The quality of RI&E (risk inventory and evaluation) leaves much to be desired

The occupational health and safety monitor offers a unique insight into compliance with the rules of working conditions

The number of companies with risk mapping and evaluation (RI&E) is increasing. Such mapping is mandatory for every employer with employees. In RI&E, employers record which occupational risks their employees may face. And what measures are needed to prevent or reduce these risks.

It is important to map this out so that the employer takes measures and the employees can work healthily and safely. But not all RI&Es are done properly; one third scored the quality insufficiently.

The occupational health and safety monitor offers a unique insight into compliance with the rules of working conditions. Labor inspectors visited approximately 1,700 companies in two years to check occupational health and safety policies and working conditions during company visits.

This is a representative sample, not risk-based. This makes it possible to later convert the results of these visits by means of statistical weighting into types of employers (about 350,000) and employees (about 8.5 million) in the Netherlands. The monitor thus gives an objective picture of compliance with working conditions.

It is positive that, compared to the previous monitor, the proportion of employers with RI&E has increased to 64% compared to around 50% previously. It is also positive that 88% of employees work in a company with RI&E.

But RI&E’s quality leaves a lot to be desired; for the third it is less than par. The Audit Office sees a connection between the lack of RI&E and the lack of knowledge of legislation and regulations.

The Audit Office also sees that employers inform and train less and monitor compliance with instructions and regulations less than the correct application of measures.

The monitor shows that there is a connection between high-quality RI&E and healthy and safe working.

Source: Dutch Labor Inspection Agency