What is the Arbowet?
The Arbowet (full name: Arbeidsomstandighedenwet, the Dutch Working Conditions Act) is the Dutch legislation that sets requirements for the safety, health and welfare of employees at work. The Act obliges employers and employees to work together to provide a safe working environment.
The Arbowet is the legal foundation for safe working in all sectors, including industry, facility management and technical services.
🧠 What does the Arbowet cover?
- Employer responsibilities
- Ensuring safe working conditions
- Preventing accidents, occupational illness and long-term absence
- Providing adequate information, instruction and supervision
- Providing personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Employee responsibilities
- Working safely in accordance with procedures
- Correct use of machinery, tools and PPE
- Reporting unsafe situations or incidents
- Risk assessment and prevention
- Mandatory RI&E (Risk Inventory and Evaluation)
- Action plan and follow-up of identified risks
- Integration of procedures such as work permits, Lock-out Tag-out and training
- Supervision and enforcement
- Carried out by the Dutch Labour Inspectorate
- Possible fines, work stoppages or liability for breaches
🏭 Use in industrial working environments
- Working on or near control cabinets, MCC, PLC
- Electrical work in accordance with NEN 3140 or NEN 1010
- Maintenance and modification of installations
- Access to confined spaces, ATEX zones, working at heights
- Work permits for high-risk tasks
Companies are required to take appropriate measures for specific risks, such as work involving electricity, heat or hazardous substances.
🔍 The Arbowet and related standards and procedures
| Element | What does it cover? |
|---|---|
| Arbowet | Legal foundation for a safe working environment |
| NEN 3140 | Working on electrical installations |
| Work permit | Procedure for safe working during high-risk tasks |
| Lock-out Tag-out | Preventing inadvertent energisation |
| PPE | Personal protection against specific risks |
| Training | Knowledge and competence to work safely |
🔐 Security considerations
- Mandatory use of safe installations (NEN standards)
- Mandatory inspection of tools and installations
- Safety instructions and task risk analyses (TRA)
- Incident registration and follow-up
- Internal audits and involvement of the prevention officer
The Arbowet requires an active safety culture with continuous improvement.
📌 In summary
The Arbowet obliges companies and employees to work together to ensure safe and healthy working conditions. In technical and industrial environments this means structural risk analysis, training, working procedures and supervision.