France PST 2026-2030 : the new feuille de route for health at work
On 5 June 2026, the Minister for Labour and Solidarity Jean-Pierre Farandou presented to social partners the Health Plan on Labour (PST) 2026-2030 in the National Council for Labour Conditions (CNOCT). This document is the new strategic and operational roadmap for improving the health of workers and the prevention of occupational risks.
The PST 2026-2030 is the fifth floor in 20 years. It’s not just targeting. It creates the plan of prevention of serious and deadly accidents, until now separated. The objective is a better coherence of the actions carried out against the most exposed public.
A plan, 5 priorities, 50 actions
The fifth occupational health plan 2026-2030 sets an ambitious roadmap around five main priorities: serious and fatal accidents, women’s health, climate change, absenteeism and mental health. These axes range from 50 actions aimed in particular at young people, interns and public exposures.
Priority #1 — Preventing serious and fatal accidents
The PST 5 aims in particular to mortal malors, which weigh a lot in deaths at work. It envisages tools to anticipate them better: better organization of work, management of breaks, fight against secrecy and training of rescuers. Prevention of falls from above remains a priority yard. Prevention of dependencies also falls within the perimeter, with an update of the reference framework for enterprises.
The new plan highlights several priority guidelines: preventing serious and fatal accidents, particularly among young workers and interns, through training and improving reception in the company.
Priority #2 — Better protect women
The plan aims to strengthen prevention actions against the most exposed public. As regards women : developing a risk assessment taking into account differences between women and men, adapting more personal protection equipment, strengthening the prevention of sexist and sexual violence at work.
A key factor: women’s work accidents increased by 26% in 20 years. The plan aims to reverse this trend with structural measures, not only declarations of intent.
Priority #3 — Dealing with climate risk
Taking into account the emerging challenges in health at work, in particular through the provision of entrepreneurs and health care services at work in the face of the risks associated with climate change and addictive conduct.
The rise of artificial intelligence, the effects of climate change or demographic evolution are identified as factors requiring adaptation of prevention policies.
Extreme heat is no longer a seasonal risk. It is a structural risk that each employer will have to integrate into its Single Document of Evaluation of Professional Risks.
Priority #4 — Reduce absenteeism
The PST wants to support businesses in front of new challenges. Instruments and resources must be developed to help employers and occupational health and prevention services to better understand these issues.
The PST 2026-2030 includes 50 main actions, aiming in particular for the prevention of psychosocial risks, reduction of absenteeism and maintenance in employment in the face of professional wear.
Instead of handling absences after the fact, the plan aims to address the underlying causes: poor working conditions, stress, physical wear. An important paradigm change.
Priority #5 — Mental health : great national cause
The promotion of mental health, the great national cause 2025-2026, and the prevention of psychosocial risks (RPS), proposing a clear and coordinated offer to enterprises in the service of effective implementation of prevention actions, strengthening the formations of first aid in mental health in the professional sphere and unfolding the paper of commitments launched in 2025.
Burn-out, stress, anxiety. They’re no longer “personal issues.” They are professional risks that each company must identify, assess and manage — just like physical risks.
How the plan is implemented
The PST is declined locally by DREETS in regional health plans at work (PRST), as close as possible to the socio-economic realities of the territories. In order to facilitate the adaptation of PST to the evolutions of the work, a revision clause to which social partners and estimates will be associated will be expected.
It does not create new obligations in itself. However, it guides future tools, accompaniments and controls towards its priorities. Some actions may later be translated into regulatory developments.
What concretely means for companies
The PST 2026-2030 is not a regulatory document. It’s a compass. But companies that anticipate its priorities have a clear competitive advantage: less accidents, less absenteeism, less future regulatory risks.
Five concrete actions that every company can start today:
— Update the Single Document by integrating warm risk and psychosocial risks
— Training managers in mental health first aid
— Adapting individual protection equipment for workers
— Strengthening the reception and training of young people and interinals
— Measuring and monitoring absenteeism to identify its deep causes
Conclusion
The PST 2026-2030 is inscribed in the continuity of the 4th Health Plan on Work and Law of 2 August 2021. Prevention remains a priority, with enhanced support for QVCT and monitoring professional paths.
But the basic message is clear and leaves no room for ambiguity: prevention is not an option.