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Workplace Accident: What Do You Need to Know and Do as an Employer?

Workplace Accident: What Do You Need to Know and Do as an Employer?

More than 600 workplace accidents occur every day in the Netherlands. As an employer in the SME sector, you are responsible for providing a safe working environment, and naturally want to prevent workplace accidents. What does the law say? What do you need to report? And how can you prevent a recurrence? You can read all about it here.

How often do workplace accidents occur?

Of the 7 million people in the workforce in the Netherlands, approximately 230,000 are involved in a workplace accident each year, whether minor or serious. Between 50 and 70 of these cases result in fatalities annually. This makes workplace safety not only a legal obligation, but also your responsibility as an employer.

What exactly is a workplace accident?

According to the Working Conditions Act, a workplace accident is an incident that occurs at work or during working hours and directly results in injury. This can happen on company premises, at a construction site, along the road, or in traffic. A traffic accident that occurs during working hours is considered a workplace accident.

Please note: accidents that occur while commuting to or from work are generally not covered.

As an employer, you may be held liable for the employee’s full damages, both material and immaterial. If an employee dies as a result of the accident, their spouse, children, or parents are entitled to compensation.

Report to the Dutch Labor Inspectorate (NLA)

If an employee needs to go to the hospital, has suffered a permanent injury, or has died, you are required to report this immediately to the Dutch Labor Inspectorate. They will then launch an investigation.

In addition, as an employer, you are required to maintain a record of:

  • All workplace accidents reported to the NLA
  • Work-related accidents resulting in more than three days of Sickness Absence date and nature of the incident)

Work-related accident caused by a third party outside of work

If an employee is injured by another party outside of working hours—for example, in a traffic accident—they may seek compensation for both property damage and personal injury from the responsible party. As an employer, you can recover the wages you continued to pay through recourse. You should consult a legal advisor for this; ZekerArbo not ZekerArbo support in this matter.

How to Prevent Workplace Accidents

In the event of a workplace accident, you must be able to demonstrate that you have fulfilled your obligation as a safe employer. You can do this by:

  1. Identifying Risks
    An up-to-date Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E) serves as the foundation. In this document, you identify the risks involved and outline the measures you are taking.
  2. Keep employees well-informed
    Provide clear instructions on safe work practices and review them regularly. Ensure that everyone follows them, including visitors.
  3. Addressing and Documenting
    Address unsafe behavior with employees and document it in their personnel files.
  4. Ensure Your Company Emergency Response Plan Is in Order
    Make sure you have trained emergency response team members who can provide initial assistance and alert emergency services.

Need help after a workplace accident?

Do you want to prevent this from happening again? Our safety experts and ergonomists can help you minimize the risk of recurrence. Please contact us.

Would you like to have your RI&E reviewed or prepared? Please contact us or visit our RI&E page.

Does an employee need trauma support? We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We arrange trauma support through GIMD, our partner within Colbe.

Need legal advice? ZekerArbo not ZekerArbo legal support regarding personal injury or workplace accidents. Please consult your own legal advisor for this.