A new strategic and operational roadmap for improving worker health and preventing occupational risks in Fraance has been launched, following a collaborative process led by the State and involving social and institutional partners. The 2026-2030 Plan for Occupational Health (PST) was presented to the National Council for the Orientation of Working Conditions by the French Minister of Labour and Solidarity on 5 June.
In addition to preventing occupational risks and promoting a healthy work culture, the ‘Plan for Occupational Health’ places particular emphasis on preserving health throughout working life. One of the objectives is to better support workers facing the risks of job loss or burnout.
This would be achieved through a series of actions, such as prescribing therapeutic part-time work to promote the continued employment of employees with chronic illnesses; or using a risk assessment index for job loss (IRDP).
This new roadmap reflects the Franch Government’s five main priorities in this area, namely:
- The prevention of serious and fatal workplace accidents – particularly among young people and temporary workers – through initial and continuing training in occupational health and strengthening their induction into companies;
- Promoting women’s health at work, in particular through gender-differentiated occupational risk assessment, adapting personal protective equipment and combating sexual and gender-based violence at work;
- Taking into account emerging issues in occupational health, by providing employers and occupational health and safety services with the tools to deal with the risks associated with climate change and addictive behaviors;
- Preventing absenteeismthrough prevention and support for stakeholders;
- Promoting mental health and preventing psychosocial risks, by strengthening mental health first aid training in the workplace and deploying the charter of commitments launched in 2025.
Anticipating and managing crises and emerging risks is also a key focus of this new plan. Improving monitoring, alert, and crisis management systems in the workplace would involve strengthening the national network for vigilance and prevention of occupational and environmental illnesses (RNV3PE).
This new strategic plan also emphasises academic research and supports the development of regional university chairs specialising in occupational health and safety. “Ensuring good working conditions, especially during times of major transformation, is an undeniable achievement and prerequisite. This means going further in terms of prevention and broadening the range of occupational risks to be considered,” noted Jean-Pierre Farandou, Minister of Labour and Solidarity, in the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.
He said, in this regard, that he is mainly thinking of mental health at work, women’s health – including the issue of combating gender-based and sexual violence in the workplace – “and the protection of new employees, particularly young people who are by definition more exposed to the risk of accidents”.
