High risks associated with dangerous substances
There are high risks associated with the production, storage and handling of dangerous substances, unless these are handled with the utmost care and safety. Therefore companies that work with dangerous substances must limit the risks as much as possible.
Major Accidents (Risks) Decree / periodical supervision
In the Major Accidents Risks Decree 2015 (Besluit risico's zware ongevallen 2015 or, abbreviated: Brzo 2015) there are rules set out that are intended to contribute to the minimisation of the possible risks. Moreover, companies that keep large quantities of dangerous substances are held under the supervision of a number of supervisory authorities, that all collaborate intensively with each other. The Netherlands Labour Authority is one of these authorities.
Prevention of serious accidents
The aim of the strict rules of the Major Accidents Risks Decree 2015 is: 'the prevention of serious accidents that have a severe impact on people, the surroundings, the environment and infrastructure'. The rules, together with their attendant measures, are also intended - in the event of things going wrong - to limit the consequences of a serious accident as much as possible.
Supplementary Risk Inventory and Evaluation
Companies that stock lower quantities of dangerous substances, but where similar risks are present as with companies that are included under the Major Accidents Risks Decree 2015, are obliged to periodicallly carry out a so-called ‘Supplementary Risk Inventory and Evaluation’ (Aanvullende risico-inventarisatie en -evaluatie or, abbreviated: ARIE). In order to prevent serious accidents at such companies, or to limit the consequences of these as far as possible, the same rules also apply in general to these companies.
Some companies that are included under the Major Accidents Risks Decree 2015, are also included under the obligations of the Supplementary Risk Inventory and Evaluation.
All companies must check for themselves whether they are included under the Supplementary Risk Inventory and Evaluation.
A revised version of the Supplementary Risk Inventory and Evaluation will come into effect on 1 January 2023.