Frequency of training for managers and specialists in environmental safety

The legislation of the Russian Federation establishes requirements for the training of managers and specialists whose activities may have a negative impact on the environment.
Basic regulations
- Federal Law No. 7-FZ of 10.01.2002 “On Environmental Protection” (art. 73) requires that managers and specialists who make decisions in the field of economic activity with a possible negative impact on nature have appropriate training in the field of ecology and environmental protection.
- Federal Law No. 89-FZ of 06/24/1998 “On Production and Consumption Waste” (art. 15) obliges employees who have access to the collection, transportation, processing, disposal and neutralization of waste of hazard classes I-IV to undergo vocational training or additional vocational education.
- Federal Law No. 273-FZ of December 29, 2012 “On Education in the Russian Federation” (Article 76) regulates the procedure for additional professional education, including advanced training and professional retraining programs.
- The Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation dated 07/01/2013 No. 499 establishes the minimum duration of advanced training programs (at least 16 hours) and professional retraining (at least 250 hours).
- The Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation dated 12/18/2002 No. 868 contains an approximate training program for persons working with hazardous waste. It is designed for 112 hours, but it is not mandatory.
Determining the frequency of training
The current legislation does not have a clearly defined period for the frequency of advanced training in environmental safety. The employer independently decides how often his employees should be trained, based on the specifics of the organization’s activities.
The previous Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 26.06.1995 No. 610 recommended that professional development be carried out at least once every five years. Many organizations are still focused on this deadline. However, the employer has the right to set shorter intervals, for example, once every three years or annually.
Based on Article 196 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation: the need for employee training (vocational education and training) and additional professional education, as well as sending employees to undergo an independent qualification assessment for their own needs, is determined by the employer.
Conclusion
Advanced training in the field of environmental safety is mandatory, but its frequency is determined by the employer. In practice, many organizations focus on an interval of at least once every five years, but may set more frequent deadlines depending on the specifics of their activities.
