What you need to know about RI&E: health and safety plan for your business in the Netherlands

If you plan to launch or expand your business in the Netherlands, one of your first priorities should be to create a health and safety plan. This plan should be based on a ‘Risk Assessment & Evaluation’ (RI&E, or Risico Inventarisatie & Evaluatie in Dutch).

Having a health and safety plan not only ensures compliance and helps avoid fines but also protects your business from future risks while safeguarding the well-being of your employees. After all, healthy and safe employees are more productive and engaged!

In this article, we will explore the key components of the RI&E and what your business should expect throughout the process.

What is the Risk, Assessment & Evaluation (RI&E)?

The Risk, Assessment and Evaluation (RI&E) is the official procedure for businesses in the Netherlands to develop a health and safety plan. According to the dedicated site for RI&E this process actually involves two things: a list of all health and safety risks and a plan to mitigate (or eliminate) these risks.

The first part of this process involves taking inventory of all risks to employee health and safety present at your business – both physical and psychological. The second part involves creating a plan of action (plan van aanpak, in Dutch), including a timeline, specific steps, and the resources needed to address the risks you identified.

Who is involved in the RI&E?

One of the key criteria for an effective health and safety plan in the Netherlands (and to successfully meet the criteria for RI&E) is to appoint a health and safety officer (preventiemedewerker, in Dutch) from your business. This person is responsible for facilitating the RI&E, as well as implementing the health and safety plan, and cooperating with the necessary parties (such as the company doctor and Work’s Council) on topics related to work conditions. It may be necessary to work with an external health and safety expert for support.

If your business employs 25 employees or more, it is mandatory that your RI&E be reviewed. Firstly, your staff representation (i.e., Work’s Council) should have the opportunity to review it. This will ensure all parts of your business are considered in the RI&E. It also creates a way for your employees to give input. Further, you should also expect to get a visit from a workplace safety inspector to review the quality of your RI&E. They will also review your progress implementing the health and safety plan.

Why is a health and safety plan (RI&E) important?

Employee health and well-being is taken very seriously in the Netherlands. And for good reason – the Netherlands is not one of the best places in Europe to work for no reason! Here are a few reasons a thorough health and safety plan is important:

• Fewer accidents and incidents
• Lower absenteeism rates
• Improved productivity, efficiency, and overall employee engagement and satisfaction
• Less disruptions to your business
• Legal compliance (ie., avoid penalties and fines)

When we work with clients on their RI&E and healthy and safety plans, we always keep in mind that a good plan is about so much more than just compliance. When your employees feel cared for and protected at work, they can perform their tasks better and with higher confidence.

Key elements of the RI&E

Every business operating in the Netherlands needs to complete this procedure in one way or another. Below the three key elements of the RI&E are described:

Risk Identification (Risico Inventarisatie, in Dutch)

This step involves identifying potential risks and hazards in the workplace that could affect employee health and safety. These risks can be physical (e.g., unsafe machinery), chemical (e.g., hazardous substances), or psychosocial (e.g., stress or harassment). Employers must systematically assess all parts of the work environment. For most sectors a checklist is available that states all the necessary elements that need to be checked.

Risk Evaluation (Risico Evaluatie, in Dutch)

After identifying risks, the next step is to evaluate their severity. Employers must assess how likely risks are to cause harm and how serious the consequences could be. This helps prioritize which risks need immediate action and which are less urgent.

Action Plan (Plan van Aanpak, in Dutch)

Based on the evaluation, an action plan is created to address and reduce risks. The plan includes specific measures, a timeline for implementation, and who will be responsible for carrying out the actions.

Can we help with your initial RI&E and health and safety plan?

Octagon Professionals has been supporting international business’ operations in the Netherlands for over 30 years. We are well-aware that expanding or starting your business in a new country is complicated and overwhelming. With the support of our HR and compliance experts, you can get your business up-and-running quickly and without the worry of non-compliance. Would you like to know how we can help? Send us a message with your question or challenge and we will let you know.