The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Prevention (ISPESL) is the Italian state OSH institution, and is under the control of the Italian health ministry. It is independent in its research, organisation, financing and management. ISPESL is active at national and international level in the area of prevention and safety at work. The Institute can call upon a wealth of experience in the mainstreaming of occupational safety and health into education and training. Under its control, projects have been conducted for the mainstreaming of occupational safety and health into preschool education, into syllabuses for the sciences and foreign languages at secondary school level, and into training at technical colleges. A wealth of educational material (computer games, films, syllabuses) has been developed. Standardised training modules for the areas of construction, electrical engineering and metalworking have been developed for the technical colleges. These are coupled to a system of training credits. Particular importance has been attached to further training for lecturers.

ISPESL is in charge of the nurseries/schools team, maintains the corresponding forum, and is involved in developing criteria for and analysing good practice in the EU-15.