Laws and regulations

In the Netherlands, the regulations on safe and healthy working are included in the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) and the Working Conditions Decree (Arbobesluit).

The  following general articles are relevant to the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet): 

• Article 3. paragraph 1: The employer pursues a policy aimed at good working conditions. 
• Article 3. paragraph 2: The employer must prevent risks and, if that is not possible, limit these risks. 
• Article 5: The employer identifies and evaluates the risks and draws up a plan of action. 
• Article 8: The employer provides information, instruction and training to employees. 
• Article 11: The employee is obliged to cooperate in making safe use of the circumstances and to perform work in a safe manner. 

Specifically for hazardous substances, the following articles from Chapter 4 of the Working Conditions Decree (Arbeidsomstandighedenbesluit) apply: 

Furthermore, the following Dutch laws and regulations are important for hazardous substances:

• Dangerous Goods Transport Act: Rules for the transport of dangerous goods.
• Decree on the transport of dangerous goods: Adoption of further rules for the transport of dangerous goods.
• Regulations on the inland transport of dangerous goods: Specific regulations for the transport of dangerous goods by road.
• ADR: European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).
• Environment and Planning Act: Rules on a number of general subjects in the field of environmental health.
• PGS 15: Directive on the storage of packaged dangerous substances.

Agreements have also been made at European level on hazardous substances:

• GHS/CLP Regulation (EC) No. 1272 2008: Regulation on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures.
• European Waste List (EURAL): In the EURAL, the European Commission identifies waste and determines when a waste is hazardous.