Working Conditions, health, safety and the Works Council

Working Conditions, health, safety
and the Works Council

A healthy and safe workplace benefits everyone. The Works Council plays an important role in ensuring that employees can work in an environment that supports their wellbeing, health and safety.

This training provides a practical introduction to occupational health and safety legislation in the Netherlands and the important role the Works Council can play in shaping workplace policies. You will gain insight into key topics such as risk assessments, action plans, occupational health services, prevention officers and employee wellbeing.
More importantly, you will learn how to use the Works Council’s rights and influence to contribute to a healthier, safer and more sustainable working environment.

Through practical assignments and real-life examples, you will translate legislation into concrete actions for your own organisation.

Purpose of the training

By the end of this training, you will have a solid foundation in occupational health, safety and wellbeing, as well as a clear understanding of the Works Council’s rights and responsibilities in these areas.

The training covers the following topics:

  • An introduction to occupational health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace;
  • The Dutch Working Conditions Act and related legislation;
  • The key elements of an effective occupational health and safety policy;
  • The rights, responsibilities and influence of the Works Council under the Dutch Works Councils Act (WCA).

Method of the training

The programme combines interactive presentations with practical assignments and group discussions. Using up-to-date checklists and assessment tools, you will evaluate your organisation’s current health and safety policies and practices.

Throughout the day, you will translate legislation and policy requirements into practical actions for your own organisation. The training concludes with concrete recommendations and a practical approach for strengthening occupational health, safety and wellbeing within the workplace.

‘Become a stronger discussion partner on health, safety and wellbeing issues.’

  • 09:15 - 09:30

    Arrival

    Reception with coffee and tea.

  • 09:30 - 12:30

    Start of the training

    Introduction, announcements and explanation of the program.

    Exploration of the theme working conditions

    You will get an overview of working conditions from the profit and non-profit sector. Afterwards we look at how the working conditions are arranged in your company: what risks in terms of safety, health and psychosocial workload are there within your organisation?

    Working conditions Legislation/Act

    In an interactive presentation on the Working Conditions legislation we will discuss the concepts of safety, health and psychosocial workload/wellbeing and the important employer obligations, such as:

    • the risk assessment (RI&E) and the action plan;
    • other prevention tools such as the periodic occupational health examination (PAGO);
    • the role of the prevention officer(s);
    • the role of the company doctor/occupational health and safety service (arbodienstverlening).
  • 12:30 - 13:30

    Lunch break

  • 13:30 - 16:00

    The content of a good working conditions policy

    The Working Conditions Act is a good guideline for properly setting up your company's working conditions policy. How do you implement this policy properly? On the basis of a policy quality meter in the field of working conditions we make an assessment of the occupational health and safety policy and the implementation in your company. This provides information about what is going well and what can be improved. We also pay attention to psychological workload and how the employer has to deal with this topic in the field of prevention and facilities.

    Rights and possibilities of the Works Council: Works Council Act

    The Works Council has a lot of influence on health, safety and wellbeing matters (often the right of consent). The rights and possibilities of the Works Council in the field of working conditions are clearly presented. We also pay attention to the role and position of the Works Council and other stakeholders such as the prevention officer, HR and the company doctor.

    A practical approach

    We will end the day with suggestions on how to achieve a practical approach to health and safety policy.

  • 16:00 - 16:15

    Evaluation and end of the training

Beschikbare data

  • Datum

    Duur training

    Locatie