perspective, it is recommended not to be satisfied with accepting the signed declaration. It is important to ensure that the issues about which the professional declares actually correspond to the content of the training provided to the employees, and that it will be possible to present, when necessary, the professional basis on which his declaration is based.
The meaning in terms of responsibility and risk management
After a work accident, the question may be asked not only whether training was provided, but also whether it was provided by a person who can be shown to have had appropriate training for the subject for which the accident occurred.
The identity of the instructor
No longer formal training – but training aimed at ensuring that the employee understood the risks to which he was exposed.
The amendment states that the default will be face-to-face training, conducted in a language the employee understands, or with the assistance of appropriate translation means. In doing so, the legislator seeks to emphasize that safety training is not a general lecture or one-way delivery of information, but rather a process aimed at ensuring that the employee understands the risks involved in his work and how to deal with them.
Although the regulations allow in certain cases to conduct training online or via a learning platform, this option is subject to clear conditions and requires the approval of the safety supervisor. Furthermore, in construction and engineering construction work that requires notification under Section 192 of the Occupational Safety Ordinance, this format cannot be sufficient, and training must be conducted face-to-face.
The practical meaning is that many organizations will be required to reexamine the manner in which training is conducted, its suitability for the nature of the work, and its ability to achieve its goal - creating a true understanding of the risks, not just documenting their mere existence.
How to conduct the training
It is not enough for the employee to be present – he must understand the guidance given to him.
The amendment gives explicit expression for the first time to the requirement that the training itself be conducted in a language that the employee understands, or with the assistance of appropriate translation means. In doing so, the legislator seeks to ensure that the employee is not only present at the training, but also understands the risks to which he is exposed and the safe ways of working.
This provision is particularly relevant in the construction industry, where workers from different countries are employed, who speak a variety of languages and sometimes do not speak Hebrew.
From a practical perspective, it is no longer enough to simply translate a document or have the employee sign a participation form. It is necessary to ensure that the training itself is adapted to their language and that there is a real opportunity for dialogue, questions, and clarifications.
The meaning in terms of responsibility and risk management
When there is a dispute over whether an employee understood the training provided, simply having an attendance list may not be enough. The more the training is tailored to the employee’s language and clearly documented, the more complete a picture of how it was delivered can be presented.
Language of instruction
For the first time, a dedicated arrangement was established for training foreign workers in the construction industry.
The legislator chose to dedicate a special temporary order to foreign workers employed in the construction industry. This decision reflects the recognition that the characteristics of their employment, employee turnover, language barriers, and cultural differences require different arrangements than those used for other workers.
The regulations require the construction operator to ensure that a foreign worker undergoes additional training of at least eight hours , through a training institution that has been authorized for this purpose, and to maintain a dedicated appendix to the training log that includes all the details stipulated in the regulations.
This training does not replace other safety training, but is in addition to it. It was also determined that the employee will not bear the cost of the training, and the training time will be considered part of his working hours.
From a practical perspective, this is a requirement that requires the establishment of a mechanism to control and monitor entry dates into Israel, training dates, and accompanying documents.
The meaning in terms of responsibility and risk management
In projects where foreign workers are employed through subcontractors, it is recommended to arrange in advance the reporting mechanisms, presentation of permits, and document control. This does not transfer the responsibility established by law, but it does reduce information gaps and enable more effective supervision.
Foreign workers
Not only whether training was conducted – but whether it can be proven how it was conducted and by whom.
In many cases, the discussion after a work accident does not focus on a single question, but on the entirety of the actions taken before the incident. Along with examining how the work was performed, the division of responsibilities between those in charge, and the implementation of the safety plan, the training provided to employees will also be examined.
Among other things, questions may arise such as: Was the training appropriate to the nature of the work? Was it provided by an appropriate professional? Was it delivered in a language that the employee understands? Were all the required documents kept? And can a complete documentary sequence of the training be presented?
Hence the importance of the amendment. It is not only intended to improve the quality of training, but also to create an organized system that will make it possible to show how the organization has acted to reduce risks and protect its employees.
The meaning in terms of liability, risk management and insurance
Failure to comply with regulatory requirements does not, in itself, lead to a single conclusion or automatic legal outcome. However, the quality of the training and documentation system may be of significant importance in examining the conduct of the parties involved, in managing the legal process, and in the ability to demonstrate that the organization acted in accordance with the standard expected of it.
Summary Table 1 - The main changes - and their practical significance
What will be tested after a work accident?
It is important to clarify that regulations for providing information and training employees do not expand the responsibility of the person commissioning the work and do not, in themselves, impose on him the obligations detailed in this chapter.
Most of the obligations set forth in the regulations are imposed on the workplace occupier, as broadly defined in the regulations (see Appendix C, p. 93). In construction projects, the construction operator will, in most cases, also be the workplace occupier, and therefore most of the obligations detailed in this chapter will apply to him.
However, the identity of the workplace holder is not determined by the title of the entity alone, but according to the definitions of the regulations, the circumstances of the project and the manner in which it is actually managed. In certain circumstances, the owner of the workplace, the client of the work or another entity may also be considered a workplace holder, if the conditions set out in the regulations are met. In such a case, they may bear the obligations that the regulations impose on the workplace holder, all in accordance with the provisions of the regulations and the circumstances of the case.
Alongside this, the amendment also includes provisions that explicitly impose obligations on the construction operation, particularly with regard to the additional training of foreign workers and the management of the accompanying documentation.
Who do the new duties apply to?
Why is it important for entrepreneurs and job seekers to also be familiar with the regulations?
Although most of the direct obligations are not usually imposed on the client, they do have an impact on him. Developers, clients and project managers are required to familiarize themselves with the new requirements, understand their implications and ensure that the conditions that will ensure their actual implementation are met within the framework of the contracts, reporting and control mechanisms established in the project.
For convenience and in keeping with the subject matter of this book, which deals with safety regulations in construction work, this chapter focuses primarily on the obligations imposed on the construction operator. However, the significance of these provisions is broader, and they also concern risk management, control mechanisms, and communications between all parties involved in the project.
Summary Table No. 2 - Recommended preparations for the regulations to come into force
From the perspective of liability, risk management, and insurance, training and documentation requirements should not be regarded as merely administrative or technical requirements. They constitute an integral part of the safety management framework and of the organization’s ability to demonstrate that it has acted in accordance with its legal obligations.
The more systematically the training framework is planned, implemented, and documented, the stronger the organization’s ability to present a complete factual record of its conduct in the event of an inspection, an investigation into a workplace accident, or legal proceedings.
However, it is important to emphasize that non-compliance with a regulatory requirement does not, in itself, automatically lead to a determination regarding legal liability or the scope of insurance coverage. These issues will always be examined in accordance with the applicable law, the circumstances of the event, the causal connection, and the terms of the relevant insurance policy.
Accordingly, the organization’s training framework, its documentation, and the manner in which it is managed should be viewed as part of the organization’s overall risk-management framework, rather than merely as a means of complying with regulatory requirements.
The meaning in terms of liability, risk management and insurance
At first glance, the amendment to the Workers' Information and Training Regulations may appear to be an administrative change, dealing with forms, declarations, training books, and documentation instructions. However, a broader examination shows that this is another stage in the comprehensive safety reform in the construction industry, which aims to raise the level of management, supervision, and control on work sites.
In my understanding, the main points of the change can be distilled into a few key insights:
1. The emphasis shifts from the mere existence of the training to its quality and the ability to prove how it was carried out.
2. The identity of the instructor, his professional suitability, and the manner in which the training is conducted become an integral part of the risk management system.
3. Documentation is no longer an ancillary administrative action, but a central component in the ability to present a complete factual picture of how the site is conducted.
4. Training that is not adapted to the employee's language or the nature of his work may not achieve its goal, even if it was carried out formally.
5. The new arrangement regarding foreign workers requires dedicated preparation, a monitoring mechanism, and organized documentation.
6. Even when direct responsibility for carrying out the training lies with another party, it is appropriate for entrepreneurs, work orderers, and project managers to ensure that the communications system and control mechanisms in the project make it possible to verify that the requirements are implemented in practice.
The message to managers
The construction safety regulations and the regulations for providing information and training to workers do not deal with the same subject, but they are integrated into a single safety management system.
One determines how the project should be managed and the division of responsibilities between the responsible parties. The other determines how to ensure that employees have received the required information and training, and how this can be proven.
Therefore, preparation for October 16, 2026, cannot focus on just one set of regulations. An organization that examines the accountability structure but ignores the training and documentation system, or vice versa, may discover that while it has met some of the requirements, it has left significant gaps in its risk management system.
What is really important to take away from the correction?
In conclusion
Construction safety reform is not limited to adding more officials or expanding the responsibilities of one party or another. It expresses a new concept of safety management, according to which responsibility, control, training, documentation, and proof of performance are complementary parts of the same system.
The earlier, more systematic, and coordinated the organization's preparation among all parties involved, the greater the chance of implementing the regulatory requirements effectively, reducing unnecessary exposures, and contributing, first and foremost, to protecting human life.
Ultimately, the purpose of the regulations is not to create more obligations or more documents, but to ensure that each party involved in the project understands their responsibilities, fulfills their role, and contributes to creating a safer work environment.
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