Course and certificate
Occupational Safety and Health: Basic Training (Portugal)
For anyone working in Portugal who wants to learn the basics of occupational safety and health. Nine plain lessons on the law, the duties of employer and worker, safety and health services and representatives, safety risks, noise and substances, ergonomics and psychosocial risks, protective equipment and signs, fires and accidents at work, then a test of 25 questions.
- Jurisdiction
- 🇵🇹 Portugal
- Languages
- Português, English, Español, Română, Українська
- Lessons
- 9
- Time needed
- About 50 minutes for the lessons and the test
- Assessment
- 25 questions, pass mark 80%
- Refresher
- Recommended after 2 years
- Content updated
- 27 October 2026
- Certificate fee
- €15.00, payable after passing
01Who this course is for
- People starting a job at a company who want to understand their safety rights and duties
- Workers in warehouses, shops, hospitality, cleaning, industry and services
- Office staff who want to know about ergonomics, screen work and psychosocial risks
- Team leaders and small business owners who want to give their team basic training
- Job seekers who want to show that they have completed the course
02Syllabus
- 01The law and the basic concepts
- 02Duties of the employer and the worker
- 03OSH services, health and representatives
- 04Safety risks and workplaces
- 05Noise, substances and other agents
- 06Ergonomics and psychosocial risks
- 07Protective equipment and signs
- 08Fires, emergencies and evacuation
- 09Accidents at work and first aid
03Assessment
25 multiple-choice questions drawn from the whole course. The pass mark is 80%. The test is free and can be retaken as often as needed; wrong answers point to the lesson to read again.
04The certificate
- With your name, your score and the date you passed.
- A unique number, recorded in our register.
- Your employer or an inspector scans it to see that it is genuine.
- Download it, print it or show it on your phone.
05Sources
The course follows the published guidance below. We are not affiliated with the bodies that publish it.
- Lei n.º 102/2009, art. 15.º, n.º 9
- Decreto-Lei n.º 50/2005
- Decreto-Lei n.º 141/95
- Decreto-Lei n.º 348/93
- Lei n.º 102/2009, art. 108.º
- Lei n.º 102/2009, art. 15.º, n.º 2
06Questions
Do I need a course certified by DGERT to work?
In general, no. There is no single safety and health course that the law requires of every worker. Lei n.º 102/2009 (Law 102/2009, article 20) requires the employer to give training suited to the job and to high-risk activities, and the Código do Trabalho (Labour Code, article 131) gives every worker the right to at least 40 hours of continuing training a year, organised by the employer. DGERT (the Directorate-General for Employment and Industrial Relations) certifies training providers, but this course is not delivered by a certified provider. Some activities have their own mandatory training, such as working at height, driving forklift trucks or high-risk activities. This course does not cover them. If in doubt, workers should ask their employer or the company's safety and health service.
So what is this certificate?
It is a certificate of completion: it shows that you finished the course and passed the test. It is not a course certified by DGERT or a regulated qualification, and it is not accredited by any public body. The employer decides whether this training meets the needs of the job.
What does the employer have to do besides this course?
The course gives the general principles. The employer must still carry out the risk assessment of their workplace, give information and instructions specific to the job, organise the occupational safety and health service and health surveillance, train those responsible for first aid, fire-fighting and evacuation, consult the workers or their representatives, and keep the records to show to the ACT (the Authority for Working Conditions).
Does this course meet the 40 hours of continuing training a year?
It was not designed to. Article 131 of the Código do Trabalho provides for at least 40 hours of continuing training a year, organised by the employer. This course is basic training of a few hours, and it is for the employer to decide whether, and to what extent, it fits their training plan.
Is it enough for working on construction sites, at height or with dangerous machinery?
Not on its own. It is a general foundation. Activities such as construction, working at height, driving forklift trucks or working with hazardous chemicals have their own rules and training, which the employer must provide.
How long does it take?
Most people finish the lessons and the 25-question test in about two to three hours. You can stop and continue later on the same device.
What if I fail the test?
You pay nothing. You see which lessons are worth reviewing and can retake the test as many times as you need.
When do I pay, and how much?
Only after you pass: €15 for the certificate. The course and the test are free.
How can my employer or the ACT check the certificate?
Every certificate has a number and a QR code. When it is scanned, or when the number is entered on our verification page, your name, the course and the date you passed appear.
How long is the certificate valid?
The certificate states a validity of 24 months, because safety rules and knowledge should be reviewed regularly. The law sets no period for this basic training, and the employer may ask for updates as often as they see fit.
The certificate confirms that you completed this course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification; your employer decides whether this training meets their requirements.