Welcome to the Netherlands Focal Point for Safety and Health at Work

This website is part of the information network of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. The object of this network is to provide information about safety and health at work among employers and employees in the Member States of the European Union. Also, the cooperation between the Member States, as well as the exchange of information and experience, is to be enhanced by this initiative. The coordination of the European network lies with the European Agency, while the implementation on a national level is done by national Focal Points.

The Netherlands Focal Point tries to translate as much as possible information into english. First of all we focussed to an overview of recent OSH-developments in the Netherlands and comprehensive information about the way the OSH-infrastructure in the Netherlands has been organised. Furthermore we translated a large part of the webpages of the European Week campaigns in the Netherlands.

08.05.2012 New Dutch policy agenda for health and safe work for the coming years A good system for healthy and safe work provides healthy and safe working conditions, in which workers can stay vital and remain productive for a long time and companies can remain competitive. This is very much in the interest of employers, employees and Dutch society as a whole. It also adds to our prosperity. This writes the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in a letter to the House of Representatives. >> Read more
28.03.2012 New Dutch developments Recently two new reports were published wit a focus on the situation in the Netherlands compared with other European countries. The OSH balance 2011 reports that the quality of work in the Netherlands is still relatively favourable compared to the rest of Europe, especially with regard to physical and psychosocial working conditions. The Social State of the Netherlands 2011 describes the position of the Netherlands and the Dutch in a number of key areas of life including work and income and the changes that have taken place in people’s life situation over the last ten years. >> To Dutch developments.
23.09.2011 Own-account workers and working conditions In this advisory report (nr. 2011/02: 18 March 2011), the Social and Economic Council (SER) addresses the question of how to ensure that “self-employed persons with no staff” (i.e. own-account workers) can operate under the same working conditions as employed persons. The Council concludes that more provisions of the health and safety regulations should apply to them. >> Read more (summary available in English)
06.07.2011 OSH balance 2010: general picture is a positive one The OSH Balance provides an overview of the current position and developments relating to working conditions in the Netherlands. Particular attention is being focused this year on the themes of new ways of working, sustainable deployment, health and safety in the workplace, and lifestyle. The general picture from the OSH Balance is a positive one.The quality of work is stable, and most employees are satisfied with their working conditions. Read more >>