HSE inspections up 47% - HSE carried out over 13,200 workplace inspections in 2024/25.
RI&E
Dutch Workplace Risk Assessment
Arbowet · Plan van Aanpak · Kerndeskundige Certification
RI&E (Risico-Inventarisatie en -Evaluatie) development, Plan van Aanpak creation, and kerndeskundige certification. Full Arbowet compliance for Dutch and international organisations.
Free Health & Safety Gap Analysis
30-minute Compliance Call Valued at £750+
What Happens on Your Free Gap Analysis Call:
- 1.30-minute consultation
- 2.We review your current H&S arrangements
- 3.We identify 1-10 critical compliance gaps you're missing
Identify 1+ gaps, or you receive a £50 gift card. Only 20 consultations are available every month.
RI&E — The Dutch Workplace Risk Assessment Explained
The RI&E (Risico-Inventarisatie en -Evaluatie) is the mandatory workplace risk assessment in the Netherlands. Under the Dutch Working Conditions Act (Arbowet / Arbeidsomstandighedenwet), every employer — regardless of size or sector — must identify workplace hazards, evaluate the risks, and define a written Plan van Aanpak (Plan of Action) to protect employees.
The RI&E must cover all risk categories — physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial (psychosociale arbeidsbelasting / PSA) — and must be reviewed by a certified occupational health and safety expert (kerndeskundige) for companies with 25 or more employees. It forms the legal foundation of occupational health and safety compliance in the Netherlands.
Arinite supports Dutch and international organisations with RI&E development, Plan van Aanpak creation, certified review, and inspection readiness — ensuring full compliance with the Arbowet and Dutch Labour Inspectorate (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie) requirements.
What Is an RI&E?
An RI&E is a systematic assessment of all workplace hazards and risks. It must determine:
- What hazards could cause injury, illness, or occupational disease
- Who may be harmed — employees, temporary workers, contractors, visitors
- How severe the risks are — likelihood and consequence
- What control measures are required to prevent or reduce harm
The RI&E must cover all risk types — physical safety, chemical and biological exposure, ergonomic hazards, and psychosocial workload (PSA) including stress, aggression, sexual intimidation, bullying, and excessive workload. It must be accompanied by a written Plan van Aanpak.
The RI&E is not optional — it is a legal requirement for every employer in the Netherlands under Article 5 of the Arbowet.
Who Must Have an RI&E?
Mandatory for All Employers
Every employer with staff working in the Netherlands must have an up-to-date RI&E and Plan van Aanpak.
This includes:
- Dutch companies of any size — from sole traders with one employee to large enterprises
- Multinational organisations with Dutch employees or Dutch-based operations
- Permanent establishments, branches, and subsidiaries in the Netherlands
Specific Rules by Company Size
Companies with fewer than 25 employees
- May use an approved, recognised sector RI&E instrument (branche-RI&E)
- Must still create a valid Plan van Aanpak
- Certified review by a kerndeskundige is not required if using a recognised tool
Companies with 25 or more employees
- Must have the RI&E reviewed and certified by a kerndeskundige — a certified core expert such as a higher safety expert (hogere veiligheidskundige), occupational hygienist (arbeidshygiënist), or occupational physician (bedrijfsarts)
- The kerndeskundige must confirm the RI&E is complete, up to date, and reliable
Legal Requirements Under the Arbowet
The Dutch Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) sets precise requirements for RI&E compliance.
Employers must ensure:
Regular Review and Updates
- RI&E must be reviewed and updated whenever significant changes occur — new processes, equipment, materials, reorganisations, or incidents
- There is no fixed statutory review period, but good practice is to review at least every 3–5 years
- The Plan van Aanpak must be kept current and demonstrate ongoing progress
Employee Participation (Ondernemingsraad / Personeelsvertegenwoordiging)
- Employees or their representatives (OR / PVT) must be involved in the RI&E process
- The Works Council (Ondernemingsraad) has the right of consent (instemmingsrecht) on RI&E and prevention policy
- Employee participation is a legal requirement — not just best practice
Plan van Aanpak (Plan of Action)
The Plan van Aanpak is mandatory and must contain:
- Identified risks and their priority ranking
- Specific control measures for each risk
- Named responsible persons
- Timelines, deadlines, and resources
- Progress monitoring and review schedule
Accessible Documentation
The RI&E and Plan van Aanpak must be available to:
- All employees
- The Works Council (Ondernemingsraad)
- The Dutch Labour Inspectorate (Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie)
Failure to comply can result in enforcement action by the Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie, including fines starting from €3,000 for smaller companies and significantly higher for larger organisations, mandatory corrective orders (eis tot naleving), and work stoppages for serious risks.
The RI&E Process Explained Step by Step
Creating a compliant and effective RI&E follows a structured, legally recognised process:
1. Identify All Workplace Hazards
Systematically identify all hazards across the organisation, including:
- Physical and safety risks — falls, machinery, electrical, fire
- Chemical and biological exposure — hazardous substances, biological agents
- Ergonomic risks — workstation design, manual handling, repetitive tasks
- Psychosocial workload (PSA) — stress, workload, aggression, bullying, sexual intimidation
2. Determine Who Might Be Harmed
Identify all groups potentially affected:
- Permanent employees
- Temporary and agency workers (uitzendkrachten)
- Contractors and subcontractors
- Vulnerable workers — young workers, pregnant employees, workers with disabilities
- Visitors and members of the public
3. Evaluate Risks
Assess each hazard for:
- Likelihood of exposure and harm occurring
- Severity of potential consequences
- Number of workers affected
- Adequacy and effectiveness of existing control measures
4. Record Findings in the RI&E Document
Document:
- All identified hazards and risk evaluations
- Existing control measures and their effectiveness
- Required improvements and additional measures
This documented RI&E must be retained and made accessible.
5. Create the Plan van Aanpak
The Plan van Aanpak must define:
- What prevention and control actions are required
- Who is responsible for each action
- Deadlines and timelines
- Budget and resource allocation
- How progress will be monitored and reported
6. Certified Review (kerndeskundige toetsing)
For companies with 25+ employees, the RI&E must be reviewed by a certified kerndeskundige to confirm completeness, reliability, and compliance with the Arbowet.
7. Ongoing Review, Update & Continuous Improvement
The RI&E and Plan van Aanpak must be living documents — reviewed and updated whenever circumstances change and as part of continuous improvement.
RI&E Services from Arinite
Arinite provides comprehensive RI&E support, tailored to your organisation, sector, and risk profile:
Complete RI&E Development
Full workplace assessment covering all risk types including PSA
Hazard identification and structured risk evaluation
Legally compliant RI&E documentation in Dutch and English
Sector-Specific RI&E (Branche-RI&E)
Use of approved sector RI&E instruments for companies with <25 employees
Customisation to your specific activities, roles, and risks
Plan van Aanpak Creation
Clear, prioritised action plans with named responsibilities
Practical, achievable prevention measures with timelines and budgets
RI&E Review & Update
Review of existing RI&E documents for completeness and compliance
Updates following organisational changes, incidents, or inspections
Kerndeskundige Toetsing (Certified Expert Review)
Formal review and certification by a qualified kerndeskundige
Required for all companies with 25 or more employees
Employee & OR Consultation Support
Facilitation of legally required employee participation
Support for Works Council (OR) consent procedures
Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie Inspection Support
Preparation for Dutch Labour Inspectorate visits
Support responding to enforcement notices and corrective orders
Training & Guidance
RI&E awareness training for managers and employees
Practical guidance on implementing the RI&E and Plan van Aanpak
Get Expert Support With Your RI&E
If you operate in the Netherlands and need support creating, reviewing, or certifying your RI&E:
The Arinite Transformation™
From Reactive Firefighting to Proactive Health & Safety Compliance
REACTIVE
(Where 60% of Businesses Operate)
What It Looks Like:
No formal HSE systems in place. Everything is reactive, waiting for something to go wrong. Documentation is missing or outdated.
Why It's Dangerous:
- ✗£50K-£150K average fine when (not if) HSE inspects
- ✗Can't bid on contracts requiring HSE certification
- ✗One accident away from director prosecution
This isn't just "non-compliant." It's criminally negligent. Directors face personal prosecution.
REACTIVE
(Where 60% of Businesses Operate)
What It Looks Like:
No formal HSE systems in place. Everything is reactive, waiting for something to go wrong. Documentation is missing or outdated.
Why It's Dangerous:
- ✗£50K-£150K average fine when (not if) HSE inspects
- ✗Can't bid on contracts requiring HSE certification
- ✗One accident away from director prosecution
This isn't just "non-compliant." It's criminally negligent. Directors face personal prosecution.
COMPLIANCE
(Where Most Businesses Stop)
What It Looks Like:
Basic HSE documentation is in place. Minimum legal requirements met. You can pass a basic audit.
Why It's Better (But Not Enough):
- ✓Legal protection (no fines if inspected)
- ✓Can bid on contracts requiring certification
- ✓Pass basic client audits
- ✗Still reactive (problems arise, then you respond)
- ✗Compliance maintained by one person (bottleneck)
- ✗Systems don't run themselves
Compliance is where most consultants get you, then leave. You're legal, but you're not optimised.
COMPLIANCE
(Where Most Businesses Stop)
What It Looks Like:
Basic HSE documentation is in place. Minimum legal requirements met. You can pass a basic audit.
Why It's Better (But Not Enough):
- ✓Legal protection (no fines if inspected)
- ✓Can bid on contracts requiring certification
- ✓Pass basic client audits
- ✗Still reactive (problems arise, then you respond)
- ✗Compliance maintained by one person (bottleneck)
- ✗Systems don't run themselves
Compliance is where most consultants get you, then leave. You're legal, but you're not optimised.
PROACTIVE
(Where Arinite Clients Operate)
What It Looks Like:
Systems run proactively (prevent problems before they occur). Compliance is distributed (not dependent on one person). HSE becomes a competitive advantage, not a cost centre.
Why It's Transformational:
- ✓Win more contracts (HSE certification opens doors)
- ✓Save 20+ hours/week (systems run themselves)
- ✓Peace of mind (sleep soundly, without the fear of prosecution)
- ✓Focus on your core business while we handle compliance
That's why 95%+ of clients renew year after year.
PROACTIVE
(Where Arinite Clients Operate)
What It Looks Like:
Systems run proactively (prevent problems before they occur). Compliance is distributed (not dependent on one person). HSE becomes a competitive advantage, not a cost centre.
Why It's Transformational:
- ✓Win more contracts (HSE certification opens doors)
- ✓Save 20+ hours/week (systems run themselves)
- ✓Peace of mind (sleep soundly, without the fear of prosecution)
- ✓Focus on your core business while we handle compliance
That's why 95%+ of clients renew year after year.
The Arinite Difference:
Other consultants get you to Stage 2 (Compliant) and disappear.
We get you to Stage 3 (Proactive) and keep you there.
That's why we call it transformation, not just compliance.
"We work with you to deliver peace of mind. We tailor our service provision to your business to provide proactive, pragmatic health and safety advice and that helps reduce costs by ensuring compliance with relevant health and safety legislation."
Robert Winsloe
Managing Director
From Hidden Gaps to Compliance
Our proven 3-step system has helped over 1,000 businesses eliminate enforcement risk, pass inspections, and protect directors from personal liability.
No guesswork. No generic templates. No box-ticking.
Free Health and Safety Gap Analysis Call
Identify what's missing before an inspector does.
A focused 30-minute health and safety assessment to expose weaknesses in your current arrangements.
What you get:
→ You leave knowing exactly where you're exposed and what to do about it.
Health and Safety Audit
Turn risk into documented compliance, fast.
We conduct a comprehensive health and safety audit of your workplace and ensure everything inspectors expect to see is in place. This covers risk assessments, workplace safety inspections, health and safety policy documentation, and every gap identified in Step 1.
What's included:
→ You move from exposed to defensible with evidence to prove it.
Outsource Your Health & Safety - The Arinite Partnership
We become your health and safety department. Your competent person. Your compliance team.
No chasing updates. No need to worry about changes in health and safety laws. No need to wonder if you've missed something. You focus on your core day-to-day business, Arinite handle the rest.
What we take ownership of:
→ Compliance handled. Risk controlled. Directors protected.
Why This Works
Most enforcement actions arise from systems being assumed rather than proven.
We don't advise. We don't hand over templates.
We build, implement, and maintain end-to-end health and safety compliance, and when we identify an action item, we proactively pursue and resolve it. That's the difference.
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Get in Touch
Have a question or need expert advice? We're here to help.
Free Health & Safety Gap Analysis
30-minute Compliance Call Valued at £750+
What Happens on Your Free Gap Analysis Call:
- 1.30-minute consultation
- 2.We review your current H&S arrangements
- 3.We identify 1-10 critical compliance gaps you're missing
Identify 1+ gaps, or you receive a £50 gift card. Only 20 consultations are available every month.
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