Occupational Health and Safety Act Employer Obligations

What You Need to Know

As an employer, you carry a lot of responsibility. Not only for your business, but also for your people. A common question is: what exactly are the obligations of an employer under the Dutch Working Conditions Act (Arbowet)? In this article, we’ll explain it clearly and concisely.

What is the Arbowet?

The Arbowet, short for Arbeidsomstandighedenwet, is the main Dutch law that sets rules for the safety, health, and well-being of employees. Simply put: its purpose is to ensure your employees can work safely and healthily. The law provides a framework of obligations for both employers and employees.

The Arbowet applies to all companies, regardless of size or sector. Even SMEs must comply with the rules. That’s why it’s important to know what’s expected of you and how to organise this effectively.

What Does the Arbowet Stand For?

The Arbowet is about clear agreements between employers and employees regarding good working conditions. It is not a list of ready-made measures, but a framework within which you, as an employer, create an occupational health and safety policy together with your employees — one that fits your organisation. To do this properly, employers engage a certified occupational health service, such as Capability.

Occupational Health and Safety Policy: What Is It?

A good policy means creating measures to prevent and limit workplace risks. This includes ensuring a safe workplace, preventing overload, and promoting employee health. The policy must be documented, regularly reviewed, and updated where necessary.

Arbowet Rules: What Must Employers Do?

The Arbowet places several obligations on employers. The most important are:

• Risk Inventory & Evaluation (RI&E): You must identify the risks in your company and how you will address them. This is documented in the RI&E, including an action plan. Keep it up-to-date—changes in your business may create new risks.
• Ensure safe working conditions: You are responsible for creating a safe workplace. Think of proper equipment, clear safety instructions, and preventing dangerous or undesirable situations. This also applies to home workstations. Employers with 10 or more employees are legally required to appoint a confidential counsellor — crucial in preventing and addressing undesirable behaviour.
• Set up a sickness absence policy: You must have a policy for managing absenteeism and minimising long-term absence. An occupational health service usually plays an important role here. A solid absence policy helps you spot signals early and intervene in time.
• Engage an occupational health service or company doctor: Employers must be supported by an occupational health provider for absence prevention and guidance. At Capability, we offer packages such as Capability Self and Capability Complete, which can be extended with Capability Reintegration.
• Provide training and instruction: Employees must know how to work safely. As an employer, you are obliged to provide proper instructions — for example, through preventive medical consultations.
• Appoint a prevention officer: Every company with staff must appoint at least one prevention officer. This person helps implement the occupational health policy with specific tasks.
• Preventive Medical Examination (PMO): Offer your employees the opportunity to undergo periodic health checks. This helps detect health risks early.

Why Is This Important?

Good occupational health and safety policy is not just a checklist. It helps prevent absenteeism, boosts job satisfaction, and keeps both your organisation and employees healthy and vital. At Capability, we see daily how employers with their occupational health affairs in order benefit from less absence and more engaged, healthy employees. Curious how we support this as an occupational health service? Discover how we do it.

Capability: Occupational Health with Attention and Action

At Capability, we believe in standing alongside you as an employer. We don’t just help you comply with the Arbowet — we also work with you to truly make a difference for your employees. Our absence managers and occupational physicians collaborate with you to create a policy that truly fits your organisation. Together we ensure healthy people and a healthy business.

Would you like to know how we can arrange your occupational health matters quickly and effectively? Get in touch with us. Together we’ll make sure your organisation is Arbo-proof.