April 28, 2026 · World Day for Safety and Health at Work
Every morning, millions of people head to work with the quiet expectation that they’ll simply return home at the end of the day—healthy, unharmed, and themselves. That’s not a given, but it should be.
Imagine this: a mechanic who works every day in a factory where the machines are just a little too loud, the ventilation is just a little too poor, and there’s just a little too little room to maneuver safely. He doesn’t complain, because that’s just how it’s always been. Until the day things go wrong.
Stories like these are not uncommon. They unfold on construction sites, in warehouses, behind school desks, in kitchens, and in offices where burnout slowly creeps through the workplace like a silent poison. World Day for Safety and Health at Work exists precisely to break through that unspoken normality.
Every year onApril 28, the International Labour Organization (ILO) calls on governments, employers, and workers to reflect on what is going wrong and what can be improved. The theme for 2025 is telling: “A safe and healthy work environment as a fundamental principle and right at work.” For in 2022, the ILO officially recognized for the first time that a safe workplace is not a favor granted by an employer, but a human right.
"A safe workplace isn't something employees should just hope for—it's something they are entitled to."
ILO, World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025
That sounds like an abstract legal milestone. But for the mechanic in that noisy factory, for the nurse working her third night shift in a row, for the package delivery driver straining his back, it’s very real. It says: your health matters. Your safety is non-negotiable.
Do you know what risks exist in your workplace?
A RI&E (Risk Inventory & Evaluation) is the legal foundation of every occupational health and safety policy. ZekerArbo you create one quickly and comprehensively, tailored to your organization.
More than 9 million people are employed in our country. Most of them work in relative safety, and yet an average of fifty to sixty people die each year as a result of workplace accidents. Hundreds of thousands develop occupational illnesses: hearing loss from prolonged exposure to noise, back problems from improper lifting, and lung problems from exposure to hazardous substances.
But the most insidious risk is of a psychosocial nature. Work-related stress and burnout are now theleading causes of long-term Sickness Absence in the Netherlands. We talk about it more than ever, and yet one in seven employees is still at risk of experiencing burnout symptoms. The pressure to keep going is intense. So is the reluctance to ask for help.
At the same time, a shift is becoming apparent. More and more organizations are realizing that occupational health and safety policy isn’t just a formality to satisfy the inspectorate, but a direct investment in the people who keep the company running. And that shift always starts in the same place: with a manager or employer who decides to do things differently.
🧠 Psychosocial stress
Work-related stress and burnout are now the leading causes of long-term Sickness Absence the Netherlands.
🦺 Physical risks
Heavy lifting, hazardous substances, and noise remain persistent causes of occupational diseases.
🔬 New Risks
AI, hybrid work, and climate change are bringing new challenges to the workplace of tomorrow.
Do you recognize signs of stress in your employees?
A Workability Coach from ZekerArbo employees maintain their long-term employability through personalized support focused on recovery, prevention, and growth.
Workplace safety isn’t just a matter of putting up a sign or filing a protocol away in a drawer. It’s a culture. And while you can’t build a culture overnight, you can start today.
At ZekerArbo , we ZekerArbo every day how organizations that consciously invest in their people fare better: lower rates of Sickness Absence, higher engagement, and lower turnover. It always starts with taking an honest look at the situation on the work floor—without hesitation and without looking away.
These steps sound simple. And in theory, they are. But in practice, things don’t always go as planned: the day is packed, the schedule is busy, and health and safety policies always seem to get pushed back just a little bit to tomorrow. That’s exactly why it helps to have a partner who keeps an eye on this for you and who works with you to turn good intentions into effective practices.
April 28 is a reminder. But working safely and healthily doesn’t stop when the day is over. It requires constant attention, genuine commitment, and the courage to say: we can do better.
That mechanic in the noisy workshop deserves more than just a day of awareness. He deserves an employer who takes action. An Occupational Health Service works with him. A culture that protects him today, tomorrow, and every day after that.
At ZekerArbo , we ZekerArbo that a safe workplace isn’t just about laws and regulations. It starts with the belief that people are worth caring for. That’s what we stand for every day.
Whether you want to have a RI&E conducted, refine your absenteeism policy, or simply want to know where you stand, ZekerArbo happy ZekerArbo you ZekerArbo .
